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Enzo's The Art Of Racing In The Rain

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The Art of Racing in the Rain is perhaps one of the most unusual and unorthodox books I have ever read. The entire book is narrated by Enzo, a mixed breed dog who is bought as a puppy by a struggling racecar driver named Denny. The book follows Denny and Enzo as they grapple with the ups and downs of everyday life. But Enzo is no ordinary dog. He is very smart and witty, and reflects on human life better than a human could. On top of that, every few chapters there is a chapter that uses racing as an analogy for a theme in life. I really loved this book, even recommending it to four people. The Art of Racing in the Rain is definitely one of my favorite books that I ever have read. The book starts with Enzo, very old and ailing, reflecting on …show more content…

We learn from the very beginning that this is the theme of The Art of Racing in the Rain, because Enzo thinks about what an amazing life he’s had. But Enzo also wants to retain his quality of life, so he silently begs Denny to euthanize him. Enzo then takes us back into his life to explore this theme. He recounts all the events of his life, even the tragic and depressing things that happened to him. Honestly, this is a very depressing book. It doesn’t shy away from the sadder things in life. One example is when Enzo is hit by a car, Denny takes him to the vet. Enzo survives, but loses some mobility. Denny tries to pay with his credit card, but it is overcharged. He has just three hundred dollars to cover a eight hundred dollar bill, but the vet allows him to pay the bill later. As he leaves, he has to ask for twenty dollars back to fill up his car. It’s not really depressing in the way that Eve’s death was, but shows the life of a struggling man and his beloved dog. It’s almost even more sad. There are also many uplifting moments in the story, yet all of the happy moments are tinged with sadness. The sad moments are also tinged with happiness. At the vet, Denny and Enzo’s unbreakable bond is shown. One happy moment in the book shows Zoe and Enzo playing in the sprinklers on a warm evening as Denny and Eve watch. Soon after that, Eve is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Everything in The Art of Racing in the Rain is bittersweet, and that’s one of the things I love most about

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