Blog post #1: Meeting Enzo and Denny
In Chapter 1, Garth Stein introduces the reader to the two main characters: Enzo and Denny. Enzo is Denny's dog, who is witty dog with dreams of being reincarnated as a human. He says, "I've always felt almost human. I've always known that there's something about me that's different than other dogs. Sure, I'm stuffed into a dog's body, but that's just the shell. It's what's inside that's important. The Soul. And my soul is very human" (Stein 3). We learn that Enzo is becoming old and it's hard for him to move around or even control his bladder. I like how the book is narrated through Enzo's thoughts because it is different than most books and as a dog owner, it gives you a new view on the way you think about your dog. For Enzo, there is nothing more he enjoys than sitting in front of the television and watching videos of Denny racing cars, which is an enjoyable past time for Denny and one of which Enzo has enjoyed learning about.
Blog Post #2: How much is that doggy in the window?
In chapters 2-4, the reader learns about how Denny picked Enzo from a farm in a town called Spangle. Enzo recalls being a puppy and his memories of his mother. He states, " Honestly, our mother didn't seem to like us much, and she was fairly indifferent to whether we ate or starved. She seemed relieved whenever one of us left" (Stein 9). Enzo also lets us know that he never knew his father. He says that the people on the farm told Denny that his father was a shepard-poodle mix, but Enzo refuses to believe it because he's never seen a dog like that on the farm and he also thinks that shepards and poodles are both dumb breeds. Instead, Enzo comes to the conclusion that his dad was a terrier because he's seen one on the farm and he also knows they are problem solvers like himself. For Enzo, he'd like to think he "came from a determined gene pool" (Stein 11). Towards the end of the chapter, when Enzo meets Denny, his first impression of Denny is that his choppy hair and short, scruffy beard made him look like a terrier. For Enzo, Denny was the dad he always wanted.
Blog Post #3: I want thumbs!
In chapter 5, Enzo explains his obsession with the television, and how whenever Denny leaves, he keeps the tv on for Enzo to watch. Since Denny and Enzo both enjoy car racing, Denny usually leaves on the Speed channel. However, Enzo says, " While racing is my favorite, Denny told me it was good for me to have variety in my life, so he often puts on other channels, which I enjoy very much as well" (Stein 18). Enzo notices how every educational channel talks about Darwin and his theories. Enzo begs to differ, he believes that spiritualism and science are one and that "bodies evolve and souls evolve and the universe is a fluid place that marries them both..." (Stein 18). Enzo becomes witty by the end of the chapter as he lays out his theory that man's closest relative is the dog, rather than what many think is the chimpanzee. His reasonings are that the dew claw of a dog is evidence of a preemergent thumb. Enzo believes the thumb evolved from the dog through "selective breeding" to prevent dogs from turning into dangerous animals. Another theory is that mem domesticate dogs out of fear that dogs will develop thumbs and smaller tongues, allowing them to be superior to me. Enzo believes this is the reason that dogs must "live under the constant supervision of people, and are immediately put to death when found living on their own" (Stein 20).
Blog Post #4: Welcome to the family
In Chapter 6, Enzo discussed the first time he met Eve, Denny's wife. Enzo admits that he envied her. "For she was a person, unlike me. She was well groomed. Unlike me. She was everything I wasn't. I went for extended periods without a haircut or a bath, for instance; she bathed every day and had a speical person do nothing else but color her hair..." (Stein 21). Eventually Eve and Denny got married, and moved into an apartment. Soon after, Eve got pregnant. Eve's pregnancy brought her and Enzo together. At first Enzo admits that he loved her when she was pregnant, but he knew he couldn't be the source of affection in the same way her child will be to her. At the time of the birth, Denny away racing cars, so Eve was left to give birth at home, with the assistance of two housewives. After the baby was born, Eve and Enzo spent a special moment together. Eve asked him if he would promise to protect Zoe, their baby. Enzo says, "I realized at that moment, I could be something else. I could provide something of need to the people around me. I could comfort Eve when Denny was away. I could protect Eve's baby" (Stein 26).
