Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.
The Art of Racing in the Rain takes a philosophical look at life, love, and family through the eyes of a dog. Through the metaphor of auto racing Stein's canine character demonstrates what it is that makes us uniquely human as well as the fine line between hanging in there and giving up.
All the members found something to enjoy in the book. Discussion centered on how telling the story from a dog's viewpoint changed the narrative. At least two members found the plot too predictable and one member also found that "it lacked imagination," but even these members found interesting quotes to share for the discussion. Some members were puzzled by the symbolism of the toy zebra and what it represented. There was also some discussion about the difference between dogs and cats and how auto racing relates to life. Everyone said they would recommend the book to others except to those that hate dogs.
