The Art of Driving in the Rain by Garth Stein

At Thanksgiving and other family gatherings, those of us who read fiction often bring the books we've recently read and enjoyed and swap with others, so hopefully we all go home with new reading material. My find this long weekend was The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein.

If you have a dog or at least spend time around one, you have probably faced experienced a time when you're talking to them and they look at you with a look of intelligence and experience. You can almost swear they understand you and are trying to communicate back. Alas, it seems to be a one way conversation... But with Enzo, the likable narrator of this story, you'll get a feeling for what a smart compassionate dog might be trying to tell you. Enzo is with Denny, a race car driver. Denny falls in love with Eve and they marry and have a daughter. Life is good until Enzo smells the sickness in Eve and their lives are changed forever.

The facts of the story are a bit melodramatic but still believable. But regardless of the plot line, I loved Enzo's conversations with himself (and the reader). Many of us could learn much about life and living from Enzo.

Highly recommended even if you don't like racing. (I know next to nothing but still appreciated the life lessons and story of it.)