The Art Of Racing In The Rain~

I've been stuck at home this few days due to the lack of transportation for going out to the outside world because my mom sent her car to the shop for repainting. Well, at least I went out with Cheng and Pam last night to korean restaurant for some gim bap and K songs at Happy Arcade. xD That was quite fun~ Before that, on Monday night, Siaw Tan, Kevin and I went to Li Wen's birthday party, it wasn't that bad too. I should post the photo some other day? xD I hope someone won't kill me just because I post her photo on my blog? =O Hahaahh just kidding~ XP

Anyways, I remember before Evon went back to KL again this month, she passed some books to me and asked me to read 'em. I was kinda surprised that she even handed me some chic's books? Yes, you heard me, chic's books, 'The True Naomi Story' and 'The Model Wife', and I'm not even sure if I would read 'em. xD She plucked another book from the bookshelf, titled 'The Five People You Meet In Heaven', which kinda caught my attention, it kinda reminded me of the book I bought in Taiwan, '我在雨中等你'. Direct translation should be 'I'm waiting for you in the rain' but the original title of the book was 'The Art Of Racing In The Rain'.

Introduction of the Book:

Author: Stein, Garth

Publisher: Baker & Tayl

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, Zoe, 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 Zoe at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man. 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.

I did a research on this book in English version cos I want to introduce this book to people whose reading my blog. This is a book for the soul, telling a story from what a dog feels inside itself and how hard the little dog tries to listen to everything the master spouts at it. Anyhow, because I read the book in Chinese version, so I had to drop some Chinese words here~ xp

這本書的主角是叫恩佐的狗
從狗的觀點以及想法 去看人類的世界

因為是一隻狗 即使他很想說些什麼
也只能用著動作或是叫聲 來表達自己的心情以及情緒

[我不能講話，所以我很認真聽。
我從不打斷人，我從不用自己的評論來主導對話。
如果你有注意的話，人們總是不斷改變彼此對話的方向]


恩佐的主人丹尼是一位賽車手
所以在這本書中 除了藉由狗的觀點去看主人的世界
還介紹了關於F1賽車的一些典故

人生就像一場賽車
而自己正處於這場賽事中
[你的心，決定你所看見的方向。。。]
賽車是一場耐力賽，一個小關鍵就能影響整場賽事

[一個冠軍的真正考驗不在於他是否能成功，
而在於他是否能克服困難，而且困難最好是
來自於他自身的缺點，然後邁向成功。]

[當壓力激增時，賽事才進行到一半，被對手瘋狂追趕的駕駛，
最聰明的做法就是讓後面緊追不捨的車子超過去，
自己寧可後來急起直追而非保持領先。甩開負擔後，
我們便能退到後面，讓新的領先者去看他的後視鏡。]


[駕駛的雙手應該要放鬆、敏銳、充滿自覺。因為駕車時，
絕大部分的訊息都是透過方向盤來傳達，
抓得太緊或是太焦慮不安會有礙訊息傳達]

這本書利用賽車手的經驗以及觀點
來說明人生面對的種種問題

這是一本很值得一看的小說
很輕鬆 卻也很貼近每個人心裡的書


This novel is really worth reading. =]