Blog Post #5: New house, new memories
In chapters 7 and 8, Enzo talks about the race car conversations he and Denny share. Denny teaches Enzo about all his tricks and how he has mastered to drive so well in the rain. Enzo also talks about the day the family found out they would be moving to a new house, with a big backyard for Enzo to play in! In the new house, Enzo continued to play around with Zoe, Eve, and Denny, and of course he still enjoyed watching hours of television. While racing a race with Denny, Denny taught Enzo the importance of initiating the action to prepare for any problems and to never be afraid. He also shared with Enzo the most important lesson he learned from a French race car driver, who told him, "That which you manifest is before you" (Stein 41). With his advice, Enzo decided to change his mood and energy to allow Eve to regard him differently, and to most importantly trust him.
Blog Post #6: Bad news, Eve
In Chapters 9 and 10, Enzo talks about a frightening event. Denny was away because he got a seat for a race at Watkins Glen. The day of the race, Eve got up to early watch it on tv but instead she was distracted by immense pains in her head. "She vomited as if she were turning herself inside out" (Stein 47). Eve was scared, no one was with her and she didn't know what was happening to herself. She told Enzo, "I feel like someone's crushing my skull" (Stein 47). [A few chapters before, Enzo noted that when Eve was leaning down to feed Enzo, he smelt a bad odor, like decay, that came from her ears and sinuses. He said, "There was something inside Eve's head that didn't belong" (Stein 36). Enzo was extremely frustrated that he couldn't tell Eve what he was sensing, so he was left feeling empty inside.]Eve quickly grabbed Zoe's clothes and some of her own and toothbrushed and stuffed them into a bag. She took Zoe and rushed out of the house...leaving Enzo alone.
Blog Post #7: The evil zebra
Chapter 11 truly made me laugh at loud! Enzo's narrations and descriptions were so funny, I even wondered if the same feeling ever happened to my own dog. After being left alone in the house by Eve, Enzo remained calm and did not panic. He took stock of the situation and understood that Eve was sick and Denny would be home in two nights. Enzo knew he could fast. "When he [God] denied dogs the use of thumbs, he gave them the ability to survive without food for extended periods. While a thumb -one thumb!- would have been very helpful at that time, allowing me to turn a stupid doorknob and escape, the second best tool, and the one at my disposal, was my ability to go without nourishment" (Stein 52). Enzo did not panic, instead he rationed the toilet water and urinated and defacted on the mat by the back door. The next part in the chapter was hilarious! Enzo claims that during the second night, or as he referes to "forty hours into my solitude", he began to hallucinate. He heard a sound coming from Zoe's bedroom so he went up to her room, where he saw something terrifying, "one of her stuffed animal toys was moving on its own. It was the zebra" (Stein 53). He then goes on to describing howo the zebra began thrusting against a Barbie doll. "That made me quite angry, and I growled at the molester zebra, but it simply smiled and continued its assault, this time picking on a stuffed frog..." (Stein 53). Enzo then explains how right as he was about to attack the zebra, it tore its own seam that ran down the stomach, and then tore out its stuffing and dismantled itself until there was nothing left but a pile of fabric and stuffing on the floor. When Denny finally got home, he was in shock to see Enzo left all alone and no clue where Eve and Zoe were. Once he contacted Eve at her parents house, he exploded on her, saying how could she be so cruel and selfless to leave Enzo by himself. Denny thought blamed Eve for trying to kill. Then, Zoe began to sob when she noticed all her toys were ripped up. Enzo most have destroyed them all when he was hallucinating, even though Enzo believes the evil zebra came back to destroy all the other stuffed animals. Denny anger built up and he finally exploded. He hit Enzo. He had never done that before and Enzo was in shock. Eve was terrified and told Denny to stop. Denny backed away and sat on the porch where he opened a bottle of hard liquor. Zoe understood it was a mistake and she forgave Enzo by simply placing her hand on his head. Enzo joined Denny on the back porch and Denny apologized.
Blog Post #8: "I DON'T LIKE NUGGETS!"
