Okay, my copy is to be started today.....shouldn't take long if it's as good as it sounds....
Just give me the weekend, or at least til tomorrrow.
K

Finished, sat at my desk with tears rolling down my face but what an amazing book.  I think I'll be recommending & passing my copy on this wknd! Thank you for the recommendation.  Looking forward to discussing the amazing dog that is Enzo!

Are we setting a time to start discussing this?  Poloaussie is probabally reading like mad - I see you are back Margot but no Huskygal at the moment.  We can't start without her.  I am away from computer Sunday pm and Monday.  

Well, seeing as we have Ashes2Ashes on a Monday evening, I think that will be a no-go - shall we say Tuesday evening???  How does that suit most peeps?

Good with me!
It's underway and awwwww......
Karen :)

> seeing as we have Ashes2Ashes on a Monday evening

:-D Nothing gets past Margot!!

Hoorah.. I'm in for Tuesday, can't wait!!

Although I Have cheated and grabbed coffee with Margot on wednesday and so got the chance to talk about it!
~Thank-you Margot!! for coffee and such great company!~

Thank you so much for that recommendation.  :)
Not one I could put down, and will pass on the book to others.
Karen :)

im out tuesday evening :(  not a prob though I will try to catch up with it when i get home.

((((( It's tuesday!! we can talk about it now!! :-D ))))

My favourite moment..... of which there were Many (The Sex crazed Zebra!!) had to be Enzo's abject embarrassment about his 'dog' stuffed toy! :-D then his subsequesnt horror at Mikes 'wife' washing it!! LOL

Enzo's take on things was just great.

> his subsequesnt horror at Mikes 'wife' washing it!!

and him liking it better clean
:-D

*Two barks!!* ;)

Just off out - stained glass course!  Join you later.  Just to throw a spanner into the works - Enzo thinks like a human - it that a good thing for all those dog owning folks who don't have the benefit of good advice on training their dogs - so many mistakes are made because people treat their dogs like a human not a dog!  Think Lassie!  (Ducks and leaves) 

Ah, but his owner, Denny, didn't think of Enzo as a human - or, come to that a dog - Enzo was Denny's mate, his best friend!

Although, when Zoe had accidently abandoned Enzo for three days and Denny found him, he did say "sometimes I think you understand me - like there's a person inside there - like you know everything".

But Enzo did know everything - even about Zoe's illness - its just that Denny couldn't understand Enzo.

That was a really enjoyable book.
A box of tissues should be supplied with each copy.
I so agreed with Enzo about the crows...always a sign of bad things.
I will never feel comfortable about zebras again either.
Karen :)

But this is more about having an affinity between dogs and humans rather than being either or.
(to Ceejay)
Karen :)

Well, as a dog lover AND a Formula One fan, this book was perfect for me on all fronts...even if I did bawl my eyes out through most of it :-) 

I also needed tissues for some parts of the book.  I particularly liked the growing relationship between Enzo and Eve, and how he becomes her guardian and support.  Sometimes I felt Denny was a little neglectful of his dog, but life is like that - there are times when you may not be able to give your dog all the attention he deserves, perhaps through illness or family crisis.  I thought this book was very true to life, and a moving tribute to the relationship between man and dog.

> I so agreed with Enzo about the crows

Oh the crows and 'Enzo's revenge' in bags..... that had me laughing out loud on the train to work!!
There are quite a few people reading it on the train now so the 06:00 Ashford to London Victoria have formed a book club too!! :-D

> affinity between dogs and humans

Yes Karen - and there was the theme running through the story that there was a believe in reincarnation and Enzo was coming back as a human - nice touch at the end I like that.

edit to say belief not believe - getting late I think.

I like the description of the dog left on his own - makes one appreciate what it feels like for the dog - 'wandering from room to room, from nap spot to nap spot sometimes spending hours doing nothing more than staring out of the window'  Don't think my dog would appreciate the television on - she ignores it most of the time unless there is a high pitched sound or she catches sight of a dog on there - then she goes right up to the screen.

What about Enzo's love of speed?   Has anyone else noticed it in their dogs?

We certainly have with Loki - I don't know whether it is the sound - I think it has to be - but if we're in traffic, and a high-powered motorbike zooms past, Loki follows it with her eyes and a whistful "whooooo" - I'm sure she would love to be on the back (or maybe front) and I'm sure she would emulate Enzo's two barks!

It would explain why dogs like hanging their heads out of windows of moving vehicles!  However Meg is quite happy in the car - motorbikes are noisy and she just barks at them - she is just a cowardy custard I am afraid.

