GUEST POST BY LIANA MEFFERT

School: Montgomery High

Favorite Food : Sushi

Favorite Place: Annadel Park

Fun Activity: Puddle jumping in the rain

Dream Job: Anything that will pay me for doing what I love

This article was first published Nov. 1, 2010

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN
By Garth Stein
Copyright 2008

In the whirlwind that is my senior year (how did it get here so fast?), I took some time out to read “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” The book was a refreshing reminder that reading can be a pleasant experience; this time I was not scouring the pages for a deeper meaning or highlighting the use of figurative language. The novel by Garth Stein took a new perspective on life: the whole book is perceived through the eyes of a dog, albeit a very intelligent one. The dog wishes to be human, longing for the ability to speak and growing restless with the limitations of his self-expression. He curses our linguistic skills and opposable thumbs with unaltered jealousy. As readers we begin to appreciate our human qualities, savoring the words we are able to form with our tongues. The best books are the ones that bring a new perspective into our lives. “The Art of Racing in the Rain” has done just that. When I was just about fed up with essays and reading, I rediscovered the gift of words, that ability to say just what we mean. Garth Stein clearly appreciates the gift of human language. His writing is thoughtful, while the unique descriptions from a canine point of view are humorous, exactly the kind of thing you’d always thought a dog with think. “The Art of Racing in the Rain” answers the timeless question that comes to mind whenever you look down at your dog: I wonder what he is thinking?

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Thanks, Liana. Here is a link to the web site of author Garth Stein.

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