The Art of Racing in the Rain Age Appropriate
Credits
Readability Age Range
- 12 and up
Publisher
- Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Awards
- Unknown
Year Published
- 2008
Volume Review
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein has been reviewed by Focus on the Family unit's marriage and parenting magazine.
Plot Summary
From the first page, readers learn Enzo is an old, bilious dog. Having watched a tv set program on dogs in Mongolia, Enzo is convinced he will come back in his next life as a homo. This excites him, and he's prepare to become. He just has to convince his main to let him.
Enzo narrates his life story, starting time with his puppyhood and adoption by Denny, an upwards-and-coming racecar commuter. Enzo loves and admires his master, who talks to him about everything as if he's man. They scout Denny's racing tapes together, and then Enzo knows a good deal almost the sport. The dog as well watches a lot of TV, which helps him develop his philosophies on life.
Enzo is annoyed when Denny meets Eve and she moves in with them. Eve and Denny marry and take a daughter, Zoë, and Enzo warms up to family unit life. Denny's career success ways he is often out of town. Eve begins having pains, which she ignores as long as she tin. She finally agrees to allow Denny take her to the dr., and she learns she has concluding brain cancer.
Eve's wealthy parents, Maxwell and Trish, urge Denny to movement their ailing girl into their firm. They have more time and resource to intendance for her. They also desire Zoë to stay with them. Denny is unhappy with the organization, but Eve agrees information technology is best for now. Denny continues his task as a high-end car mechanic, follows racing opportunities and visits his wife and daughter often. During this time, he dutifully takes Zoë to a family reunion with some of Eve's relatives. A 15-twelvemonth-old cousin named Annika becomes obsessed with Denny and wheedles a ride home from the reunion with him. Denny, Annika, Zoë and Enzo are caught in a snowstorm that puts them home x hours later. Annika stays at Denny's place for the night, and tries to seduce the dead-tired homo when she comes out of the shower. Denny refuses her advances.
Months subsequently, the cancer kills Eve. Even before her body has been removed from their business firm, Maxwell and Trish tell Denny they want full custody of Zoë. They believe they can provide for her much more than effectively than he tin. Denny has little money to fight Eve'southward parents, merely he hires a lawyer. He eventually sells his house to pay for legal fees. He struggles to cover unexpected expenses, like a vet beak when Enzo is hit by a auto. Police arrest Denny at his workplace, and he learns Annika has come forward with allegations of rape.
Although many people in the racing globe are interested in Denny's talents, the statutory rape trial means he's non allowed to leave the state. For a while, he's non even permitted to visit Zoë. The trial drags on for several years. Denny is broke and downhearted, simply Enzo supports him and helps him persevere. Luca Pantoni, manager of the Italian Ferrari headquarters, visits Denny and offers him a dream job in Italy. Denny says life circumstances make it impossible for him to take right at present, equally much every bit he'd love to say yes. Luca urges Denny to call him when his situation changes.
Denny has a chance coming together with Annika and her friend at a coffee store. He kindly explains his predicament and pleads with her to take back her false testimony. One-time later, she recants. Maxwell and Trish realize they accept lost their advantage, and they drop their custody arrange. Denny is finally free to take Zoë and become to Italia.
Enzo finishes his narrative every bit Denny makes preparations for the movement. Enzo finally convinces Denny to allow him die, and Denny holds Enzo as the domestic dog runs joyfully into the vast fields of the universe.
An epilogue some years in the future shows Denny as a racing champion in Italy. Zoë brings two fans to see him, a male parent and son. The Italian father boasts about his immature son's innate racing knowledge and skill. The son says how much he admires Denny and quotes 1 of the phrases Denny always used to say to his dog. The male child says his name is Enzo, leaving readers to suspect the dog got his wish to go reincarnated every bit a human.
Christian Beliefs
Other Belief Systems
Enzo gets his ideas near theology and the afterlife from TV shows. He's convinced that some dogs are reincarnated to become men, and this is what he hopes will happen to him. He thinks a dog's soul is released into the earth until it is gear up to be reborn. He believes in karma, likes the idea of assisted suicide and accepts all of Denny's mantras that essentially claim a homo can shape his own destiny with enough endeavour. He'south also convinced that dogs, not monkeys, are the closest evolutionary relatives to men. He looks at expiry as a demon and tries to save Eve from information technology. He eventually becomes convinced the demon is within each soul.
Authorisation Roles
Denny adores Enzo and views him as function of the family. Denny pushes through tragedy and despair, making a witting selection not to drown his sorrows in alcohol. He keeps fighting for his parental rights and trying to evidence his innocence despite the financial strain involved. After Eve warms upward to Enzo, she talks to and relies on him similar Denny does.
Profanity & Violence
The Lord'due south name is used in vain several times. The f-word, due south—, p-cker, crap, a–, b–tard and b–ch also announced a number of times.
When Enzo is a puppy, a vet cuts off his thumbs (dewclaws) without using anesthetic. Information technology is painful, and the dog bleeds a lot. Angry after Eve'south death, Enzo attacks, crushes and eats a squirrel.
Sexual Content
Enzo witnesses and describes several sexual encounters (including pre-marital sex) between Denny and Eve. He talks about them being naked, rolling around and mounting each other. Eve and Denny joke well-nigh using a turkey baster to inseminate her with Denny's pre-extracted sperm because he is gone so oftentimes.
Enzo sees and describes Annika getting naked and attempting to seduce Denny. He makes it clear to readers that Denny does not respond to her advances. Annika later accuses Denny of rape, and he spends years in courtroom trying to prove his innocence.
Enzo mentions dogs mounting one some other and talks almost a movie where a girl and a conduct are copulating. Some scenes are described with words similar breasts, balls and erection. Denny'southward friend Mike lives with his male life partner.
Discussion Topics
Additional Comments
A picture show version of this book, starring Kevin Costner, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2019.
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