Beginning ~ with what Enzo knows

Beginning

Gestures are all I have; sometimes they must be grand in nature.  And while I occasionally step over the line and into the world of the melodramatic, it is what I must do in order to communicate clearly and effectively.  In order to make my point understood without question.  I have no words I can rely on because, much to my dismay, my tongue was designed long and flat and loose, and therefore, is a horribly ineffective tool for pushing food around my mouth while chewing, and an even less effective tool for making clever and complicated polysyllabic sounds that can be linked together to form sentences.

The Art of Racing in the Rain ~ by Garth Stein, 2008, literary fiction, 336 pages, 10/10

From the dust jacket:  Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.

I read this novel when it first came out.  As I got near the end of the book, I started crying.  That was so unexpected and so unlike me, that my cat Kiki flipped over and turned to stare at me.  (She had been asleep with her back snug up against me before I startled her with my tears).  Even while in tears, I knew I wanted this picture, so I reached for my camera.  Poor Kiki.  I had never sobbed, ever!  I could not help myself, even though I knew the dog was dying.  I'm now re-reading this 10/10 book that's in our library here.

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts

Book Beginnings on Fridays.