Title: "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

Author: Garth Stein

Pages: 321

Avaliable: Bookstores and online

The cover of this book sports the bust of a golden Labrador, my favorite breed of canine. This was the first bait used in the attempt to sway me to read it.

The cover flaps confirmed that this would be an easy read for a hectic season. I listened to a podcast online in which the author, Garth Stein, told how he first got the idea for the character and eventually fell into the plot.

While Stein was producing documentary films, he came across a belief by the Mongolians that when a dog's life is ended, if he is ready, he is reincarnated as a human. Thus an idea for a character began to percolate in Stein's head.

When Stein moved back to Seattle, he began to dabble in racing. Rapping with fellow racers about the character traits that are useful to a successful racer led Stein to kick around that idea for a plot.

The story opens with Enzo, an old dog who is reminiscing on the eve of his death. His master throughout his life has been Denny Swift, a race car driver. Enzo has endlessly educated himself by carefully studying everything Denny does and by watching documentaries on television. From the tube, he has learned about the Mongolian philosophy, and he knows he is now ready to become a human, so he is looking forward to his death.

The book is penned in the first person, if you can call it that, because it is told by a dog. In the interview, the author discussed this "fly-on-the-wall point of view."

Since Enzo is a dog, he cannot communicate in words, but rather he is limited to gestures which can be misunderstood by his observers. As an advantage, many people feel free to speak what is on their minds when he is with them, because they don't feel he understands what they are saying.

The plot is revealed in three ways. We find out what Denny Smith is thinking and feeling as he talks with Enzo, his confidant. We are given Enzo's opinions and observations to help us figure out the plot, and we find out secrets that other people reveal in Enzo's presence.

Although it is pretty schmaltzy, the storyline is believable. It even has a couple of lessons to teach us. To quote from the story, "… that which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves."

The title of the book is the theme of the story. Patience and balance are required to drive a race car in the rain. The protagonist in the story uses the same concepts to deal with challenges in his life that he employs in race car driving. He anticipates and he uses patience.

The author's voice on certain moral issues comes through, as well. As an example, I quote, "The concept of euthanasia has some merit, yes, but it is too fraught with emotion. I much prefer the idea of assisted suicide, which was developed by the inspired physician Dr. Kevorkian."

This book has some qualities that I like in a book. Compassion is one. We are shown by Denny how to treat a dog. And we are shown by the author's writing how a dog closely watches its master and responds to him. For dog lovers, this book just might strike a chord. Humor is another technique utilized by Stein. The subtle humor on the state of affairs from a dog's perspective was often amusing.

One of my favorite incidents in the book occurred when Enzo was left alone in the house. He eventually wandered to the child's room, where he discovered a multitude of stuffed animals. The stuffed zebra attacked him, resulting in some consequences.

Last summer, this book was chosen as a book pick for Starbucks, so it could be found throughout many Starbucks stores for their customers to peruse.

Who would enjoy this book? Anyone could enjoy it, if they do not get hung-up on a philosophizing dog. If you are open to fiction, you can let this book transport you through all of the emotions we experience in the real world.

(Rita Greff grew up the oldest of eight children in a family that valued reading, particularly fiction. She taught fifth and sixth grades for 34 years.)