In chapters 12,13, and 14, Enzo talks about Eve's condition beginning to worsen. It jumped between headaches, nausea, dizziness, and angry moods. However, Eve refused to see a doctor and Denny felt helpess. Enzo remained strong and would always stay by Eve's side. Eventually, Denny took the offer from the racing team and moved away for a while, leaving behind Eve, Zoe, and Enzo. Eve was extremely upset by his choice and continually told Denny "Please come back...I don't care how many pieces, just promise you'll come back" (Stein 75). Enzo knew exactly what she meant. She wasn't referring to Denny not returning, but instead she was worried about her own sickness taking over. There is a lot of tension at dinner the night before Denny leaves. Eve explodes at Zoe for not wanting to eat her chicken nuggets, and you can tell the pressure and emotions are getting to her head. After finally agreeing to make Zoe a hot dog, Eve cuts her hand badly while trying to open up the package from frustration. She again refuses to go to the hospital to get stiches. After Eve breaks down and apologizes for her behavior, Zoe begins to cry too. They grabbed each other tight and Denny joined in the sob fest. Enzo realized that they had finally resolved their issues. "They needed this. This moment. It was important to them as a family, and I understood that" (Stein 83).
Blog Post #9: The Evil Twins
Denny, Eve, and Zoe go to Eve's parents house the following week so they can take car of them. Enzo referred to her parents, Maxwell and Trish, as the "evil twins" because they look the same and act the same. They lived in a fancy house and nothing was ever good enough for them. They always get mad at Eve for marrying Denny and complain that he doesn't spend enough time with her, and that he is neglecting their relationship. Eve continues to dwindle away and feels very out of shape and weak. However, Denny's racing career took off and he began to win a lot of races. Eve and Denny even discussed having more children. They joked around saying, "We could use a turkey baster...I could leave you with a cupful of potential babies in the refrigerator" (Stein 93), since Denny would always be on the road. It was nice to see their relationship grow and they way they would laugh together. In chapter 17, the family went to Denny creek for a little vacation. However, when Eve was pushing Zoe down a rock slide, she slipped, fell, and hit the rock with her head. She was lost. She was dazed and slurred her words, and she kept nodding off. Denny made the executive decision to tkae her to the hospital. After seeing a mass in her head, the doctors found out she had brain cancer. That is why she was always afraid to go to the doctor, because she knew something was seriously wrong and didn't want to face reality.
Blog Post #10: Facing reality
The next few chapters talk about Eve's stay at the hospital and how she was progessively getting worse. Denny was jumping between work, bringing Zoe to school, and visiting Eve in the hospital. Denny made a schedule to stay on top of things. Sometimes the twins would take care of Zoe to allow Denny to have a weekend to himself to relax and hang out with Enzo. They would order pizza, go to the dog park, and watch car races. Enzo enjoyed it, but it was not the same without Eve and Zoe. Even Zoe was starting to accept reality. It was sad to read that one day she was in the backyard with Enzo when she took out a barbie and kneeled down before it. She said to the Barbie, "You're going to be okay...Everything is going to be okay" (Stein 112). She learned this from Denny always saying that to Eve as words of encouragement. Zoe then pulled off the Barbie's head, cut off all her hair, and then drew a line on the doll's skull, while she continued to whipser "everything's going to be okay". She told Enzo, "Now she can go to heavan...And I'll live with Grandma and Grandpa" (Stein 112). This was disheartening for Enzo to hear. Zoe was breaking down, and the twins were taking control. The twins finally told Denny that they wanted Eve to stay at home with them with a full time nurse, and that they would take care of Zoe. Denny finally agreed because he knew it was best for everyone.
Blog Post #11: Relatives with benefits?!
In the winter, Denny, Zoe, and Enzo decided to take a trip to the snowy mountains of Methow Valley. The cabin they stayed at was owned by a relative of Eve's and many other relatives, whom they have never met, were staying with them too. Eve was too weak to travel, however she thought it was important for Zoe to spend time with realitives since she would die soon. One of the relatives, was a teenager named Annika, whom Denny apparently met years ago. The whole trip she would be flirting with Denny, without him realizing it. Only Enzo noticed the strange relationship. "She sat next to him around the fire. She sat across from him at meals...She laughed too loudly at every comment he made. She loved his hair after he took off his sweaty ski cap. She proclaimed an extreme admiration for his hands" (Stein 135). After staying a couple day, Denny decided to drive through the harsh snow storm to go home so he could see Eve. He brought back Zoe, Enzo, and Annika (because she needed a ride back home). After a ten hour car ride that should have only been 5, Annika told her parents she would spend the night at Denny's house because she didn't want him to go out of his way to drive her home. (Denny never even offered this but was forced to let her stay). After Zoe went to bed, Annika tried to put the moves on Denny by sneaking into his room and pulling off his pants. When he finally realized what she was doing, he freaked out on her and told her to call her parents to pick her up immediately. She called and told them the bed was too uncomfortable and she wanted to go home. Denny was creeped out and will make sure he never sees those relatives again.
