There are a lot of good things in this book. It has some narrative problems, too. Enzo, as the narrator, is probably the most interesting part for me. He's an outsider in large parts of the story, and so he narrates with detailed observations. Sometimes, Stein shows Enzo understanding very well what's going on around him; other times it's an intentional inability to understand that highlights his distance from his human family. It's fun to imagine what a dog might think of just about anything. Enzo's perspective on the story's events and characters ties the whole narrative together.

On the downside, for me, it sometimes felt a bit like watching a movie with the color turned up way too high. The challenges in Denny's life aren't just difficult, they're abysmal. Check off nearly every possible thing that could go wrong, and it does. Then, in a too-sudden turn at the end, he finally achieves resolution and rides off into the sunset. After the trials he went through, I don't object to the happy ending. I just wish it had been foreshadowed more effectively and tied into the story more closely as it developed. As it was, it felt like it just dropped in out of the sky at the end, and I couldn't enjoy it the way I really wanted to.
( )

Life

Enzo, the dog, and his owner Denny have a special bond. Enzo dreams of becoming a human in his second life. He understands human behavior and learns about many things by watching tv when left at home alone. This is a really good story about Enzo?s faith in Denny and Enzo?s support to him during his years of dealing with the many obstacles that are placed before him.

I've avoided reading this book for years despite so many people telling me that they enjoyed it. I saw the dog on the cover and pictured something that just wouldn't work for me since I'm not a huge pet person and am pretty indifferent to dogs overall.

I found it to be a charming POV and a nice little page turner. Easy to read and perfect to read as I was traveling.

A good start to the new year. ( )

Thank you to author Garth Stein for telling Enzo's story. It provided me with plenty of food for thought and reflection on life and death. It's full of inspiration and comfort. Enzo is a kind and wise soul.

Thank you also for introducing me to Denny, Zoe, Eve, Mike, Tony and Luca. They are good people. There's others in the story that I won't mention because I can't say anything good about them. When you read the book, you'll recognize them and know that they will have to face Enzo's King Karma.

Enzo forever! ( )