The Art of Racing in the Rain discussion

Did anyone else object to the use of a false report of a rape? Are we supposed to love this dog and owner so much that we can't believe they would do anything wrong?

I loved the dog and we all know a dog can do no wrong.

To tell the truth, I remember nothing about a rape. I just remember a wonderful read with a wonderful end.

Oh, yeah! how could I forget that. I guess it's just been a long time since I read it. Funny that I blocked out all that negative and just remembered the fun, positive part, especially the end when Denny meets the new Enzo.

Lee wrote: "I loved the dog and we all know a dog can do no wrong."

HAHA Amen to that!!!

I know this novel was about Enzo's perspective but I thought the whole Denny/Eve story was not developed enough AT ALL. After months of knowing that she is going to die sooner than later, does she really NOT sit down with her parents and husband and make those important decisions that someone would make? (ie. custody, etc) I didn't feel an undying love from Denny to Eve - I think that would have given this book a little more.

I never once thought that there was any truth in the accusation of rape in this book. Enzo described how the teenager threw herself at Denny all weekend, yet Denny was completely uninterested. And he was truly exhausted after driving through the blizzard on the Stevens Pass - which I have done myself and never wish to repeat.

Judy wrote: "****SPOILER ALERT*******Lee, remember the teenage girl comes on to Denny while he is sleeping. He tells her to get dressed, which she finally does. She later claims he raped her. Much of the book i..."

that NEVER HAPPEND!!!!!!!! ioooooooooooooooooooo

that
the teenage girl comes on to Denny while he is sleeping. He tells her to get dressed, which she finally does. She later claims he raped her. Much of the book

Of course it happened. Denny didn't do anything, but she certainly "came on" to him.

It was a false note as a plot device. Like hitting a wrong key. I "heard" it and wished it wasn't there. It felt a little like a mash up of two novels: man fighting false rape charge, and sweet loving dog story.

I agree with you, Judy. It bothered me; it was such a cliché: the old-time "Lolita" stereotype, the child seducing the man and ruining his life. I don't think it was necessary as a device used by the two-dimensional "evil grandparents" to prove that Denny an unfit father; Denny's absenteeism and occupation were an adequately believable reason.

Judy wrote: "****SPOILER ALERT*******Lee, remember the teenage girl comes on to Denny while he is sleeping. He tells her to get dressed, which she finally does. She later claims he raped her. Much of the book i..."

I completely missed the False Rape as well! I thought the Zoe's Grandparent's were just being...difficult. I will be reading it again with a whole new perspective and understanding!

Yeah, I had to read that chapter again to kind of process it.

Lee wrote: "Oh, yeah! how could I forget that. I guess it's just been a long time since I read it. Funny that I blocked out all that negative and just remembered the fun, positive part, especially the end when...[DELETED]"
People like you who blurt out the end of a book are amazing, and i don't mean that in a praiseworthy sense! There are literally thousands of comments about this book, and I have always been impressed on this forum with people's care NOT to spoil anything. I hope you are not doing this in all your reviews/comments at GOODREADS.

Did anyone wonder why, after not having said anything about the incident initially, the girl all of a sudden brought up this incident when the custody issue started? My thought is that maybe Zoe's grandfather had some kind of sexual involvement with this "Lolita" and had the inside scoop of how the incident really went down and then decided to use it to his own advantage, knowing an "elaborate" version would damage Denny's credibility in court as a good parent. The timing was just too convenient, especially when the girl never said a thing before the whole custody issue came up. How did Zoe's grandfather get a hold of the story? This girl just decided to come and confess to the granfather? My thought was always that the grandfather was having an affair with this girl and was able to manipulate her into coming up with this tale. (Sorry, forgot the granfather's name.)

Wiley wrote: "Lee wrote: "Oh, yeah! how could I forget that. I guess it's just been a long time since I read it. Funny that I blocked out all that negative and just remembered the fun, positive part, especially ..."

I'm curious why you would get on these threads if you haven't finished the book. I always consider the possibility that someone will give a plot element away or even that my enjoyment of a book will be tainted by someone's reaction to it. My suggestion would be to wait until after you finish reading a book, that way you won't be "amazed" by anyone blurting out an ending for you. It also helps to have the full story down so you can better respond to the threads.

Janski wrote: "I agree with you, Judy. It bothered me; it was such a cliché: the old-time "Lolita" stereotype, the child seducing the man and ruining his life. I don't think it was necessary as a device used by ..."

Good point!

Judy wrote: "Did anyone else object to the use of a false report of a rape? Are we supposed to love this dog and owner so much that we can't believe they would do anything wrong?"

Wow, that's what you remember. I hope you live alone. Sorry, but that is just sad.

LOVE this book!

Juliana wrote: "that
the teenage girl comes on to Denny while he is sleeping. He tells her to get dressed, which she finally does. She later claims he raped her. Much of the book"

That is what happened. The only part Judy got wrong was Enzo "testifying" about what happened. He only wished he could testify to save Denny.

I think the girl filed a rape charge aginst Denny to get back at him for rejecting her.

Judy wrote: "Did anyone else object to the use of a false report of a rape? Are we supposed to love this dog and owner so much that we can't believe they would do anything wrong?"

Enzo said what happened he was in the room when it went down. Human as Enzo may have been, purjury and falsehoods just were not a part of his personality.
There was never any doubt, for the reader, about Dennys innocence...

I really enjoyed this book - except for the racing parallels. I understand the meaning behind it to explain how Enzo 'realized' how things worked in the human world, however toward the end of the book if there was a chapter of only car racing jargon, I skipped it. I also agree with some on this thread that the human parts of the story were only 1 or maybe at the most 2 dimentional - I'm ok with that since it was written from the standpoint of a dog. I think this would be a good book for a highschool level or maybe even a bright middle school level pleasure reading.

Yes, it was a cliche as several readers mentioned but it did not diminish my enjoyment of the book.

The book is written from the perspective of the dog and so we only get what the dog saw and what the dog thinks may have happened. Im pretty sure the stuffed zebra did not distroy the other stuffed animals, but Enzo says it did. The relationship between Eve and Denny is seen from the dogs view. Eve may have discussed all sorts of things with her parents when she was dying, but the dog was not there so can't comment on it. We don't get to know what is going on in the mind of the other characters, just the dogs and many dog owners will tell you they arn't all that complicated.

Thanks for bringing the point up b/c even I forgot about her completely. Was so into Enzo alone and Denny that nothing else seemed to matter

Yes, I read the book years ago but that questionable plot point keeps coming back to me. False accusations are actually pretty rare. True reports, on the other hand, are often disbelieved, further harming children and adults who have been sexually abused. I read the book as a local big read program, and never got the sense that the author realized he was promulgating a *very* rare version of events while making his human hero the very rare indeed wrongly accused man. It sticks with me because, although the book is well written and moving, that episode is strikingly unrealistic and potentially harmful.

Perhaps in the light of more awareness of rape and sexual abuse and exploitation, previous commenters might have new understanding of those issues.

Of course, some people believe Lot in the Bible when he says his daughters got him drunk to rape *him*, too.