Racing in the Rain, an inspiring story written by Garth Stein that is narrated by a dog named Enzo.  Throughout the story, the bond between Enzo and his owner (Denny) strengthens. Enzo is with Denny through all of his hard times and learns to not take life too fast and the importance of letting someone go. This book is an extraordinary read due to the fact that it is narrated by the dog’s point of view rather than a human’s, teaching the theme of not taking life too fast, and letting go.

One of the reasons why I find this book as a fantastic read is because the protagonist and narrator is the point of view of the dog, Enzo. In many books, the protagonist is a human. That is not the case in this book. Enzo described his life from when Denny “ picked [him] out of a pile of puppies, a tangled rolling mass of paws, ears and tails” (Stein 9) up to his death. I personally enjoy mixing things up and having a dog narrate the book.  I think it is an interesting twist. Having the dog narrate the book gives it a new point of view. I tis one of the reasons why I enjoyed it so much.

Another reason why Racing in the Rain is an outstanding book is because it has a recurring theme of not taking life too fast. The book explains that it is about the journey, not how fast you reach your destination. When Denny explains how to race in the rain, he tells Enzo that the racer needs “ balance, anticipation, patience. These are all vital. Using your side vision, seeing things you have never seen before. Feeling the road, driving by the seat of the pants” (Stein 12). This description sort of connects to life. The quote shows the reader that you need balance, anticipation, and patience in life. As well as stopping to see things you have never seen before. This theme recurs in the book often when the connection of life to racing is made.

Another theme found in the book is the theme of letting go of someone. In the novel, Denny had to let go of his wife and Enzo. When Denny’s wife passed away, it was hard at first to let go of her, but once he sensed Enzo was ready he let go of him. He told him “‘It’s okay...you can go’” (Stein 273). Denny sensed it was Enzo’s time and was ready to let him go before he moved to Italy. When Denny let go of Enzo, it sent a feeling of poignant to the readers. This is a very depressing moment for Denny but Enzo felt free.

Racing in the Rain touches the hearts of many readers. It is a book that is narrated entirely from Enzo’s point of view. There can be some gloomy moments but it is part of the recurring theme of letting someone go. In addition to the theme of letting go, the book also has a theme of living life to the fullest. The novel’s distinct story sets it apart from others and makes it a magnificent read.