Blog Post #12: Welcome to the race track, Enzo!
In April, Denny got a job offer from one of the racing schools he worked for. The racecourse was in California and Denny was extremely excited, talking about it everyday. He also decided he would take Enzo along for the ride. After traveling out to California, Denny was allowed to strap Enzo into the passenger seat of his car during a warm up before the race. Enzo was so excited that his dream was coming true and he was feeling more and more like a human. Denny told Enzo, "One bark means slower, two means faster, got it?" (Stein 152). The whole time around the track, Enzo made double barks in excitement.Enzo loved the thrill and he claimed it was the best day of his life. He knewn this was a once in a lifetime oppuritunity so he made sure it was deep in his memory so he could continually relive the experience over and over again in his mind.
Blog Post #13: Goodbye Eve
In Chapter 27, Eve took her last breath and past away. She did it in the home of her parents, after battling her brain tumor for months, even longer than the doctors anticipated. Enzo claims that he saw it happen in his dream. "I saw her soul leave her body as she exhaled, and then she had no more needs, no more reason; she was released from her body , and, being released, she continued her journey elsewhere..."(Stein 162). Denny didn't hear about Eve's death until the next day, because they were staying in seperate houses. Denny and Enzo were, instead, in the park when he found out. When Denny got the called, Enzo said he felt the need to run. He said he had never run away from Denny before, "but in that moment, I had to run" (Stein 164). He ran far and then out of anger and a deep feeling of hatred, he killed a squirrel. But not just killed it, " I was ruthless. My jaws slapped down on it, cracking its back, me teeth ripped its fur; and I shook it to death after that..."(Stein 165). Enzo said he missed Eve so much that he had to kill it, so much so that he lost his feelings for living by a human standard. "My trying to live to human standards had done nothing for Eve; I ate the squirrel for Eve" (Stein 165).
Blog Post #14: Evil twins take down Denny
After meeting up with Eve's parents and seeing Zoe, Denny sat down to talk with Eve's father. Maxwell told Denny that he and his wife are concerned that Denny has no plans with what to do next. Instead, Maxwell told Denny that he and Trish want to take care of Zoe. The twins told Denny that they already discussed it with Eve and that it would be in the best interest for Zoe. After Denny refuses to lose custody of his daughter, Maxwell informs Denny that he and his wife are suing him for the custody of their granddaughter. The twins also targeted Denny for hiding Eve from the doctor and claim that he is the reason why she is dead. When in reality, Eve was the one who refused to go to the doctor. Enzo believes in Denny that he could win custody of his daughter. He thinks to himself, "racing is about discipline and intelligence, not about who has the heavier foot. The one who drives smart will always win in the end" (Stein 178).
Blog Post #15: More bad news
Denny got himself a lawyer, Mark Fein, who tells him that this isn't something he should be concerned with, and that Zoe will be his free and clear. The lawyer tells Denny, "My feeling is they're looking for a soft spot; they're hoping you'll go away quietly. Grandparents are like that" (Stein 183). After their meeting, Denny decides to take Enzo to his work at the garage because he doesn't feel comfortable leaving Enzo alone yet. Later on in the work day, the police come in and say they have a warrant for Denny for an arrest. The police handcuff Denny infront of his boss, employees, and all his customers. They are arresting him for rape of a child in the third degree. Apparently, Annika told the police that Denny raped her that night she went to his house. Now, Denny is in more trouble then he can handle and feels as if there is no way to win his daughter back. I feel so bad for Denny because his life just keeps on going more down hill each day.
Blog Post #16: Drinking away the troubles
After Denny's lawyer found out about the arrest, he was furious at Denny for getting himself in a huge mess. He shouts at Denny, "A pedophile. A sex offender. A statutory rapist. A child molester. Do these terms fits anywhere in the concept of 'the best interest of a child'?" (Stein 199). After Denny was released and got home, he started drinking again. Enzo was furious at this behavior and would constantly bark at him. "This wasn't my Denny. This was a pathetic character from a hackneyed television drama. And I didn't like him at all" (Stein 204). I love how much Enzo cares about Denny, and how he knows that Denny is better than that. Finally, Denny realizes he is better than that and puts the alcohol away. He asks Enzo to give him a second chance, similar to when Denny gave Enzo a second chance as a pup when he puked all over Denny's car seats. Together, Enzo and Denny plan to fight for his daughter. After all, Denny says, "No race has ever been won in the first corner" (Stein 206).
