GarthStein.com says:
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.The Book Snobs Gathering
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, Zoë, 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 Zoë at his side.
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.
The Snobs met at Theresa's home on Monday, February 28. She served a choice of French Onion Soup and Seafood Chowder. Both were delicious.
The Snobs spent a good deal of time talking about some rules and protocals for the club. Since we've grown from a froup of seven to a group of eleven, it seems that some rules and "crowd-control" may be in order.
The Art of Racing in the Rain was universally thought to be a great read. This book was uniquely written from the perspective of Enzo, a dog with the soul of a philosopher and an obsession with opposable thumbs. We were all amused at Enzo educating himself by watching television and listening. And we were amazed by his insights into human nature and impressions of human personalities.
Recipes from The Book Snobs
Seafood Chowder
1 bunch of green onions
1 lb. of fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 stick of butter
2 cans of cream of potato soup
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
2 cans of whole kernel corn (drain one can)
2 pints of half & half
1-8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese
1-2 lbs. of crawfish tail meat (1-2 frozen packages-do not rinse) or shrimp or combination of shrimp and crawfish
1 Tablespoon of Tony Chchere's Creole seasoning (I would suggest starting with one teaspoon and then adding more depending on how spicy you want it to be)
Saute the onions and mushrooms in the butter and then add the remaining ingredients. Heat about 1 hour.
Quick Onion Soup
2 large onions
3 packets of onion soup mix (I buy the boxes that have 2 packets of onion soup mix in each box and for this recipe I use 1.5 boxes or 3 packets)
8 cups water
French bread
Grated white cheese (e.g.,, swiss, mozzarella, Italian blend)
Slice onions into thin rounds and then cut in half again.
Saute onions in vegetable oil or olive oil until soft and slightly browned.
Add water and onion soup mix.
Bring to boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about 20-60 minutes.
Serve with crumbled bread and sprinkle cheese on top. (You can use any kind of bread but I prefer a white French loaf style. It is fine to use bread that is a little stale and hard because the broth will soften it up. If you just have wheat bread, pop it in the toaster and then tear it up and put it in the bottom of the bowl and ladle the soup on top).
*The longer you cook it, the more the broth reduces and darkens and thickens up and makes for a really rich onion soup.
*If you are in a hurry, you can omit sautéing the onions and just throw all the ingredients together (water, onion soup mix, raw onions) and bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 min until onions are soft. It still tastes good with this quickie version.
