Literature Annotations
 |
Stein, Garth |
 | On-Line Text and Audio |
| Genre | Novel (321 pp.) |
| Keywords | Cancer, Caregivers, Child Abuse, Communication, Death and Dying, Empathy, Family Relationships, Father-Daughter Relationship, Human Worth, Illness and the Family, Love, Parenthood, Power Relations, Sexuality, Society |
| Summary |
The story of race-car driver Denny Swift, as told by his appealing dog, Enzo, is his death-basket memoir. Denny’s tale of woe seems endless. His wife, Eve, dies of a brain tumour and he is in a struggle with her parents for custody of his daughter Zoë. Making matters worse, he is falsely accused of raping a minor by a 15 year-old who has a crush on him. Enzo would love to intervene. However, he is frustrated by his inability to speak and his lack of opposable thumbs—but he sees clearly the worth of his master and the need for careful perseverance—like racing in the rain.
|
| Commentary | The heavy themes of grief, family relationships, and justice are woven throughout this tale, but the philosophical observations of the loyal pooch bring gentleness and levity – and even a remarkable degree of plausibility. Similar to the work of Mark Haddon, also described at this website.
|
| Publisher | Bright White Light LLC |
| Edition | 2008 |
| Place Published | Seattle, WA |
| Alternate Publisher | Harper Perennial |
| Alternate Edition | 2009 |
| Place Published | Toronto |
| Miscellaneous | Garth Stein has both native American and Jewish roots. |
| Annotated by | Duffin, Jacalyn |
| Date of Entry | 01/01/12 |
| Last Revised | 01/06/12 |