I had memories of Mol chasing the crows when she was younger when I read that part of the book, she would chase them for hours if we let her, round & round & round...I'm sure they were teasing her.... :)

I was in tears at the end but I think it would help anyone who'd had to have a dog PTS, maybe not to begin with but in a few weks when they'd come to terms with it.

Hated the 'twins', how horrible & cunning they were, Enzo was right about them at the start! Mental note not to feed dogs peppers!!! ;)

Great read, have recommended it to many many people! Although think it should come with a 'tissue' warning, thoroughly enjoyed thank you for the recommendation.

So what we reading next?????

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/62
http://www.borders.co.uk/discount/best-selling-fiction-titles/23/
http://www.top10books.co.uk/

Anyone got a pin? :-)

just caught up with this. 

I loved the zebra bit, and the bit about his toy getting washed. Every time he mentioned "the twins" it made me laugh out loud. I really thought it was a fantastic book, has certainly made me look at my boys and wonder what they are thinking.

When choosing another book could we have another reasonably priced one like that one was - will make me more willing to buy it ;)

reasonably priced is good, I'm gonna have a look at what's on offer in my local supermarket tonight when I do my weekly big food shop...peter kay anyone...:)

You obviously didn't get it for a good price then - mine was £3 something from Asda.  On Amazon it was £10 something.  

Here are some ideas - and look what is at the top of the list!!!!
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/findaguide/best_of_new.asp

Now don't say that I'm not on the ball!!!

Margot x

Question (from the above) > Do you find yourself looking at your own dog differently after reading this novel?

My answer is that I don't think that my dog is as wise as Enzo - she has lots of fears - perhaps the devil zebra comes up alot in her little nervous life in one form or another.  No I don't look at her differently.  I think I know her quite well now.

I have just started the 'Guernsey literary and Potato peel pie society'.
That could be because of the local interest....

Karen

Mmm...haven't read that yet - but it was Radio 4's book at bedtime a few weeks ago!   Will have to take a look.......

> You obviously didn't get it for a good price then - mine was £3 something from Asda.  On Amazon it was £10 something.

who me ? yes I paid about £3.50 from sainsburys, just want another that we can get for that price, I dont usually buy books new not when you can get them from boot sales for under a pound.

What do people think of the re-incarnation idea, that Enzo saw coming back as a human almost as a promotion, that when a dog finished living his lifetimes as a dog his next incarnation will be as a man. Enzo obviously wanted this to happen - would you? Would you want to come back as a human or as a dog?

Love the idea of all the different levels of life, and wouldn't be surprised at anything.
I was born in the Chinese year of the dog and have always felt there is more between me and dogs than is comprehensible, particularly as there was no dog in our family as I wa growing up.
Karen :)

Sometimes I think a dog's life would be alot simpler :-)  - it would depend on which human was looking after you!

I loved this book - I personally would love to come back as 'one of my dogs' - very spoilt!!!
The art of Racing in The Rain -
I found the writer's insight to a dogs time 'home alone' really thought provoking.
First and last 2 chapters, tear jerkers for anyone who has loved and owned a dog.
I also loved the love / hate relationship between Enzo and Denny's wife - especially during the birth of their first child and also her illness. 

Great suggetion to whover started the CD book club - WHAT'S NEXT .............................................................................................

> What do people think of the re-incarnation idea, that Enzo saw coming back as a human almost as a promotion, that when a dog finished living his lifetimes as a dog his next incarnation will be as a man

No ....I'd rather not come back as a dog ....dogs always seem to seek approval.   I'll come back as a cat - and I'll do as I d**** well want to!

Who likes the way that Enzo absorbs his information about the world from television ....from the geographical programmes to the detective stories (he likes Peter Falk as Columbo!)

A cat!  I so agree with you Margot.  Who wants to be stuck on a lead.

The best bit I think is what Enzo learnt from the video of the race - the racing representing the journey through life -  He says ' that which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves'  

I thought it was interesting the way he talked about how Eve and her parents acknowledging her illness and accepting that nothing could be done sealed her fate.

The part of the book where Enzo says he can smell the rot in Eve is interesting, I'm sure I read somewhere that some people believe that dogs can sense illnesses before they show symptoms.

I've just passed the book onto a friend who recently lost her first dog, I think/hope it will help her handle the grief she is going through.

A saw a few books on offer at Sainsbury's, I think Victoria Hislop's The Return is on offer at the minute for about £4 - I loved the Island so would be happy to have this as the next book to read.  Any other suggestions welcomed!

>I'm sure I read somewhere that some people believe that dogs can sense illnesses before they show symptoms.

they have dogs which can detect cancer and epileptic fits.