The novel The Art of Running in the Rain, by Garth Stein, is an emotional and intelligent read, represented through the author's use of flashbacks, humor and intellect. Through these, the author tells a meaningful story about life and death and the importance of both. The first page of The Art of Racing in the Rain is enough to hook the reader. “Gestures are all I have. Sometimes they have to be grandiose in nature” (Stein, 2008). The story is told from the dog's point of view. Enzo cannot communicate as he would like using words and sounds, so he must rely on his actions and gestures to tell the story to his master. So he puts his whole heart into his book. The beginning of the book begins with the dog, Enzo, barely holding on for dear life. As he begins to drift further and further away, he begins to reflect on his life and his past. As its owner Denny, who is a race car driver, once said: “A driver cannot contemplate his move while making it. Running is like living; you can just do it, and then remember it later” (Stein, 2008). Enzo's trip down memory lane begins with his reflection on the day Denny chose him from a gallon of puppies. Denny takes Enzo away from his country farm and domesticates him in an apartment in the city of Seattle. Enzo hates his new city life, but loves Denny. Enzo reflects on the period in which Denny found himself a life partner, Eva. He reflects on how his relationship with Eve was difficult at first due to Enzo feeling replaced and Eve being annoyed by Enzo. However, their relationship took a positive turn when Eve became pregnant and Enzo literally had to fill in for Denny during the birth process because Denny was at Daytona for a race. The author uses the extraordinary contrast of these two characters, Eva and Enzo, to create a sweet and dramatic read. Stein doesn't clearly tell you how different they are