Looking in the mirror of Erised.

forteford:

The book:  The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.

Summary:  Contemporary.  Enzo knows he’ll be human in the next life.  But for now, he’s stuck as a dog, watching helplessly as his human’s life falls apart.

Picked it up because:  I heard that it was narrated by a dog.  I was instantly sold.

Liked:  Enzo.  I’ve always liked animals better than people, but this dog protagonist is absolutely wonderful.  I love seeing the world through his eyes and hearing his contemplations on life—including the occasional reminder that, despite his intelligence and humanity, he still has a bit of dog in him, too.

Liked:  How racecar driving was integrated into the book.  This isn’t a book about racing, but racing is woven into the story beautifully.  You don’t need to be an expert, or even like racing at all, to appreciate how it’s turned into part of the story.

Liked:  The ending.  If you’re a crier, you will cry. Maybe because I have an old dog myself.  It’s a bit unbelievable, kind of Hollywood, but you don’t even notice while you’re reading.

Ambivalent about:  The sheer amount of bad things that happen to Enzo’s owner.  Like the above, you don’t notice it while you’re reading—at least, I didn’t—but looking back, it seemed a bit melodramatic, a bit over-the-top.  On the bright side, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in Enzo you don’t even notice it.

Conclusion:  This was fantastic—even if you don’t like dogs or racing.

I love Mika.

(Source: galvero)

Mustn’t give up.

Look at usss! :)

forteford:

Best fraannndddd!

Wooo! :) Josh is the best.

DC riding.

(Source: forteford)