BIOGRAPHYGarth Stein is the author of three novels: Raven Stole the Moon (Pocket, 1998), How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets (Soho, 2005) and most recently,
The Art of Racing in the Rain (Harper, 2008).
LATEST BOOK: THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN
The Art of Racing in the Rain is
Starbucks book pick for Summer 2008, and the #1
Booksense pick for June. Recently, it has also won a PNBA book award for 2008, and was also one of the best-selling Northwest books of the year.
Book Description
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.
On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.
Book Trailer
Top Books of 2008The Art of Racing in the Rain was chosen for several top book lists during 2008, including OregonLive online (
http://blog.oregonlive.com/books/2008/12/top_10_northwest_books.html), and the
Seattle Times (
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2008532428_bestbooks21.html).
Raven is Back!
HarperCollins will republish
Raven Stole the Moon this fall. This book is a gripping tale about Jenna Rosen, a mother determined to find out the truth behind her son's disappearance near her family's ancestral home in Wrangell, Alaska--and, perhaps, begin to heal from the pain. Her search forces her to dig into the beliefs and traditions of her Tlingit ancestors, and face the unthinkable with little more than her protective, ferocious love for her son.