Blog Post #17: No invitation
In chapter 36, Denny took Enzo for a long walk until they finally reached Lake View Cemetery. It was the day of Eve's funeral, however when Denny approached the people gathered around Eve's grave, Maxwell told Denny that he was not welcome there. He threatens to call the police if Maxwell doesn't leave. Denny had no choice because he couldn't get himself into more trouble, so he backed away and walked to the top of a hill where he and Enzo watched the whole service, unnoticed and undisturbed. They waited until everyone left, including the workers until they finally walked down the hill and stoof at Eve's grave site. "We kneeled and we cried and we grabbed at handfuls of the dirt, the mound, and we felt the last bit of her, the last part of her that we could feel, and we cried" (Stein 214).
Blog Post #18: Diagnosis - Hip Dysplasia
After experiencing much pain and being unable to move, Denny took Enzo to the doctor. Enzo admits that he too is just like Eve. He has experienced the hip pains since he was young, but he refused to inform anyone because he distrusted doctors and medicine. He blames his distrust on an experience he had when he was just a pup at the farm. The owner of the farm told a doctor he wanted Enzo's dew claws. The owner refused to give Enzo any kind of anesthetic because he didn't want to waste the money. So the doctor snipped off both of Enzo's dew claws without anesthetics causing Enzo a great deal of pain. When at the doctor, Enzo found out he had hip dysplasia. Enzo thought to himself, "I considered the foretelling of my own end, which was to be full of suffering and pain, as death is believed to be the most of the world, and I tried to look away" (Stein 218). Going back to the twins, they put a restraining order againist Denny because of the criminal charges, so Denny was unable to see Zoe for a many months. Denny's lawyer told him that he didn't want Zoe knowing about the legal proceedings, and that he should make up a story. So, Denny wrote Zoe letters about how he is driving race cars in Europe while Enzo is staying with Denny's friends, Mike and Tony. Enzo was allowed to visit Zoe, and together they had a great time. Denny liked this because he could see how Zoe was doing without seeing her. Enzo would make sure she was okay.
Blog Post #19: Empty pockets
Denny continued to take Zoe on schedule, which was every other weekend and every Wednesday afternoon. He took her to many places and taught her things. One of the "secret missions" he took her to was the go-karts. Zoe even beat Denny on the track, proving that she was quicker and smarter than he was. For Denny, this was "all the energry he neeeded to maintain his focus" (Stein 242) throughout the whole ordeal. In addition, money continued to be an issue when it came to paying for the lawyer. The lawyer needed the money because he was getting a lot of people to help the case, like investigators, lie detector specialists, paralegals, and support staff. Denny finally compromised with Mark that he would have the money for him in thirty days. Mark also told Denny that if he were to quit his claim to Zoe, the criminal charges would completely vanish, but Denny refused and said that he will win Zoe back no matter what it takes. Since all of his money was drained from him, Denny had no choice but to move from the house to a one-bedroom apartment. Denny had to do this because Mark threatened to stop working for Denny if he didn't pay him soon. Enzo was really upset because they had to leave the house that he loved, the house with his favorite spot in the living room on the hardwood floor, the house with the dog door Denny built for him, and the house with all the memories. Instead, they were left to an apartment with a carpet that smelt like chemicals, no cable TV, and an old refrigerator that made a loud humming noise. Shortly after Denny paid for the lawyer, Mark was appointed to be a circuit judge and chose to take the position because it was so prestigious and not refusable. So Denny was left to find a new lawyer and soon after he found out the twins were suing Denny for child support.
