Animal Power

Neil Gaiman said, “Any story is about a host of things. It is about the author; it is about the world the author sees and deals with and lives in; it is about the words chosen and the way those words are deployed; it is about the story itself and what happens in the story; it is about the people in the story…”

When you read author Garth Stein’s book title, The Art of Racing in the Rain, you may wonder what the story is about. According to Stein, “The story is about love, unconditional love.” He talks about how a certain dog, Enzo, uses his animal power to form a lasting community with his people family. Enzo tells the story from his perspective and helps family members work through major crises. Extensive television watching and paying attention to his master, Denny Swift, grooms Enzo to be able to offer constructive advice and emerge as a hero.