The Art Of Racing In The Rain: The Bookalopnik Review

"El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/30/2014 at 10:30 • Filed to: BOOKALOPNIK, TWO PARAGRAPHS BAD

We do a lot of reading around here, but if often consists only of a few short paragraphs on a timely subject. What you need is some culture and, lucky for you, I am here to provide it. Together, we'll explore some longer reads (read: books) with automotive subject matter and rate them on a completely objective and infallible scale.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "El-Verde, this sounds like some liberal/academic gobbledygook designed to turn me into an Obama apologist. Books are for yellabellies!", or "oh great, some well-read jerk is here to brag about all the books he's read. He'll probably even reference Nietzsche."

Well, friend, let me put these concerns to rest. I am registered to vote as an independent but rarely actually vote and I sincerely promise not to quote Nietzsche. In fact, I've never read Nietzsche and never will as long as I keep meeting insufferable dolts at parties who find his writing to be something of enough significance to justify sucking the life out of said parties with related conversation. I intend only to help you find something good to read and avoid wasting your time with a bad book. So, without further ado, here is the very first Bookalopnik Review.

( Full Disclosure: HarperCollins wanted me to read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein so bad, they didn't even ask me to. I was forced to buy the book on Amazon.com and wait 2 days for Prime shipping before I could even get started. I promise this will not cloud my judgment.)

This book has won all kinds of awards, if you believe the text in the first few pages. Prestigious awards, such as "A Sunday Oregonian Top 10 Northwest Book of the Year." I'm not kidding about that. This is the second award listed, so I'm assuming it is a fairly prestigious award. When I finally get around to writing the next great American novel, I sure hope it is recognized as "A Sunday Oregonian Top 10 Northwest Book of the Year." That newspaper is only published on Sundays, I presume, making the real estate on its pages particularly valuable. The fact that it was in the "Top Ten" in the "Northwest" section is very admirable as I've heard the "Northwest" section has some of the toughest competition, unlike that wimpy "Southeast" division.

I understand this praise in the first few pages is designed to build up some hype before I buy in, but come on. Leading with "A Sunday Oregonian Top 10 Northwest Book of the Year" did the opposite, and I was seriously filled with doubt on this one. I was expecting a stinker, but came out pleasantly surprised.

Cover - 6/10

I know you're never supposed to judge a book by its cover, but that's exactly what we all do when we walk into the bookstore or scroll through Amazon. This "Limited Edition" paperback comes in just the cutest shade of aqua, which will surely delight some of you. At the risk of offending our friends over at Jezebel, I must say I find it to look somewhat…feminine. However, it does grab your attention.

My wife was absolutely delighted that it is the exact same color as this stupid little tray thing that sits on our coffee table, and the clock on the wall, and the little ceramic bunny rabbit on a shelf next to our TV. I awarded a bonus point because this thing has been displayed on my coffee table since I finished it due to color alone. That's staying power!

However, I had to take away several points because there is literally no information on this cover. I've got to open the book to get any information about it other than the title, and the fact that it apparently features a dog. Also, no hint of cars at all, and I was promised cars.

Story – 5/10

The story is one that will certainly draw you in. The main character, a man named Denny, is a fairly well accomplished racing driver. He has various stints in various different types of cars, and he dreams, of course, of one day working full time as a driver. In the meantime, he works in customer service at a local auto dealership part time around his racing schedule. He goes through some really tough times, including his wife suffering from a severe illness, being falsely accused of "relations" with a minor, a nasty battle with his in-laws for custody of his beloved daughter.

Through it all, he is accompanied by his trusty companion Enzo, a mutt who desperately wants to be human. More on that in a moment.

All in all, nothing about the story itself is all that remarkable. It has ups and downs and keeps you very engaged. What makes this book truly remarkable is the way it is told.

Uniqueness/Novelty – 9/10

DID I MENTION THAT THE ENTIRE BOOK IS TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ENZO? THE DOG? Oh my gosh, guys, this is so cool.

The entire book is told in the first K-9, and it makes everything feel much more meaningful and sincere. Now, I think it is worth noting that you may only have such a strong connection to this book if you actually love dogs. If you don't actually love dogs, you probably won't like this book as much as I did, and we probably shouldn't be friends anyways.

Enzo is a dog that desperately wants to be a human, and has ever since he saw a documentary about a group of people in Mongolia who worship dogs and believe they are to be reincarnated as humans. This is Enzo's second favorite televised program ever, after the 1993 Grand Prix of Europe, "in which Ayrton Senna proved himself to be a genius in the rain." That's actually a line in the book. Enzo loves motor racing as much as, or maybe even more than, Denny.

