Several book discussions are scheduled for this week as part of "One Book, One Middletown."

The project, sponsored by the city and the local Rotary Club, is designed to promote a culture of reading by encouraging the community to read the same book at the same time and to participate in book discussions and other related events.

This year's book is "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein.

The narrator is Enzo, an old mixed breed dog who is reaching the end of his long life. He is owned by Denny Swift who is pursuing a career as a race car driver, risking his life and savings to make it on the professional racing circuit. Enzo is frustrated by his inability to talk and is hopeful that he will be reborn as a man (something he learned from a National Graphic documentary about Mongolia). He watches Denny's old racing videos and share his thoughts on principles that apply to both driving and life. When Denny hits a rough patch in his family life, Enzo remains a steadfast, silent supporter.

CLICK HERE for a full schedule of events related to "One Book, One Middletown." And even if you can't attend any of the events, you can still pick up a copy of the book at the library or a local book store and give it a try! When you are done, you can always email us your thoughts about the book at editor@middletownpress.com and we will be happy to post it on this blog.