November Book - The Art of Racing in the Rain

Lex's Review:
Andy and I switch off months picking the book to read, which I've found to be quite fun. Because of our different interests and likes, we each pick books that the other person might not have thought to read on their own. The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of those books for me. I'm not an animal person, so naturally a book all about a dog probably wouldn't have made its way onto my list of books I want to read. (Actually, it's not so much a list, but more a bunch of yellow Post-It notes strewn about my desk at work and nightstand at home, ha.) With that being said, I have to confess that I truly enjoyed this book.

Told from the perspective of the dog, Enzo, this story covers a wide range of experiences and emotions in the life of his professional race car driving owner, Denny Swift. The emotional highs are high and the lows are pretty low throughout Denny's life, but they set the ground for some tender and raw moments between owner and pet. And although I've never understood that owner/pet relationship, their relationship felt like that of two best friends who had--and would--always be there for each other. 4 out of 5 stars from me!

Andy's Review:
The Art of Racing in the Rain first appeared on my reading list when a coworker gushed over the premise during its 2008 release. Last year, the hubs kindly purchased a kid-friendly version of this novel this for me, which I never read because I wanted the grown-up version, but that's beside the point. The point: a bit of naughty language and sexual references exist in this book. Nothing porno-level, but there's your warning.

I adore this book for a few reasons. First, it's told entirely from the perspective of an old, witty canine who has a lot of interesting things to say. Second, it forces you to reflect on relationships and how the oddities of life change how we interact with the people around us. Third, I cried. Now, I should confess that I cry at practically everything (most recently the Odd Life of Timothy Green), but this book invoked the ugly-cry. I think it's because I really related to Eve's struggle and Enzo's curiosity. The unexpected content hit home. I agree with Lex on this one: 4/5 stars.

Have you read The Art of Racing in the Rain? What was your favorite part of the book?

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December's book is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.

"In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will."