He is fiercely loyal to Denny and sometimes comes across as very "human" in his own right. However, the author is careful to frequently remind you that Enzo is a dog, and dogs have limitations. As Enzo often says: "I am a dog. All I have are gestures." Enzo's gestures lead to some of the best moments of the book.

At one point, to show his displeasure with Denny's father in law, Enzo deliberately ingests a very spicy pepper known to upset his stomach specifically so he may make a show of taking a huge, wet, stinky dump on the guys doormat. It will make you laugh, I assure you.

Minus 1 point just in case you don't like dogs and, by extension, have no soul.

Relevance to Automobiles: 5/10

As much as this story revolves around racing, it is not really about racing. Denny drives some seriously cool cars, and Enzo recounts many famous races with a strong emphasis on Formula 1. You will not read about any of Denny's races as they happen. You will only relive them as Enzo does, watching an on board video of a recent race Denny has run in the family's living room.

While this does not provide much in the way of "racing action", it does come off as very authentic. Nothing is overly simplified or sounds like something written for someone who knows nothing about auto racing. Denny or Enzo will reference a famous race or strategy with enough information to make a point to the uninitiated, but leaves something more for those "in the know" to fill in themselves. It's subtle, but very well crafted in my opinion.

There is a climactic scene where Denny drives an F430 around a track very quickly to impress a very important man, but again, it is far from play by play driving action. I think that it comes off as very genuine, however, as this story is much more about the dog and his man than it is about the cars or racing.

Value – 7/10

This book is available on Amazon Prime for less than $10. It is a paperback, not hardcover, but there is no doubt that this book is worth the price tag. Note that it will still be under $10 without Prime, but it will take longer to arrive.

It is a quick read and fairly addictive. I finished it in just a few evenings, and depending on your dedication I would expect a similar sort of timeframe. It will keep you plenty entertained and might score you some points with your interior decorator as well. If you love dogs it will almost certainly make you cry, even if you're really really manly and don't normally cry except when the air is really dusty.

I'm not sure if it is one I'll revisit and read again, like I would something with more pictures or historical significance, so it loses a couple points there. Also, it's a paperback.

All in all, I would recommend this to you if you love dogs and you're a fan of fiction in general. The consistent racing references will hold your interest, and you'll likely find an intriguing perspective and story lurking beneath.

Total - 64/100

What book should I review next? If there is something you've been thinking about reading but aren't sure, make me read it first! Or, if there is something you think everyone should read, please recommend it and I'll review it for everyone else.

DISCUSSION (29)

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 10:34

I'm in the middle of reading this book, and during it I came to a realization.

My previous job was working for a digital marketing company that catered to car dealerships. We used to write blogs for the dealers, and one girl had a dealership that asked her to write the blog entries from the perspective of a dog. I'm convinced that the GM or someone high up there was a big fan of this book. haha

El-Verde > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
10/30/2014 at 10:39

Haha, that's awesome! They probably felt a pretty strong connection because of the way it was written, and tried to emulate it.

I can't express enough how well I think the author handled that aspect of it. It is totally unique in a really good way. I should mention I anticipate 50/100 being an average read, so this book is well above average.

El-Verde > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 10:40

I should mention that 64/100 is a well above average score by my scoring metrics. I anticipate an "average" book being 50/100, so I am recommending this one to you all as "above average".

quarterlifecrisis > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 10:41

This book is great. All there is to it. I actually bought a copy of it a few weeks back for the girl I've been seeing; not much of a gearhead but I took her to vintage races one weekend and she liked it, and to say she's a friend to furry four-legged animals would be the understatement of a lifetime.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 10:43

Yeah, I've been enjoying it quite a bit. There aren't really a lot of auto themed novels out there, so it's really nice to have a book to read that you can feel that special connection with as an enthusiast. It's a book anyone can read to enjoy, but has little easter eggs in it that are just for auto enthusiasts. A lot like how Rush is a great movie that anyone can enjoy, but F1 fans will feel a unique connection to it.

El-Verde > quarterlifecrisis
10/30/2014 at 10:44

I think its broad appeal is one of the real draws here...I know my wife will eventually read it and it'll be a good one to pass on to just about anybody, really.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 10:45

El-Verde, this is likely the best-written non-car post ever on Oppo. It's got all the charm of a Demuro or Torchinsky piece without the over-the top Dadaist non sequiturs or smarm.

Oh, and I'm buying this book now, so there's that. Thanks again!

El-Verde > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
10/30/2014 at 10:51

I was shooting for above average smarm, but thank you!

And I'm glad you're going to give it a read. It is a really worthwhile novel, and I often don't feel that way when reading novels.

