Chapter 1 was very powerful. I wonder if the author had lost a close family member. Enzo wanting to die with dignity as well as having Denny realize it was time to let the dog go hit close to home with memories I had right before my parents died. I think the author wanted to start the book in such a powerful way to make the reader accept the dog as a wise observer.

Enzo sniffing out Eve's sickness showed how keen the dog's senses are and yet how powerless he feels communicating with humans. The scene with Enzo attacking Zoe's stuffed animals had me miffed. I understood that both Eve and Enzo both needed to be blamed for something, but that scene didn't quite work for me. As for the crows...well that seemed a bit like Alfred Hitchcock. Crows are smart birds and may represent some kind of omen later on.

Can't wait to read more.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the book at first because the tone was so somber. I thought Enzo was too cynical a character, especially as the family dog. But then with him being older I guess it makes sense too.

I like how the author had Enzo be able to sense Eve's sickness, but then it makes me so sad that he can't say anything!

The whole Enzo believing he'll be reincarnated thing is weird to me.

Chapter 1 caught me by surprise and I knew I wanted to keep reading. Yes, I love that Enzo wants to come back human and the fact that he wants thumbs and to be able to communicate with his family. I got a little upset when Denny hit Enzo because I think Enzo was delirious from hunger when he attacked Zoe's stuffed animals.

I got emotional as well reading the first chapter. I like how the author starts the book with letting us know what is to come, and in a way gears you up for all the different emotions that you will experience while reading this book. From the first page I couldn't put it down and I love how the author chose to write the book from the dog's point of view, its so refreshing to read a book like this.
I thought Enzo's belief that he would be reincarnated as a boy was endearing. Its the hope that we all have to be something better?/more in the next life. He is a helpless observer, he can't communicate, he has no thumbs so he can't be independant and open the door to let himself out when Eve leaves him for too long, and he knows what is happening to her yet can't do a thing. He just has to sit back and watch and wait. He is not able to manifest his own destiny. Enzo has to live Denny's life and I think that is another reason he wants to be a human so badly. He wants to be able to create his own life, not live someone else's. As humans, we have the power to create our own destiny. Inevitably there are roadblocks but we go on and create the lives we live. He is however able to manifest in Denny that it will soon be time to let him go.

Okay, so at first I wasn't sure that I was going to get absorbed in this book, maybe b/c the tone was so somber and serious, but then the whole part about darwinism, the dew claw and werewolves -- cracked me up!!

I think Stein chose to start this book with Enzo and Eve's deaths because it sets the stage, in Enzo's case, for reflection and then I think we get caught up in finding out how Denny's wife's death affected Enzo.

The whole idea about reincarnation, I think that was thrown in there as kind of a way of showing how much Enzo wants to be a person. Don't we all think that of our pets? I can't tell you how many people I've heard say, "She/he thinks they are a person." We really do personify our pets and this is an exaggeration of that.

I believe, as do many pet owners I know, that our cats and dogs can sense when there is sickness. I really like the way the author puts pet owners popular beliefs to work in his novel. We can really start to picture our own pets doing and thinking these exact things.

You got me thinking about the overtones of guilt, and sacrifice too.. I wonder how that's going to play out. I still haven't figured out the zebra thing, yet. My first impression is that Enzo was jealous of the zebra getting so much of Zoe's affection, but I'm not sure that's all it was. I think the zebra was even taunting him. Enzo makes frequent, negative references to his mother...

I like the quote, "That which you manifest..." because it helped me tie in where the author was going with the analogy of life and racing in the rain. Until I read the quote, I wasn't getting the analogy. Personally, I think there is some wisdom in the quote. For this novel, I like that Enzo took it on as kind of his "motto" and used it to decide to make friends with Eve in the kitchen that day. I definately think that is one I'll try to incorporate into my day. Basically, "You reap what you sow."

I'm curious about the crow thing as well. Pretty yucky.... But, I think blackbirds are often associated with death. I think they will be reappearing throughout the book. Did you notice the repeat of "A murder of them." in that chapter? Hm.

Although the beginning of the book is somber, the sense of humor Enzo has about his life cuts the tension on knowing about his death. Pet lovers, we've all been there, having to put a beloved pet to sleep. So painful, yet, so necessary.

I, too, was upset about the scene where Denny loses his temper with Enzo after tearing apart the zebra. We all lose our cool when we don't want to. Enzo lost his cool and ripped up the toy. Denny lost his cool and treated Enzo badly. (We all have the zebra within us.)I have loved my pets and family members with all my heart, yet I have lost my cool with them as well and regretted it.

There are clearly more great lessons ahead

i couldn't stop reading at chapter 13. i think it is brilliant to write a book from the point of view of the dog(always a beloved member of our family). and i did agree how enzo was able to smell eve's sickness. i believe this to be true with dogs. and i wonder if her sickness would have been caught sooner(and even treated)had she not been so afraid of hospitals and doctors. is that why she chose to have zoe at home?...i don't now if i believe in reincarnation or not, but i do believe that the soul never really leaves the ones you love. i look forward to the next chapters.

