Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television and by listening closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming racecar driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isnt just about going fast. Using the techniques of the race track, dogsand human beingscan learn to navigate lifes hairpin turns.
On the night before 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, Dennys wife; the three-year battle for custody of their daughter, Zoë. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.
A poignant love story and a moving tale of redemption, The Art of Racing in the Rainfor which rights have been sold around the worldis an unconventional, captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could see them.
Its frustrating for me to be unable to speak. To feel that I have so much to say, so many ways I can help, but Im locked in a sound-proof box, a game show isolation booth from which I can see out and I can hear whats going on, but they never turn on my microphone and they never let me out. It might drive a person mad. . . .
Myself, I have found ways around the madness. I work at my human gait, for instance. I practice chewing my food slowly like people do. I study the television for clues on behaviour and learn how to react in certain situations. In my next life, when I am born again as a person, I will practically be an adult the moment I am plucked from the womb, with all the preparation I have done.
From The Art of Racing in the Rain