Marley and Me by John Grogan

The heartwarming and unforgettablestory of a family in the making and thewondrously neurotic dog who taughtthem what really matters in lifeJohn and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good-Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these."And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.

Great book, as expected. And also as expected, totally made me cry in the end.

I laughed & I cried while reading this book. There were a few parts that did irritate me, like when Marley was ill and Grogan was talking about the cost of treatment, etc. All in all, though, I think this book was fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

0-stars

True story...I read this book months before the film came out. Later, on the film's release day on Christmas Day in 2008, I saw the film with family and bawled my eyes out. TWO DAYS LATER...TWO DAYS LATER. My family's dog died. He was 12 which was understandable but the timing was atrocious. His name was Rocky and was a gorgeous Brittle-colored Greyhound.

I never saw the film or read the book ever since. One time, I even begged my high school teachers to leave the room while they were watching the film. They allowed me to luckily. The book/film is cursed to me hahaha

When we lost our family Golden Retriever in January 2009 my husband couldn't understand how I could read a book about a man and his best friend so soon after losing him, but for me reading Marley & Me was a huge source of comfort as it brought back lots of the lovely memories and joy that having a beloved family pet brings.

This book, although almost autobiographical was surprisingly easy to read - it was very witty, fast paced and contemporary. John Grogan writes very well and you very quickly are drawn into the story of himself and his wife Jenny as they decide in the early years of their marriage to test their parenting skills out by purchasing a puppy - Marley.

There were parts of this book that were laugh out loud funny, I also learned a great deal about labrador retrievers that I didn't know which were pertinent as we began to consider other breeds for our next dog and I shed tears at the end as he described the very difficult task of being with your dog as the vet puts them to sleep - an experience very raw and recent for our family and in some ways it helped to know that the emotions we experienced after the event were not unique to our family.

This is a book that will appeal to dog owners everywhere - whether they have a young puppy, an older dog or have lost their beloved pet. My stepson cannot wait to see the film as he says it looks hysterical and whilst I also cannot wait to see it on screen I know I'll always think back to how the book reached out to me at a time when I needed to find solace and remember the joys of being the owner of a dog who has devoted himself to your family.