Book the Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Word Questions: The Art of Racing in the Pelting

by Lee

Below is a conglomeration of discussion questions gleaned from various Web sources relating to our electric current book, The Fine art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.

More COMMON Word QUESTIONS

Many online sources — Reading Group Guides, Harper Collins, the books publisher, and others — have shamelessly plagiarized one another's reading guide questions. Here they are, in all their commonality:

1. Some early readers of the novel have observed that viewing the world through a dog's eyes makes for a greater appreciation of being human. Why do you lot think this is?
2. Enzo'due south observations throughout the novel provide insight into his world view. For example:
   • "The visible becomes inevitable."
   • "Understanding the truth is simple. Allowing oneself to experience it, is frequently terrifically hard."
   • "No race has ever been won in the first corner; many races take been lost there."
   • How does his philosophy utilise to real life?
3. In the book'south darkest moments, ane of Zoe's stuffed animals — the zebra — comes to life and threatens him. What does the zebra symbolize?
4. Tin can you imagine the novel beingness told from Denny'due south indicate of view? How would information technology make the story different?
5. In the offset chapter, Enzo says: "It's what'due south inside that'southward important. The soul. And my soul is very human." How does Enzo's situation — a man soul trapped in a dog'south body — influence his opinions near what he sees around him? How do yous feel about the ideas of reincarnation and karma as Enzo defines them?
6. Do you find yourself looking at your own dog differently after reading this novel?
7. In the book, we get glimpses into the mindset and mentality of a race car driver. What parallels can you think of between the fine art of racing and the art of living?
8. The character of Ayrton Senna, as he is presented in the volume, is heroic, near a mythic figure. Why do you think this grapheme resonates and so strongly for Denny?

OTHER DISCUSSION GUIDE QUESTIONS

A deeper plunge of the Internet provides more unique give-and-take guide questions. The blog Read to Enrich offers these for give-and-take:

1. What was your favorite scene in the novel?
2. Did yous like the technique of making Enzo be the narrator?  Would the story have worked if the narrator was one of the humans?
3. Do y'all recollect dogs or other animals can really understand humans and have the desire to communicate with them?
4. Talk over Enzo's more human characteristics:
   • His feelings after Eve died (and his creature reaction of chasing and eating the squirrel ) [folio 165]
   • Advising people to learn to listen (page 102)
5. Tin dogs and other animals sense things that humans cannot?  Enzo smelled Eve'south cancer well before anyone made a diagnosis.
6. What did you think of Enzo'southward description of communication, "…there are and then many moving parts.  At that place's presentation and in that location's interpretation and they're and so dependent on each other it makes things very hard." (page v) Was this a good assay?
7. What did yous think about Enzo's analysis of his death?  He said most Denny, "He needs me to free him to be bright."  (page v)
8. The author wrote, "A true hero is flawed.  The truthful exam of a champion is not whether he can triumph, only whether he can overcome obstacles – preferably of his own making – in club to triumph." (folio 135)  Exercise you concur?  What do you think about the obstacles "being of his own making?" Can you name anyone who you call back is a hero?  Does he or she fit this clarification?
9. About a champion, he wrote "It makes i realize that the physicality of our globe is a purlieus to us only if our will is weak; a truthful champion can attain things that a normal person would think impossible." (page 65)  Do you agree?
10. Ane of Denny'south favorite statements was "…that which nosotros manifest is before us." (page 43)  What did he mean?  Practice you agree?
11. The writer stated that women and dogs feel hurting the aforementioned ("tap directly into the pain" page 62) whereas men "are all filters and deflectors and timed release."  (page 63)  Is this an accurate clarification?  Do you lot remember in that location is a difference in how men, women and dogs feel hurting?
12. Regarding the evil zebra, at the end Enzo realizes that the zebra is, "not something outside of us.  The zebra is something inside of usa.  Our fears.  Our own cocky-destructive nature.  The zebra is the worst part of us when we are face-to-confront with our worst times.  The demon is united states!" (page 264)  Do you agree?  Can you remember of whatever examples from other books you take read where the characters were their ain worst enemies?
13. There were many comments in the book about life in full general.  What comparisons were made between driving a race car and life?  Can y'all add others?

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Source: https://onceamonthbookclub.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/discussion-questions-the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain/

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