Blog Post #20: Doctor bills and legal papers
In chapter 46, Enzo gets hit by a car while running across the street after Denny called his name. By the time Denny realized the car was coming and shouted for Enzo not to come, it was too late. Enzo did not die, but he was pretty badly hurt. The young, teenage boy that hit him was very shaken by the incident and drove Denny and Enzo to the doctor right way. Enzo claims that he didn't die that day because when a person dies their soul has done what it needed to do, but Enzo knew he was not finished and that he still had work to do. Enzo was faced with a nondisplaced fracture of the pelvic bone and that he would need replacement surgery. With all the x-rays, sedatives, examinations, diagnosis, cortisone injections, and pain medications the whole accident ended up costing Denny $812. When Denny went to pay with his credit card, but the assistant said it was declined. He was shocked and tried another card but was unfortuntely left with the same result. He exceeded his limit. The doctor allowed him to pay the $300 cash that Denny had in his pocket, and Denny even needed to take back $20 for gas. Denny knew it....he couldn't afford to take care of Enzo. Denny feels completely hopeless and like the twins are starting to win. This is when Denny decided it was time to sign the papers and drop his criminal records, but lose custody of Zoe. He would no longer have to pay child support and Zoe's college education would be paid for. As he was signing the papers, Enzo ripped the paper out of Denny's hands. "Denny would never give up his daughter for a few weeks of summer vacation and an exemption from child support payments!" (Stein 265). Enzo then dove out the window and onto the porch, where he ripped and destroyed the legal papers. After finally laughing it off, Denny agreed "I'm going to win this thing or I'm going to run out of fuel on the last lap. But I'm not going to quit. I promised Zoe. I'm not going to quit" (Stein 267).
Blog Post #21: Once in a lifetime
Denny became a teacher at Pacific Raceways, which was an easy way for him to make money to pay for his lawyers. Some days, Denny would take Enzo to the track. Enzo would sit in the stands and watch him teach, which he very much enjoyed. One day in July, Luca Pantoni, the head of Ferrari came to meet Denny. He met Denny a few years prior when Denny was at the top of his game, and invited him over for dinner. Luca wanted Denny to show him the track. In fact, Luca asked Denny if he would allow him to be the passenger as he took him around the course. Denny was even allowed to drive in the F430 Ferrari, priced at almost a quarter of a million drivers. Denny happily accepted the offer and both men strapped into the car. All of Denny's racing students went into the stands to watch. Denny drove impressively fast and close to the edge, showing off his best skills. His students were amazed. After, Luca was so impressed of his driving skills that he handed Denny a business card. Luca wanted Denny to work with him, testing cars for Ferrari, in Italy. It was a once in a lifetime offer! Luca said an apartment for him and his Daughter, along with a company car, would come with his compensation package. Denny was in awe, and he wondered why him? Luca told Denny, "I heard you are an exceptional driver in the wet weather" (Stein 276), but that was not the only reason....the other reasons would come if Denny joined him in Maranello at his house for dinner. Denny, knowing his situation and how he can't leave the country, told Luca that he appreciated his generous offer but that he had issues that were preventing him from leaving. Luca somehow knew about his troubles and said, "I will keep the position available for you until your situation is resolved and you can make your decision free from the burden of circumstance. My telephone is on the card" (Stein 276). Denny shook his hand and thanked Luca over and over again. Denny just wanted to know why, why him?
Blog Post #22: Turning a new leaf
While taking Enzo for a walk, Denny runs into Annika sitting with a friend at a coffee shop. He first apologizes for any signals he may have given her that weekend that may have lead her on, but he tells her she got it all wrong. He tells her, "They want me to be a registered sex offender, and that will mean that I will always have to register with the police, wherever I live. And I will never be able to see my daughter again without supervision. Did they tell you about that?" (Stein 283).He tells her that one day she will find a mind that will love her and take care of her, but right now he needs his daughter back, and he doesn't want to police to take her away from him. Tears streamed down Annika's face but she said nothing, so Denny just stood up and walked away with Enzo. He told Enzo that she heard him. In the next two chapters, we finally meet Denny's parents. They were old, frail, wore old clothes, and barely talked. We find out his mother is blind, and for the three days they stayed with Denny they never left the apartment. When Denny's mother met Zoe for the first time in her life, she began to cry. Eventually, Denny's father opened himself up more as the three days winded down. On the last night of their visit, the parents hand Denny an envelope. They did a reverse mortgage and gave Denny the money. Denny's father said, "We never did right by you...we never did right. This makes it right" (Stein 289). The reader finds out later on that Denny took care of his mother and her blindness but he left home after high school and his father told him that he if doesn't stay home and help with the farm, he shouldn't even bother trying to stay in touch. Denny called every Christmas, but his mother refused to talk. His parents never gave him any money. One day, however, when Denny was broke he called his parents and begged for any bit of money. Her response was that, "she would give him everything if only she could meet her grandchild. Her hands on Zoe's hopeful face; her tears on Zoe's dress" (Stein 293).