Thank you for the kind words.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 10:52

I read this a couple years ago while stationed in Japan. A girl I was seeing gave it to me before a deployment and told me it was her favorite book. I figured this was due to it being from the dog's point of view, but she surprised me by being very knowledgeable about formula 1 and we used to stream the races in the middle of the night to watch. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

*Also, I noticed that IT crowd word reference, gobbldygook

El-Verde > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
10/30/2014 at 10:55

Did you like it?

I'm not in IT, it's something my mom always used to say. She was briefly in the service as well, and my dad for 30 years and both worked in electronics, so perhaps that's where they picked it up.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 11:01

I loved it. Big dog lover + Senna fan (I remembered that race in a similar fashion as the dog, not really a full understanding of what was happening just aware of the skill, talent, and willpower of Senna) = a happy reader and an amazing bonding tool with a friend. Funny how when you leave the Corps you lose touch with people who once meant so much to you. Although, if I kept up the friendship my wife would probably kill me.

El-Verde > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
10/30/2014 at 11:03

Hahaha yeah...wives don't seem to like former relationships continuing on, do they? It's OK, your wife is probably the one worth keeping happy anyways.

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Mikeado > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 11:12

I recently bought this book but haven't got around to reading it yet. You (but not your wife) might be pleased to know that the other (or another) cover design is a different colour, has MOAR DOG and even references a more widely-recognised accolade. No mention of the Sunday Oregonian Top 10 Northwest BOTY award though.

I shall endeavour to find time to read it.

Kinja'd!!!

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 11:19

That is for sure. Not that I really would have had a chance at keeping the other, I moved so much while I was in the Corps, so many deployments at the last minute, like getting orders to an OCONUS duty station with 8 days to report.

El-Verde > Mikeado
10/30/2014 at 11:30

I was expecting this cover when I ordered, actually! This is more of what Amazon shows if you go look now.

I like the MOAR DOG use of real estate, for sure. But it wouldn't be on display ;)

You should read it. But I can understand why you haven't, not knowing that it won the " Sunday Oregonian Top 10 Northwest BOTY award."

El-Verde > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
10/30/2014 at 11:37

It's a tough lifestyle. Everyone should know before they join an academy or enlist. But my father found it to be a very rewarding career.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 12:53

I'm getting there. I obviously miss it, but it got suuuuuper political at the end. I almost got a court martial over the McCain/Palin sticker on my dads truck while I was replacing a transmission and t-case in my Land Rover. Seriously, they prepped a shitload of paperwork, because I was disrespecting the CIC.

TotallyThatStupid > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 13:13

http://www.amazon.com/Enzo-Races-Rai…

Really great book. There's a "kid's version" now as well.

El-Verde > TotallyThatStupid
10/30/2014 at 13:18

Hah! That's awesome! Or is it a shameless money grab?

Either way, thank you for sharing. This is the closest thing I've gotten to a recommendation for my next review...do I dare?

TotallyThatStupid > El-Verde
10/30/2014 at 13:24

Reco for next book: http://books.google.com/books/about/Ra…

Not so much about car stuff - Relevance to Autos; 3/10 (around there, anyway) - but Iain Banks was a car nut. Sadly, he died a while back. But before he did, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere he bought an E60 M5.

El-Verde > TotallyThatStupid
10/30/2014 at 13:30

Thank you for the recommendation! And the version on Amazon has a car on the cover, so bonus points there. And I've begun drinking whiskey (with an e) because I have recently become a man, so this looks interesting.

I'll check it out!

El-Verde > TotallyThatStupid
10/30/2014 at 13:35

I just ordered this. Keep an eye out for a review at some point, and thank you again for the recommendation.

titsinmymitts > El-Verde
11/05/2014 at 12:51

That limited edition is beautiful. My edition seems to try and play off on a Marley and Me connection or something.

I enjoyed the book. It's a sad book for sure, but very enjoyable. I will be a wreck when my dog (and best friend) passes.

I will be keeping my copy forever.

El-Verde > titsinmymitts
11/05/2014 at 13:43

I've seen that on some of the other covers. I want one with a car on it, dammit!

I will also be a basket case when our dog goes.

superhappyfuntime > El-Verde
12/04/2014 at 14:49

I didn't make it through this book but not for lack of trying, I just didn't care for it.

El-Verde > superhappyfuntime
12/04/2014 at 15:03

What was it that you didn't like, if you don't mind me asking?

Vintage1982Benz > El-Verde
01/26/2015 at 10:57

I give this review two barks.

shirosake > El-Verde
11/04/2015 at 14:03

I couldnt get through the second chapter without tearing up.

El-Verde > shirosake
11/04/2015 at 14:20

Its impossible. Don’t fight it.