Racing is told through the eyes of a dog named Enzo, an incredibly cognitive four-legged mix breed who chronicles his life with his master Denny.
First of all, FINALLY a story told through the eyes of my favorite companion animal; so often we refer to our family pets as dear to our hearts as we do a fellow human so it has been a long time coming that a novel is written through their compassionate eyes. Isn't it always weird that your dog knows when you're upset, had a bad day, or are hours/minutes/seconds away from going into labor? (Our old dog Ginger was acting so weird and wouldn't leave my moms side the day she had my brother). Also I am an avid dog lover, and I mean AVID, so of course I got excited when my friend recommended this novel.
Back the topic at hand, Enzo is a mix breed pup who is adopted by Denny; of course they develop the strong bond that many human's do with their dogs but Enzo describes in detail how he views their world and their friendship. They enjoy watching racing videos together- Denny drives race cars as a hobby- and Denny talks Enzo through the emotions he has during a race, tips for winning, advice on how to read the track and becoming one with your car. Then all of a sudden Denny meets a woman, and the best part of this event is when Enzo describes his jealousy of Eve (Denny's wife) and his conflicting emotions with wanting Denny all to himself versus his acknowledgement of Denny's happiness with Eve which ultimately leads to Enzo's happiness. I think this is something that is common between many couples with companion animals, it's practically the same situation when a parent "loses" their child to their future partner, etc. In reality, the person doesn't leave the relationship but instead the bond changes and creates conflicting emotions of jealousy and happiness.
Stein beautifully intertwines how the art of racing cars can reflect the process of life itself and how it may seem like such a simple task, to drive a car, there are really many different aspects in order to successfully drive and win a race. Just as in life, the grand scheme of things seems so simple: born, grow, live, change, love, die. But the process is so much more than that and contains so many recipes and rules on how one should live.
With that being said, I don't want to get into too many details of Racing because it is a rather short novel and I was able to read the majority of the book in ~2-3 hours (~300 pages), but I will leave you with some quotes that will hopefully pique your interest and get you to read this novel.
Suggestion: Must read, especially for dog-lovers and those who love great life lessons.
"To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live. To feel the joy of life, as Eve felt the joy of life. To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter each day. To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am. I am. That is something to aspire to. When I am a person, that is how I will live my life."
"Hands are the windows to a man's soul...They say that the senses do not operate alone, but rather are combined together in a special part of the brain that creates a picture of the body as a whole: sensors in the skin tell the brain about pressure, pain, heat; sensors in the joint and tendons tell the brain about the body's position in space; sensors in the ears track balance; and sensors in the internal organs indicate one's emotional state. To voluntarily restrict one channel of information is foolish for a racer; to allow information to flow unfettered is divine."
"What is the real truth regarding the death of Ayrton Senna, who was only thirty-four years old?...He died that day because his body had served its purpose. His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave."
"The race is long. It is better to drive within oneself and finish the race behind the others than it is to drive too hard and crash."
And last but not least, it's true, I'm a HUGE sucker for novels that include the title in the conclusion or moral of the story...
"I know this much about racing in the rain. I know it is about balance. It is about anticipation and patience. I know all the driving skills that are necessary for one to be successful in the rain. But racing in the rain is also about the mind! It is about owning one's own body. About believing that one's car is merely an extension of one's body. About believing that the track is an extension of the car, and the rain is an extension of the track, and the sky is an extension of the rain. It is about believe that you are not you; you are everything. And everything is you."
"That which we manifest is before us"
Coincidentally I am at my parent's this weekend, babysitting our family dog while they are out of town. So here I am, giving my dog extra tummy rubs, throwing her toys a couple more times, taking her for just one more walk, soaking in the appreciation that I have for this creature who stands lower than I on the totem pole but provides me with so much love, support, strength, laughter, and tears. I have gone through the whole losing a pet thing before, something I will never forget that Racing happened to bring back to the surface. Although Maggie is only 2, the precious years of life and energy always seem to pass too quickly; so here I am, tearing up with joy after completing Racing and making sure I give extra attention and love to Maggie.
Who knows, maybe she understands way more than I think and she is stuck keeping her thoughts to herself because her tongue was designed long, flat, and loose.
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| Spoiled rotten. |
Animal lovers are a special breed of human, generous of spirit, full of empathy, perhaps a little prone to sentimentality, and with hearts as big as a cloudless sky.
As you can tell, that is where I chose my blog name from, great words aren't they?
Enjoy your day of rest!
You need to read A Dog's Purpose, you would love it!
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