The first chapter was gripping to say the least. It moved me so much that I had to continue on. I feel the author used Eve's death and Enzo's death reference as a draw for us to see how it all got to this point. I often look at my dogs and wonder what they are thinking! LOL

I, too, loved the part in the book that Enzo could "smell" sickness/cancer in Eve. Very moving and frustrating at the same time. Enzo felt so much and could say so little.

The zebra part in the book was a bit disturbing but needed in a way. I think it was a tie in with Eve's struggles with her headaches and thinking that her there was some sort of "demon" inside her. The same goes with Zeno and the zebra. The zebra was taunting his thoughts while he was in an emotional crisis of hunger and loneliness. Eve felt the same way! It brought the two characters together. Made you think that humans (Eve) and dogs could suffer some sort of the same problems.

Awesome quote "That which you manifest is before you"! It became Enzo's mantra throughout the book.

Nobody mentioned the racing metaphors that Enzo kept reciting throughout the book. I believe our lives are a race. I race to the finish whatever we set out to achieve and accomplish to get to the finish line. Enzo was so in tune with the racing videos and watching with Denny. He learned so much from just watching and listening. Maybe that is what we need to do more of....watch/listen....we might learn so much more!

I am really loving this book! I too was kind of confused about the zebra part. To me it was like Enzo's falling apart. He tried so hard to NOT be like a dog (for example, not lingering under the table during meals), but in the face of hunger and loneliness, he returned to his "wild instincts".
I love that this is told through Enzo's perspective. Enzo wants more than anything to be human, to talk to his family, and reveal his wisdom and help Eve. But he can't, and that's so frustrating for him. It reminds me that I AM human, I CAN speak up and use my "God-given thumbs" to help others. Unfortunately, sometimes, we're all "driving too fast" through life to realize that. Maybe it takes a dog's wisdom for us to slow down and recognize that.

This is one of my all-time favorite books! I seldom read books more than once; however this is the exception. "That which you manifest is before you" is so true. To a great extent, we are each in charge of our own destiny. If you want something badly enough, you can make it reality.

As for the Zebra, I think he represents the things in life we cannot control; namely things brought about by others' actions or illness. In the book--the obstacles facing Denny (and Enzo)are the illness of Denny's wife, her controlling parents, and many more events yet to come. The Zebra brings out Enzo's fears, frustration and the anger he experiences at his inability to make things better for Denny. It is the polar opposite of "that which you manifest..."

I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I do. If you get the chance to meet Garth at a book signing, take advantage of it. He is great. PS: the book is going to be made into a movie!

This is an AMAZING BOOK!

As I began reading this book, I didn't know what the big deal was with regard to it. My neighbor, whose opinion I respect, thought it was very good. I felt it was okay, but nothing special. She did listen to the book on tape and said the voice of the dog really added to the story. I must confess, I did not stop at Chapter 13, but finished the book. It was worth reading.

I have a beloved dog that is getting older and has some health problems. I found myself tearful, also, as I read the first chapter. I loved the book, however, and have already finished it as I just couldn't wait to keep reading it. I really had trouble with the stuffed animals scene and now have an entirely different feeling about Zebra's.
Carolyn

I think Garth Stein set us up for the sorrow in the beginning for one reason, and one reason only: because his novel is a section representing life as a whole. From the get-go we are aware of our immortality or soon made aware. We all remember our first loss, whether it be a goldfish or a grandfather- it is not something we forget. Not to say that life is merely about loss and sadness, but in the shadows of sorrow we find the true appreciation for joy.

As for Enzo's belief in reincarnation; Stein creates this notion because, I believe simply, that he's a dog-lover and the dog-lover in the reader will relate. Those that don't get it, probably don't have a close connection to their pets or have pets at all. We want to believe our pets will move on from this life, one way or another, but always for the better.

The zebra dramatizes fear- all the unknowns, the uncertainty found in cancer diagnoses, the length of the lives we are given, and the world that does or does not lie beyond our mortality.

Ah, the crows. Generally esteemed as intelligent and cunning, but the end of their scene concluded in eating Enzo's feces. Confusing, at first, and entertaining at the very least, but more or less a depiction of our misinterpretations and misunderstandings- how what we expect and what we get in life are two completely different entities. And how we what we get in life is not always what we want. Disappointment exists, but perhaps we learn a lesson from it, even if the onlookers are lauhing on the side lines.

So far, a good read, a fast read, and an easy recommend. Very impressed!

I was excited about reading this book. I think writing this from the point-of-view of the family pet is a great concept. I am glad that Stein set up the death of Enzo at the beginning of the book and then went to the beginning of Enzo's time with Denny. It set up the book well and put me in a different mind-set about where it was heading. I thought the 'racing in the rain' part was very intriguing. Will Denny lead his life and go through life's curves with the same attitude that he uses when driving or will he choose a different way to deal with the slick roads ahead? I'm looking forward to starting back up and seeing where Stein takes us on this journey.

