The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein

[migirl]

I LOVED this book. It's fantastic. Beautifully written and thoroughly engaging, I had a really hard time putting it down. I definitely recommend it.

Here's the synopsis from Amazon

If you've ever wondered what your dog is thinking, Stein's third novel offers an answer. Enzo is a lab terrier mix plucked from a farm outside Seattle to ride shotgun with race car driver Denny Swift as he pursues success on the track and off. Denny meets and marries Eve, has a daughter, Zoë, and risks his savings and his life to make it on the professional racing circuit. Enzo, frustrated by his inability to speak and his lack of opposable thumbs, watches Denny's old racing videos, coins koanlike aphorisms that apply to both driving and life, and hopes for the day when his life as a dog will be over and he can be reborn a man. When Denny hits an extended rough patch, Enzo remains his most steadfast if silent supporter.

I will honestly never look at my own dog the same way again. I was talking to the librarian when I picked up this book, and she told me that she doesn't even like dogs and she loved this book ... so you don't have to be a dog-lover to enjoy this one!