Trish Character Analysis in The Art of Racing in the Rain

Eve's mother, Zoë's grandmother and Denny's mother-in-law. Enzo often refers to Trish and her husband, Maxwell, as “The Twins.” Trish cares only for the wellbeing of her daughter and Zoë, and believes that she and Maxwell can provide better care for them than Denny could. Throughout The Twins' legal battle with Denny, Trish is more interested in getting custody of Zoë than destroying Denny, and at times doesn't seem to believe Annika's claim that Denny assaulted her.

Trish Quotes in The Art of Racing in the Rain

The The Art of Racing in the Rain quotes below are all either spoken by Trish or refer to Trish. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

She rarely called me by my name. They do that in prisoner of war camps, I've heard. Depersonalization.

Related Characters: Trish (speaker), Enzo (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 85

Explanation and Analysis:

Trish Character Timeline in The Art of Racing in the Rain

The timeline below shows where the character Trish appears in The Art of Racing in the Rain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Eve's parents, Trish and Maxwell, had been in the apartment since Zoë's birth to care for her and... (full context)

...following weekend when Denny is away racing, Eve, Zoë, and Enzo go to stay with Trish and Maxwell. Eve's hand is bandaged, which Enzo thinks means it's worse than she let... (full context)

As soon as they arrive, Trish and Maxwell start ragging on Denny to Eve. They stand in the kitchen drinking, and... (full context)

Maxwell opens a jar of his favorite hot peppers, and Trish comments on how frail Eve is. Maxwell shakes his head and wonders where they went... (full context)

...down under a bush in the shade until the burning stops. Later that night, when Trish and Maxwell take Enzo outside, Enzo notes that his stool is watery and foul smelling.... (full context)

After two weeks of their regimented schedule, Maxwell and Trish offer to take Zoë for a weekend to give Denny a break, and Eve supports... (full context)

The Tuesday after Zoë's weekend with Trish and Maxwell, she and Enzo play in the back yard. After running around for a... (full context)

One evening at the hospital, Enzo listens to Denny, Maxwell, and Trish talk while Zoë works on a book of mazes. Trish and Maxwell do all the... (full context)

The following Saturday, Denny, Zoë, and Enzo go to Trish and Maxwell's house. The living room now has a fancy moveable bed and a nurse... (full context)

...calls from the back door that Eve is here, and Zoë and Enzo come inside. Trish and an unknown man help a “mannequin” with dead eyes into the bed, Zoë calls... (full context)

Wandering into the kitchen, Enzo finds Denny conferencing again with Trish and Maxwell. The Twins say that they think Zoë should stay with them, "until." Enzo... (full context)

...guarding Eve from the demon (zebra). In the morning, Enzo relinquishes his guard duties to Trish and Maxwell, and Eve quietly thanks Enzo for his protection. (full context)

Maxwell and Trish eventually ask to transfer Zoë to a school near their home, since commuting is a... (full context)

...proceeds as usual. Eve continues the process of dying while she and Zoë remain with Trish and Maxwell, but Enzo says that Denny is allowing himself one diversion. He received a... (full context)

On the first of May, Denny and Enzo are invited to Trish and Maxwell's for dinner. Eve is absent, and Enzo finds it awkward, so he wanders... (full context)

...could've done for Denny given what they were going to find once they arrived at Trish and Maxwell's house. When they arrive, a white van is in the driveway. Denny goes... (full context)

Denny comes out of the house and embraces Zoë. Trish says that she and Maxwell will take care of the arrangements before the end of... (full context)

Denny and Enzo are perplexed, and Denny tells Trish and Maxwell they can't have custody. Trish tries to explain that they have the experience... (full context)

...to stop her and Denny is furious. Zoë doesn't know who to listen to, and Trish finally tells her to pack while the adults talk. Trish pleads with Denny to let... (full context)

...the papers as Denny desperately says that Eve couldn't have possibly meant that she wanted Trish and Maxwell to have custody of Zoë. The man replies that he doesn't care what... (full context)

The man instructs Denny to call Trish and Maxwell and direct all correspondence to him as Denny's lawyer. He says grandparents are... (full context)

...waive the retainer fee. Standing up, he tells Denny the suit is bogus and that Trish and Maxwell are looking for an easy fight. He instructs Denny to call Trish and... (full context)

...witnessed by Enzo directly. He says the events took almost three years, as Maxwell and Trish wanted to deplete Denny's bank account and destroy his desire to win. Enzo says he... (full context)

...his office the next morning. Denny, angry, asked where Zoë was, and Mark answered that Trish and Maxwell got to her first. When Denny says he's going to get her, Mark... (full context)

...a child molester, and Denny doesn't budge. Zoë reaches them and jumps into Denny's arms. Trish rushes up to them and tells her sons to leave, and then tries to reason... (full context)

Trish whispers to Denny that he must've been very lonely to take advantage of a fifteen-year-old,... (full context)

...on his own difficulties rather than dwell on the fact that Zoë is stranded with Trish and Maxwell. (full context)

Due to the criminal charges against Denny, Trish and Maxwell are granted a temporary restraining order that means Denny isn't allowed to see... (full context)

The made up story, while successful, forgot to account for Enzo's whereabouts, leading Trish and Maxwell to panic when Zoë asks to see him. Denny tells Mark that for... (full context)

...teaching job in Spokane, and Mike arranges for Enzo to spend the weekend with Zoë, Trish, and Maxwell. The night that Enzo arrives, he finds his bed already in Zoë's room.... (full context)

The following afternoon, as Enzo naps on the porch while Trish and Maxwell drink their afternoon cocktails, he overhears their conversation. Trish wonders if Annika isn't... (full context)

...their clever tricks, they don't understand Denny's persistence. He continues to fume and decides that Trish and Maxwell are now the Evil Twins, and his anger fuels a thirst for revenge.... (full context)

...accused Denny. She stares into her bowl of ice cream and says that she made Trish and Maxwell love her too much, and that she should have misbehaved so they didn't... (full context)

...and every other weekend. Mark calls Denny a champion, and then takes Zoë back to Trish and Maxwell. (full context)

Enzo notes that Denny has a secret. He says that while Trish and Maxwell may restrict Denny's access to Zoë, when he does see her, he gets... (full context)

...Mark had an energy about him, while Mr. Lawrence seems sad and slow. Soon after, Trish and Maxwell sue Denny for child support, which Mr. Lawrence says is legitimate, if ruthless. (full context)

...deeds. At night before Enzo sleeps, he talks to King Karma and sends him to Trish and Maxwell. Enzo says that King Karma gives them bad dreams in which they're chased... (full context)

The following day, Mr. Lawrence calls to tell Denny that Trish and Maxwell have dropped their custody suit, but requested 48 hours with Zoë before returning... (full context)

Trish Character Analysis

Trish Quotes in The Art of Racing in the Rain

Chapter 15 Quotes

Trish Character Timeline in The Art of Racing in the Rain