I knew there was something I meant to write about this week, but I’ve been so slammed I forgot what it was. I just remembered! I finished reading “The Art of Racing in the Rain” this week. And it was just wonderful.

I am on a roll! This is the third book in a row that I’ve read and loved. (not counting some JD Robb book that I read a week ago that was absolutely abysmal. But, not worth counting or reviewing.)

Last Easter, I visited my aunt in Portland. I finished the book that I took there and needed something for the ride home. She lent me this book with promises that I had to return it because it was one of her favorites. I took it, but for some reason didn’t read it on the way home. Instead, it found its way to the bottom of my “to read” pile. I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to get to. But every time I went to pick it up, I was distracted by something shinier. Something that didn’t have anything to do with race car driving.

I didn’t expect to love this book. A book about race car driving as told by a dog? I don’t care a wit about race cars. But, surprisingly, I loved this book. It was wonderful.

The story is told by Enzo, the dog. Enzo is a dog who believes a legend he once saw on television. It was a Mongolian legend that says that after a dog dies, if he is ready, he will be reincarnated as a human. Enzo believes he is close to human and is often frustrated by his long tongue which doesn’t allow him to speak and his lack of opposable thumbs. He wants to learn all that he can about being human, so that he is prepared when his time comes.

Much of what he learns about being human, he learns from Denny, his master who is a professional race car driver. Denny and his family endure many hardships and struggles, and Enzo learns about patience, perseverance in the face of adversity, and love.

There are many life lessons in the book to be learned from race car driving. One of the most used ones is “that which you manifest is before you”. When racing, a driver needs to not focus on the present as much as focus on what is coming next. What the future may hold. It is a see it and believe it mentality. It is this mentality that helps the protagonists get through their tragic losses and struggles.

This story was heartwrenching, funny, and made me cry at the end. I love that mixed emotion when reading the end of a book. The one where you want to cry with love for all the characters, but at the same time you are on the bus and try and hold it in because people are looking at you funny, which quickly becomes hilarious at the same time. Yes. The laughing while trying not to cry on the bus emotion is really entertaining. Love it.

Enzo was such a wonderful character. He makes you wonder when you look at your dog, how much the dog is really understanding in there. What would that dog say if he had a mouth that could form words? Where would he go if he could turn that doorknob?

I now know more about racing than I ever expected to know, but I’m ok with it. I also have a newfound curiosity about what animals around me may be thinking. And I now have a new book that I am happy to recommend to people.

You’ll love Enzo.

And in case you are interested, I found this video that the writer made. It is like a preview for the book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ0CTcU0Fd0