Who Accused Denny of Rape in Art of Racing in the Rain

Credits

Readability Historic period Range

12 and upward

Publisher

Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Awards

Unknown

Year Published

2008

Volume Review

The Art of Racing in the Pelting by Garth Stein has been reviewed past Focus on the Family's marriage and parenting magazine.

Plot Summary

From the first page, readers learn Enzo is an erstwhile, bilious dog. Having watched a television programme on dogs in Mongolia, Enzo is convinced he will come back in his next life equally a man. This excites him, and he'south ready to go. He just has to convince his master to permit him.

Enzo narrates his life story, beginning with his puppyhood and adoption by Denny, an up-and-coming racecar commuter. Enzo loves and admires his master, who talks to him about everything as if he's human. They spotter Denny's racing tapes together, so Enzo knows a proficient deal virtually the sport. The dog also watches a lot of TV, which helps him develop his philosophies on life.

Enzo is annoyed when Denny meets Eve and she moves in with them. Eve and Denny marry and take a daughter, Zoë, and Enzo warms upwardly to family unit life. Denny's career success means he is often out of town. Eve begins having pains, which she ignores as long as she can. She finally agrees to let Denny have her to the doctor, and she learns she has final brain cancer.

Eve'south wealthy parents, Maxwell and Trish, urge Denny to move their ailing daughter into their house. They have more time and resources to care for her. They besides want Zoë to stay with them. Denny is unhappy with the organisation, but Eve agrees it is best for now. Denny continues his task as a high-end motorcar mechanic, follows racing opportunities and visits his wife and daughter often. During this time, he dutifully takes Zoë to a family reunion with some of Eve's relatives. A 15-year-sometime cousin named Annika becomes obsessed with Denny and wheedles a ride home from the reunion with him. Denny, Annika, Zoë and Enzo are caught in a snowstorm that puts them dwelling house 10 hours later. Annika stays at Denny's place for the night, and tries to seduce the dead-tired human being when she comes out of the shower. Denny refuses her advances.

Months later, the cancer kills Eve. Even before her trunk has been removed from their house, Maxwell and Trish tell Denny they want full custody of Zoë. They believe they tin can provide for her much more effectively than he tin can. Denny has niggling coin to fight Eve's parents, but he hires a lawyer. He eventually sells his house to pay for legal fees. He struggles to cover unexpected expenses, like a vet bill when Enzo is hit by a car. Police arrest Denny at his workplace, and he learns Annika has come forward with allegations of rape.

Although many people in the racing world are interested in Denny'south talents, the statutory rape trial means he's non immune to get out the state. For a while, he'due south not even permitted to visit Zoë. The trial drags on for several years. Denny is broke and downhearted, just Enzo supports him and helps him persevere. Luca Pantoni, manager of the Italian Ferrari headquarters, visits Denny and offers him a dream chore in Italy. Denny says life circumstances go far impossible for him to take correct now, as much as he'd love to say yes. Luca urges Denny to call him when his situation changes.

Denny has a chance coming together with Annika and her friend at a java shop. He kindly explains his predicament and pleads with her to take back her false testimony. One-time afterward, she recants. Maxwell and Trish realize they have lost their advantage, and they drib their custody suit. Denny is finally free to take Zoë and become to Italian republic.

Enzo finishes his narrative as Denny makes preparations for the motion. Enzo finally convinces Denny to permit him die, and Denny holds Enzo as the domestic dog runs joyfully into the vast fields of the universe.

An epilogue some years in the future shows Denny every bit a racing champion in Italy. Zoë brings two fans to see him, a father and son. The Italian father boasts well-nigh his immature son's innate racing knowledge and skill. The son says how much he admires Denny and quotes i of the phrases Denny e'er used to say to his dog. The boy says his proper noun is Enzo, leaving readers to suspect the dog got his wish to become reincarnated every bit a human.

Christian Beliefs

Other Belief Systems

Enzo gets his ideas about theology and the afterlife from TV shows. He's convinced that some dogs are reincarnated to become men, and this is what he hopes will happen to him. He thinks a dog'due south soul is released into the earth until it is ready to be reborn. He believes in karma, likes the idea of assisted suicide and accepts all of Denny's mantras that substantially claim a man can shape his own destiny with enough effort. He's also convinced that dogs, not monkeys, are the closest evolutionary relatives to men. He looks at expiry as a demon and tries to save Eve from it. He eventually becomes convinced the demon is within each soul.

Authority Roles

Denny adores Enzo and views him as part of the family. Denny pushes through tragedy and despair, making a conscious choice non to drown his sorrows in alcohol. He keeps fighting for his parental rights and trying to prove his innocence despite the financial strain involved. After Eve warms up to Enzo, she talks to and relies on him similar Denny does.

Profanity & Violence

The Lord'south name is used in vain several times. The f-word, south—, p-cker, crap, a–, b–tard and b–ch also appear a number of times.

When Enzo is a puppy, a vet cuts off his thumbs (dewclaws) without using anesthetic. It is painful, and the domestic dog bleeds a lot. Angry afterward Eve'due south death, Enzo attacks, crushes and eats a squirrel.

Sexual Content

Enzo witnesses and describes several sexual encounters (including pre-marital sex activity) between Denny and Eve. He talks about them existence naked, rolling around and mounting each other. Eve and Denny joke about using a turkey baster to inseminate her with Denny's pre-extracted sperm because he is gone so often.

Enzo sees and describes Annika getting naked and attempting to seduce Denny. He makes information technology clear to readers that Denny does not respond to her advances. Annika later accuses Denny of rape, and he spends years in courtroom trying to bear witness his innocence.

Enzo mentions dogs mounting 1 some other and talks about a movie where a girl and a bear are copulating. Some scenes are described with words similar breasts, balls and erection. Denny's friend Mike lives with his male life partner.

Word Topics

Additional Comments

A movie version of this book, starring Kevin Costner, is scheduled for release in the autumn of 2019.

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