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myiahjay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was one of the best books i’ve read this year! I enjoyed every minute of it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Animal death
jdromsky's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Grief
amiamor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
pageafter_paige's review against another edition
The way the author writes women is uncomfortable to me. The scene with the 15 year old female cousin seemed creepy and irrelevant to book that’s supposed to be from a dogs pov. I thought this was going to be better and more wholesome I guess? Instead the dog hates women but I don’t see how that’s necessary…
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Cancer, Medical content, Misogyny, Grief, Sexism, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Excrement, and Violence
mlyons01's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault
leweylibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The book being told from the pov of a dog was interesting, although sometimes it was just really awkward and too forced. It was also obviously much more about the humans and their DRAMATIC ass story than it was dog, and that's a bummer really.
There was also one part concerning sexual assault that I just could not handle, and the victim blaming after the fact really made my skin crawl.
There was also one part concerning sexual assault that I just could not handle, and the victim blaming after the fact really made my skin crawl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, Cancer, Death, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Confinement and Police brutality
alyxbeau's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book would have gotten a higher star rating from me, I think, had it not centered around two things, both of which are spoilers. Mostof the review wil be in spoiler tags. The two things? Cancer followed by a custody battle. This hits incredibly close to home for me right now - my best friend has suffered from cancer well before her custody battle began, but her situation just kept replaying in my mind over and over and over. What will happen if she dies from the cancer? Where will her kids go? Back to the abusive ex husband? Back to her abusive parents (childrens grandparents) My heart ached for the characters in this book because I know what it is to live like Enzo. Passively aware of the situation and unable to do anything. Not with the cancer, and not with the custody battle. It was incredibly difficult for me to separate my own friend from the contents of this book, and since I prefer books to be an escape, this was not an ideal choice for me at this time of my life.
What I can say as a non spoiler is how much I adore the message of the book, based on a quote found very near the start- "That which you manifest is before you" - specifically Enzo's interpretation of this lesson resonated with me as it is similar to the lesson in the movie "About Time." The lesson here I took to mean that you need to live every day as if it is what you needed in that moment to set your life on the right course, for your best eventuality. Good or bad news. This pairs really well with About Time as a life mantra - live each day as if you have lived it twice, noticing all the beautiful and good things of the day you may not have noticed burdened by heavy and dark emotions.
Combining the two lessons, I think, will give a recipie for a happy day to day life no matter your circumstance. And I think Enzo and Denny really tried to do that.
What I can say as a non spoiler is how much I adore the message of the book, based on a quote found very near the start- "That which you manifest is before you" - specifically Enzo's interpretation of this lesson resonated with me as it is similar to the lesson in the movie "About Time." The lesson here I took to mean that you need to live every day as if it is what you needed in that moment to set your life on the right course, for your best eventuality. Good or bad news. This pairs really well with About Time as a life mantra - live each day as if you have lived it twice, noticing all the beautiful and good things of the day you may not have noticed burdened by heavy and dark emotions.
Combining the two lessons, I think, will give a recipie for a happy day to day life no matter your circumstance. And I think Enzo and Denny really tried to do that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Sexual assault
pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cancer, Death of parent, Rape, and Grief
alicemorrison1029's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Cancer
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
lphreads's review against another edition
4.5
Y’all I typed out a review for this then goodreads lost it I am SO UPSET.
Here is the rewritten version:
I don’t think I’ve ever read another book that had me crying in both the first and last chapters. I will forever associate this one with that random night in October when, on a whim, I decided to read the first chapter. I haven’t been that devastated so quickly by another book, ever. But I think that’s the best compliment I could give a book - highlighting its ability to make me feel.
Personally, I really really enjoyed reading from a Enzo (the dog)‘s perspective. I understand, at times, while some reviewers saw it as a downfall of the book, but I don’t think the story would have hit as hard as it did when you are seeing it through Enzo’s eyes. At its core, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a story about a man and his dog, and the bond they have over the years. I don’t think Denny’s story would have been nearly as compelling if we weren’t viewing it through Enzo’s eyes, and the book is better for that.
The book itself flows very well, with simple language and short chapters, it should be an easy read if you have the time and attention span! The characters are overall likable, with Denny being easily the most fleshed out characters. There’s a lot left to the imagination when it comes to the side characters, though I really enjoyed the descriptions of some of the side characters offered by Enzo.
The biggest downfall of the book, and one of the reasons it isn’t quite a 5-star read, is the way that it falls into the category of “you can just tell a man wrote that.” When I say that, I’m mainly referring to the way that Stein describes women a couple of times in the book. I think, in part, this can be chalked up to the year (2008 - or earlier) the book was written, but it is still enough to make a gal cringe at times.
Otherwise, the only other real critique I had was the fact that the biggest conflicts of the book seem to be resolved quite quickly and neatly right at the end. Normally, this would be something that bothers me a bit more, but it’s not something I would really have recommended be changed in this instance because the main focus of the book is on Denny and Enzo’s relationship, not the courtroom drama that ensues.
Overall, it’s a solid 4-star read. It you’re a dog person (or anyone with a pet), I think The Art of Racing in the Rain will be relatable, heartwarming, and heartbreaking all at once. I would recommend giving it a try.
Here is the rewritten version:
I don’t think I’ve ever read another book that had me crying in both the first and last chapters. I will forever associate this one with that random night in October when, on a whim, I decided to read the first chapter. I haven’t been that devastated so quickly by another book, ever. But I think that’s the best compliment I could give a book - highlighting its ability to make me feel.
Personally, I really really enjoyed reading from a Enzo (the dog)‘s perspective. I understand, at times, while some reviewers saw it as a downfall of the book, but I don’t think the story would have hit as hard as it did when you are seeing it through Enzo’s eyes. At its core, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a story about a man and his dog, and the bond they have over the years. I don’t think Denny’s story would have been nearly as compelling if we weren’t viewing it through Enzo’s eyes, and the book is better for that.
The book itself flows very well, with simple language and short chapters, it should be an easy read if you have the time and attention span! The characters are overall likable, with Denny being easily the most fleshed out characters. There’s a lot left to the imagination when it comes to the side characters, though I really enjoyed the descriptions of some of the side characters offered by Enzo.
The biggest downfall of the book, and one of the reasons it isn’t quite a 5-star read, is the way that it falls into the category of “you can just tell a man wrote that.” When I say that, I’m mainly referring to the way that Stein describes women a couple of times in the book. I think, in part, this can be chalked up to the year (2008 - or earlier) the book was written, but it is still enough to make a gal cringe at times.
Otherwise, the only other real critique I had was the fact that the biggest conflicts of the book seem to be resolved quite quickly and neatly right at the end. Normally, this would be something that bothers me a bit more, but it’s not something I would really have recommended be changed in this instance because the main focus of the book is on Denny and Enzo’s relationship, not the courtroom drama that ensues.
Overall, it’s a solid 4-star read. It you’re a dog person (or anyone with a pet), I think The Art of Racing in the Rain will be relatable, heartwarming, and heartbreaking all at once. I would recommend giving it a try.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Rape, Death of parent, Animal death, and Cancer
Minor: Pedophilia