It wasn’t too much of a stretch to figure out the annual citywide read-along One Book/One Denver selection was going to be about dogs.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock on Thursday announced that “The Art of Racing in the Rain” would be the 2011 book choice at the Denver Animal Shelter, standing beneath a large statue of a dog with a few handsome Labrador retrievers looking on.
The book, by Seattle author Garth Stein, follows the story of a race-car driver and his dog, Enzo. It has been on the New York Times best-seller list for more than two years.
“This book is a wonderful book . . . about the universal story of love and loyalty,” Hancock said.
The program, started in 2004 by then-Mayor John Hickenlooper, aims to promote reading and discussion by encouraging Denver residents to read the same book and participate in community events.
Hickenlooper chose the first titles himself from a batch of suggestions.
In 2009 and last year, the public began voting on the finalists on the city’s website.
This year, about 1,450 people voted over two weeks in June, choosing from three finalists: “The Art of Racing in the Rain”; “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” by Jamie Ford; and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot.
“The Art of Racing in the Rain” received 38 percent of the vote, said Niecie Washington, special-events coordinator for the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
Last year, “The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett, was the top pick.
Other previous titles have been “Peace Like a River” by Leif Enger; “Caramelo” by Sandra Cisneros; “The Milagro Beanfield War” by John Nichols; “Articles of War” by Nick Ar vin; “The Thin Man” by Dashiell Hammett; and “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
