The Art of Racing in the Rain Book on the Eve of His Death
Art of Racing in the Pelting (Stein)
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Garth Stein, 2008
HarperCollins
336 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780061537967
Summary
Enzo knows he is unlike from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself past watching goggle box extensively, and past listening very closely to the words of his principal, Denny Swift, an upwards-and-coming race car driver.
Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, similar racing, isn't but about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.
On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-yr battle over their daughter, Zoe, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family unit, property in his middle the dream that Denny volition become a racing champion with Zoe at his side. Having learned what it takes to exist a empathetic and successful person, the wise canine tin barely await until his side by side lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a homo.
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family unit, beloved, loyalty, and hope, The Fine art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...every bit simply a domestic dog could tell it. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
• Birth—1960
• Where—Los Angelos, California, U.s.a.
• Reared—Seattle, Washington
• Pedagogy—B.A., Yard.F.A., Columbia University
• Currently—lives in Seattle, Washington
Garth Stein, a former documentary film maker, was co-producer of the Academy Award-winning short film, The Dejeuner Date, and director of When Your Caput's Not a Head, It's a Nut. He is the writer of three novels, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, Raven Stole the Moon, and The Fine art of Racing in the Rain , and a play, Blood brother Jones. He lives in Seattle with his family. (From the publisher.)
Extras
From a 2008 Barnes & Noble interview:
I've climbed Mt. Rainier
I've explored the deepest cavern in North America
I've acted with Carol Channing
I've ridden my wheel to Alaska
I've met Bill Clinton
I've played basketball with Slick Watts
I've bathed in the Dead Body of water, piloted a boat in the Suez Culvert
I've paddled an outrigger in the Java Sea
I've fathered three sons whom I love very, very much.
What book nearly inspired his life every bit a author?
Player Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski. Actors must make clear and definite decisions at every turn nigh a character'south intention, desires, and needs. A writer must assume the role of each actor in the story. A writer must know everything about every grapheme in his writing. There are no accidents in fiction. Studying acting—particularly this book—has greatly enhanced my writing. (From Barnes & Noble.)
Volume Reviews
If you lot've ever wondered what your canis familiaris is thinking, Stein'due south third novel offers an answer. Enzo is a lab terrier mix plucked from a farm outside Seattle to ride shotgun with race motorcar driver Denny Swift as he pursues success on the track and off. Denny meets and marries Eve, has a daughter, Zoe, and risks his savings and his life to brand it on the professional person racing excursion. Enzo, frustrated past his inability to speak and his lack of opposable thumbs, watches Denny'south sometime racing videos, coins koanlike aphorisms that apply to both driving and life, and hopes for the mean solar day when his life equally a dog will be over and he can be reborn a man. When Denny hits an extended rough patch, Enzo remains his most steadfast if silent supporter. Enzo is a reliable companion and a likable enough narrator, though the string of Denny'due south bad luck stories strains believability. Much like Denny, notwithstanding, Stein is able to salve some dignity from the over-the-top drama.
Publishers Weekly
Enzo narrates his life story, first with his impending death. Enzo's not afraid of dying, equally he's seen a television documentary on the Mongolian belief that a skilful dog volition reincarnate equally a man. Yep, Enzo is a domestic dog. And he belongs to Denny: hubby, father, customer service technician. Denny's dream is to exist a professional race-automobile commuter, and Enzo recounts the triumphs and tragedies—medical, fiscal, and legal—they share in this quest, the dangers of the racetrack beingness the least of their obstacles. Enzo ultimately teaches Denny and the reader that persistence and joie de vivre volition see them through to the checkered flag. Stein (Raven Stole the Moon) creates a patient, wise, and doggish narrator that is more than just fluff and neckband. This should entreatment to fans of both dogs and car racing; recommended for public libraries.
Library Journal
Stein uses a dog as narrator to clever consequence in this tear-jerker almost an aspiring race-car driver who suffers more woes than Job but never mistreats his domestic dog. Lab mix Enzo believes he is different from other dogs, that he has a homo soul in a dog body. Enzo is frustrated that he tin can utilise only "gestures" to communicate with his honey owner Denny. Denny works in a Seattle auto-repair shop to earn coin to race. Enzo watches racing channels on TV, soaking upward facts and lore. Dog and human are happy in their bachelor Eden. Enter Eve. She and Enzo are wary at first. And so she goes into labor while Denny's away racing and she keeps Enzo beside her. Enzo adores the baby, Zoe, merely he soon smells that something is off with Eve. By the fourth dimension Zoe is a toddler, Eve has increasingly bad headaches only refuses to see a doctor until it'due south likewise late. Now come the travails. During Eve's painful, lingering death, her parents, who take never canonical of Denny, loom increasingly large. When Eve dies, they sue for permanent custody of Zoe. Their example is weak until Denny is charged with rape: After a reunion of Eve's family shortly before her death, Denny gave a ride dwelling to Eve's fifteen-year-sometime cousin, who attempted to seduce him; he rebuffed her but Enzo was the only witness. Eve's evil parents are backside the trumped-up charges. Noble Denny keeps fighting for Zoe, living by his mantra, "That which you lot manifest is before you." When he almost buckles, Enzo provides some rather unique assistance. Pointedly inspirational.
Kirkus Reviews
Discussion Questions
1. Some early on readers of the novel have observed that viewing the earth through a domestic dog'due south optics makes for a greater appreciation of being human. Why exercise you think this is?
2. Enzo'due south observations throughout the novel provide insight into his earth view. For example:
—"The visible becomes inevitable."
—"Understanding the truth is simple. Assuasive oneself to feel it, is often terrifically difficult."
—"No race has ever been won in the first corner; many races have been lost there."
How does his philosophy apply to real life?
3. In the book's darkest moments, one of Zoe's stuffed animals—the zebra—comes to life and threatens him. What does the zebra symbolize?
iv. Can you imagine the novel being told from Denny's signal of view? How would it make the story different?
5. In the first affiliate, Enzo says: "It's what's within that'southward important. The soul. And my soul is very homo." How does Enzo's situation—a human soul trapped in a dog'south body—influence his opinions about what he sees effectually him? How do you feel about the ideas of reincarnation and karma as Enzo defines them?
6. Do y'all notice yourself looking at your own dog differently after reading this novel?
7. In the book, we get glimpses into the mindset and mentality of a race car driver. What parallels can you lot think of between the art of racing and the art of living?
8. The graphic symbol of Ayrton Senna, equally he is presented in the book, is heroic, most a mythic effigy. Why practice you recollect this graphic symbol resonates so strongly for Denny?
(Questions issued past publisher.)
top of folio (summary)
Source: https://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/fiction/81-art-of-racing-in-the-rain-stein?showall=1
0 Response to "The Art of Racing in the Rain Book on the Eve of His Death"
Post a Comment