In the last days of his life, Enzo reminisces about his time with Denny, remembering the very first moment he was chosen out of his liter. He watches Denny fall in love, get married, and start a family, and builds a special and individual relationship with each member of that family. He adores them. They are his. And I grew attached to the characters, too. I felt for them. Whether I loved them or hated them, they were real to me. I appreciated those that were kind to Denny and Enzo, and I was angry at those who weren't.
When Denny's life begins to fall apart, Enzo remains a silent comfort. He repeatedly longs for the words to express his thoughts, but is resigned to nudges and barks, as "gestures are all he has".
It was so heartwarming to see the way that Enzo idolizes Denny. He constantly sees the best in him and believes in him even when he is at his lowest point. It made me look at my dogs and wonder what they were thinking, and spend a little extra time scratching behind their ears.
The Art of Racing in the Rain makes you look at your life and your relationships, because this innocent and enlightened mind of a dog makes you want to be a better person. Enzo has so much to teach about treating others and appreciating the little things, like thumbs and small tongues.
There is something so special about the relationship between a dog and his human, and Garth Stein illuminated that in The Art of Racing in the Rain. Amidst the heartache and drama, the ups and the downs, there is always someone loving and believing in you, even if they don't have the right tongue to form the words.
