Comments on: Book Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

By: JCB

JCB — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:54:34 +0000

I certainly liked this book better than Marley & Me (which I didn’t like at ALL), but I found the main character, Enzo, TOO human. It was a little weird. (Although I love the part where he unknowingly disembowels one of the kid’s toys.) I’m also not into car racing at all, and using it as a metaphor to live one’s life was a little too in-my-face to be appreciated. I feel kinda bad about coming down so hard on this book, but it is what it is.
If you enjoy reading and book reviews, you may enjoy GoodReads.com – I love it!

By: Dr. K

Dr. K — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:51:44 +0000

I doubt my mentioning it made a huge difference. It was already a NY Times Bestseller. It’s a great book. Enjoy!

By: MH

MH — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:08:30 +0000

I have added this book to my list. BTW, can you tell if mentioning it gave it a bump on Amazon? Seems to be selling quite well.

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:25:34 +0000

I absolutely lovelovelove this book. I’ve lent it out so many times I need a new copy.

Patricia – thanks for the recommendation. I’ve got a book store visit planned today, and Merle’s Door is at the top of my list.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:30:13 +0000

Anthropomorphism has gotten a bad rap. My dogs talk to me all of the time. I’m trying to get them in the car and Ruffian is over in the corner saying “Don’t get your knickers in a twist. Can’t you smell there is something important over here? Got to me smelled. Be right witcha”

Another great book where the dog talks is “Merle’ Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog” by Ted Kerasote. In the 50s and 60s most dogs had their own social lives. Today laws and social constraints have done away with that. Kerasote reminds us of the old way of living with dogs.

Books also open up to us new ways of thinking about dog communication and abilities. Rupert Sheldrake describes his theory of morphic fields in “Dogs that Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home.” Elizabeth Marshall reports the same phenomena in “The Social Life of Dogs.” And Anthony Burke and John Rendell noticed Christinan the lion seemed to know when they would visit in “A Lion Called Christian” and George Adamson noticed the same thing in “My Pride and Joy.” It amazes me to think there might be an unseen connection between us and the dogs we are connected with.

By: Cyndi

Cyndi — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:53:03 +0000

Thanks! sounds like a good read!