I am enjoying this book very much so far. I had a hard time stopping myself at page 73 and walking away from the book. I kept wondering, "What's going to happen next?"

My thoughts: First of all, I thought Enzo's observation of human ritual on page 8 thought-provoking. He says, "People and their rituals. They cling to things so hard sometimes." I wondered what sort of things I do that must seem ridiculous in the eyes of my own dog. It caused me to question whether certain things I do are really that meaningful. In other words, could I be spending more time on things that really mattered, instead of the day-to-day "rituals" I am so accustomed to?

I LOVED Enzo's "logic" concerning dew claws and werewolves. Just smart writing. (This book, by the way, made me laugh out loud in various instances and tear up in others).

I was particularly struck by what Enzo calls his own "certain willpower" that would never enable him to hurt baby Zoe. How protective dogs can be around children! And I agree with you, Kathleen, at the timeliness of Stein's mention of Enzo being able to smell Eve's sickness. People Magazine just ran an article about this very thing a few months ago. If only dogs could speak. I'm sure we'd learn a lot...

A very quick Google search for the symbolism of a zebra produced the following: ZEBRA - teaches us the beauty in individuality. The zebra's distinctive stripes serves as a protective camouflage against predators, who are often unable to pick an individual out from the herd. For herd members, the stripe patterns, unique to each zebra, have the opposite effect of helping to identify individual zebras. This power animal thus helps us to both maintain our individuality in group settings and helps us to be supportive members of our communities. A third spiritual meaning for the stripes has to do with the integration of opposites, thus enabling us to see a deeper truth.

Perhaps this only emphasizes what we already know: That Enzo is one special pup.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

P.S. Please read the symbolism for "crow" and decide for yourself why Stein incorporated them into his book: CROW - integrity and doing unto others as we would like them to do to us. Crow teaches us to know ourselves beyond the limitations of one-dimensional thinking and laws. It is about bringing magic into our lives. This animal teaches to appreciate the many dimensions both of reality and ourselves, and to learn to trust our intuition and personal integrity.

I thoroughly enjoy the story being told from the dog's point of view! Being a dog lover myself, it is comforting to hear in Enzo's words how much he is like us, and how human his soul truly is (his "opposable thumb theory" was quite funny). This book emphasizes the importance of non-verbal communication and how we can connect with each other on a spiritual level. I have had dogs my whole life, and always felt a very close, personal connection with each of them...even though the verbal communication was limited.
The part where Enzo can smell Eve's sickness hit home for me, because I have experienced a similar situation. My mom had breast cancer 5 years ago and for a year or so before that our family dog, Max (german shepherd), would smell around my mom's face as if he smelled something strange. Also, he wouldn't kiss her on her face during that time, and acted as if he smelled something "bad". After my mom was diagnosed with cancer she said that she felt like Max could smell her cancer...and that's why he was acting that way. Thankfully, it has since been removed, and he gives her kisses just like before and no longer smells around her face. I love this book so far!

This book had me at the first sentence, as any well written book should! I think this sentence not only gives the reader immediate insight into Enzo, but also the author himself. Giving us this early glimpse into his writing style, "grand in nature", sets us up to accept the two bombs in the beginning. These not only make the reader concentrate on the characters, but also gives us a clue to look into everything a little deeper.
To me the choice by Stein of the zebra as the favorite toy was perfection. The zebra incident shows the reader that things are, quite literally, not black and white. To Enzo he was protecting the other toys from the zebra, but to Denny, Eve, and Zoe, Enzo destroyed her toys because he was angry at being left behind or because he was just a stupid dog. The dichotomy of the two sides is clear, but it is what lies between the lines that the family doesn't see, but the reader does; that Enzo was doing his job as protector.
I am interested to see if the crows reappear later in the story. Crows have always been a symbol of death and since Enzo tells us this happened when he was young it could represent the feeling we all have as young kids. The feeling that we will live forever, that death can eat our sh@*! The presence of the crows in his dreams is a reminder that death will win in the end. As readers, we are shown that although he can not tell anyone of Eve's sickness or control her outcome, Enzo does try to have control over his own death. He says in the second paragraph that he is capable of getting older, but that is not the way he wants to go out and then does things to sway Denny's decision. To me, this is his way of playing out the quote, "That which you manifest is before you". He is trying to manifest his death on his own terms, something all of us wishes we could do.
Anyway, I am talking way too much! I love it so far and can't wait to keep reading. Garth Stein is an amazing writer.

I downloaded the audiobook and have been listening during my commute. I LOVE that this is a book written from such a unique perspective, the family dog's. It really makes me think about what my own dogs must be thinking. Particularly, how they seem to know when I'm angry or upset. Enzo can smell fury and fear, and I wonder if my dogs can, too. I think I'll be more sensitive to them and their actions and reactions after this book.
I like the tactic of telling us what will happen. I agree that it helps me focus on the details of the story, the foreshadowing, and the details of the characters. I can't wait to hear more.