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A review by meshsock
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
3.0
I picked up this audiobook because it was available through the library and because it is told in the perspective of a dog. I love my dog and I often wonder what she thinks about our lives together, so I was interested to hear a story told from that point of view. From that aspect, I think it delivered. While the dog seemed way too intellectual for a dog and he seemed to understand everything going on around him with such ease struck me a bit inauthentic. There is no WAY my dog understands what I'm saying nearly as well. However, I suppose the book wouldn't be coherent if it wasn't like this so it was probably necessary.
I was unprepared for how much talk of racing there would be. I felt it was way too much and detracted from what I was interested in (the goings on of the family). Besides being one long metaphor for life I could have done without the constant racing references, most of which I didn't understand anyways because I am not familiar with F1 racing people, tracks, protocols, etc.
I was also unprepared for how sad it would get, or rather, frustratingly enraging. This was actually quite compelling. I found myself thinking, "Are they serious? That is so wrong!" through parts of the book. It elicited conversations between my husband and I as to what is acceptable in the face of loss and what isn't.
The end dragged on. I felt there were several places it could have ended in that last chapter and then lo and behold the narrator kept talking. It was like one of those songs that you think is over and then isn't. I get wanting to say something poignant at the end, but when you try to say 5 poignant things it loses it's effect.
Overall, I thought this book was entertaining and thoughtful. It was an interesting perspective you don't always hear from and I finished it without problem.
I was unprepared for how much talk of racing there would be. I felt it was way too much and detracted from what I was interested in (the goings on of the family). Besides being one long metaphor for life I could have done without the constant racing references, most of which I didn't understand anyways because I am not familiar with F1 racing people, tracks, protocols, etc.
I was also unprepared for how sad it would get, or rather, frustratingly enraging. This was actually quite compelling. I found myself thinking, "Are they serious? That is so wrong!" through parts of the book. It elicited conversations between my husband and I as to what is acceptable in the face of loss and what isn't.
The end dragged on. I felt there were several places it could have ended in that last chapter and then lo and behold the narrator kept talking. It was like one of those songs that you think is over and then isn't. I get wanting to say something poignant at the end, but when you try to say 5 poignant things it loses it's effect.
Overall, I thought this book was entertaining and thoughtful. It was an interesting perspective you don't always hear from and I finished it without problem.