Blog Post #23: Enzo to the rescue
These next few chapters discuss the trial. At this point in the book I was anxious to know what would happen next. I felt so bad for Denny because of all the misfortunes happening in his life. During the trial, Enzo stayed home with Denny's friend as he waited for the news. Finally, during a recess in the trial, Denny's friend took Enzo to see Denny. While waiting outside, Enzo's legs gave out, so he laid down and fell asleep during which he had a strange dream that made me laugh. In it, the judge called Enzo up to the stand where that had a voice synthesizer that allowed Enzo to talk and for people to actually understand him. Finally, Enzo is one step closer to his dream in being a human! When the judge swore him in, Enzo responded, "I do,' I said in my scratchy, metallic voice, which was not at all as I had imagined. I had always hoped I would sound more commanding and present, like James Earl Jones" (Stein 300). This is why I love Enzo! He has such a funny personality. By the end of the dream, Annika confessed and Denny was free to have full custody of Zoe. But, what was even better, was when Enzo woke up, he found out that Denny really won the case; maybe not with Enzo but with his great lawyer. I was so happy for Denny and Zoe! Finally, something positive happened in their life. Denny also got a call from Luca and Denny told him his issue had been resolved and that he would be happy to work with him. Zoe even wants to go to the Italian school and she already started learning Italian words.
Blog Post #24: Bye Enzo
In this chapter, Enzo passes away. It was very emotional and even made me cry as I read it because I have a dog and the pain Denny felt it understandable and I felt very empathetic towards his. His passing was written so beautifully in that Enzo talks about everything he has learned from Denny. He also talks about how "racing in the rain is also about the mind! It is about owning one's own body...It is believing that you are not you; you are everything. And everything is you" (Stein 314). Enzo remembers a documentary about how in Mongolia, after a dog dies, it returns as a man and his soul is released to run until he is ready to be reborn. As Enzo dies, his soul begins to run through a huge field, feeling timeless and free. Enzo barked twice to symbolize the word "faster" and Denny cheers him on. Now at this point in the book, I'm balling my eyes out. It was written so well, but it was so sad...yet happy at the same time.
The last chapter skips forward a few years to when Denny and Zoe are in Italy. Denny has become a successful, well known racer who became a Formula One Champion. After winning a big race, two fans (a young boy and an older man) came up to him and asked for an autograph. The italian boy tells Denny his name is Enzo and that he wants to be a champion like Denny. Denny is amazed and stunned. He offers the boy's father his phone number to call when his son is ready and Denny will give him the opportunity to drive. The book ends with the boy saying, "la macchira va dove vanno gli occhi" (Stein 321), which means the car goes where the eyes go, something Denny told Enzo all the time.
The last chapter skips forward a few years to when Denny and Zoe are in Italy. Denny has become a successful, well known racer who became a Formula One Champion. After winning a big race, two fans (a young boy and an older man) came up to him and asked for an autograph. The italian boy tells Denny his name is Enzo and that he wants to be a champion like Denny. Denny is amazed and stunned. He offers the boy's father his phone number to call when his son is ready and Denny will give him the opportunity to drive. The book ends with the boy saying, "la macchira va dove vanno gli occhi" (Stein 321), which means the car goes where the eyes go, something Denny told Enzo all the time.
Afterwords
I have to say, after finishing this book it was probably one of my favorites. I love the way it was written with the symbolisms between Denny's car racing techniques and the challenges we face in life. Having the perspective of the dog made the book enjoyable, relatable, and really funny. I loved how this book made me laugh, cray, become frustrated, sympathetic, and kept me at the edge of my seat. I really like how this book made me want to keep reading; I couldn't but it down! I read the whole book in a week, which for me (as a slow reader) is very fast. I think this book would make a great movie and one that people (especially with dogs) could relate with. I definitely plan to read another book by this author because I loved his writing style and just everything about this book. It is a must-read! I give it five stars!