Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog

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Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 169,510 ratings · 11,042 reviews

The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life.

Hardcover, 291 pages

Published 2005 by William Morrow; 1ST edition

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Sep 20, 2007 Dave rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a mediocre book written by horrible dog owners.

Marley sounds like an amusing guy; but I think pets are like kids - you don't get nearly as much joy from people telling you stories about their kids as you do from watching your own. I have dogs whom I love very much, and often things they do I find to be very entertaining even though others might not derive the same level of enjoyment if I were to tell them all about it. For this reason, there are no parts of the book that are truly funny....more This is a mediocre book written by horrible dog owners.

Marley sounds like an amusing guy; but I think pets are like kids - you don't get nearly as much joy from people telling you stories about their kids as you do from watching your own. I have dogs whom I love very much, and often things they do I find to be very entertaining even though others might not derive the same level of enjoyment if I were to tell them all about it. For this reason, there are no parts of the book that are truly funny. Perhaps I would have laughed at some parts of the book if Marley was my dog, or if I at least knew Marley - but he's not, and I don't.

Unfortunately, this isn't what I disliked most about the book. What really stands out is that the author and his wife are horrible pet owners. At best they are negligent parents. More accurately, I think quite a bit of their behavior borders on animal abuse. In the half of the book I read, they did the following:

* Decided to get a dog for purely selfish purposes (parental practice)
* Read nothing about the breed before choosing to adopt a Lab
* Failed to do any research into the breeder
* Failed to seek out a trainer to work with Marley's quirks despite obvious behavioral issues
* Failed to provide Marley with adequate protection from storms which completely terrified him
* Used a choker with zeal, while almost deriving joy from Marley's near self strangulation
* Allowed Marley to escape from a moving vehicle, seemingly finding humor in Marley hanging out a moving car by his collar

The worst part comes at the end. During the last few weeks of his life, Marley becomes very sick. What does the author do? He leaves the dog at the vet's office and packs the family into the van for a Disney vacation. Fortunately he gets back just in time to have Marley put down. I then get the impression that he expects us to feel sorrow for his loss.

I can't imagine going on vacation while either of my pets are left, deathly ill, at the vet's office. I had already developed a strong dislike for the author's idea of pet care. This last incident really validated that opinion. (less)

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Jan 25, 2010 James rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have a dog (my first) and like all good, over-excited, enthusiastic first-time parents, when I got it I had every intention of reading every single goddamned book on the topic. Marley & Me by John Grogan was the next on a long and ever-expanding list. It had been on the bestseller lists for quite a long time and so I was expecting it to be a light, enjoyable read. The kind palatable to the masses and easily read between Mitch Albom and Nicholas Sparks.

With “Marley & Me,” I was expectin...more I have a dog (my first) and like all good, over-excited, enthusiastic first-time parents, when I got it I had every intention of reading every single goddamned book on the topic. Marley & Me by John Grogan was the next on a long and ever-expanding list. It had been on the bestseller lists for quite a long time and so I was expecting it to be a light, enjoyable read. The kind palatable to the masses and easily read between Mitch Albom and Nicholas Sparks.

With “Marley & Me,” I was expecting a dog book, a man’s book. I mean, right on the cover is a picture of a cute little puppy looking up at the camera with innocent, loving eyes and a subtitle reading, “Life And Love With The World’s Worst dog.” So I was expecting a book about a man and his dog.

What I got was a book about marriage and babies, two things that gross me out. Two things that my feelings about rank somewhere between ironing shirts and slamming my penis in a sliding door.

That being said, this book is very, very good. By page thirty-two, my eyes were welling with tears. The book actually ended up being a relatively slow read because I had to stop every other paragraph to lift weights, drink beer at a strip club, and watch kung fu movies in my underwear while eating a bowl of cereal for dinner. You see, “Marley & Me” is not a story about a man and his dog. “Marley & Me” is the story of a young married couple that adopts a dog. Like all good characters in good stories, this particular dog is not perfect. In fact, it’s an outrage. Marley is a barking, drooling, rampaging, gnawing, destroying, pillaging Viking of a dog. His energy is endless. He is kicked out of obedience school. He eats expensive necklaces. He rips apart furniture. He destroys an entire garage. He transforms into a howling terror of a werewolf during thunderstorms. He never stops. He is always moving, his frenetic tail constantly wagging and tipping over anything in its oscillating path.

With Marley’s hyperactive and destructive back story carefully laid out, it is an emotional scene when the couple gets pregnant, only to lose the baby in the first trimester, and the mom comes home to be comforted by the surprisingly now-calm Marley with his big head on her lap and his still, patient body consolingly at her side. I am a non-breeder and when reading this scene I was an absolute mess. I was a thirteen-year-old girl saying goodbye to her friends at the end of summer camp. I was a mother at her daughter’s wedding ceremony. I was the girlfriend who didn’t get anything from her boyfriend on Valentine’s Day. I was Meryl Streep in a Meryl Streep movie: weepy and distraught. Grogan poignantly balances the humor, stress, and satisfaction of pet ownership with a young wife as they transition into parenthood. His story is a pleasure to read in its effortless weaving of funny anecdotes, emotional growth, and the changing priorities that come with parenthood, all with an amusing animal for comic relief. Hollywood could not have done better.

The Grogans get pregnant again and their birth story is one of the more interesting ones I have heard (again, I’m a non-breeder so hearing this kind of schmaltzy crap usually bores me to tears. Why do you tell me this stuff? What do you want me to say, “Congratulations, you successfully carried out a maneuver that baboons accomplish every goddamned day, but with less fanfare, books, websites, and talking?”) But the Grogan’s story is quite remarkable as it offers a unique window into the child birthing methods of America. Before the birth, they reserve and pay extra for an upgraded, special birthing suite. When the big day arrives, however, they arrive at the hospital to learn that all of these suites are full. “We can’t control when women go into labor,” a nurse tells them. Not only that, however, but all of the “normal” labor and delivery rooms are full as well. A few phone calls, some scrambling, and they are led into a completely different part of the hospital. The room they are put in is bare and unadorned, lacking the floral curtains, pastel pillows, and cushy couch for dad that they had expected from their pre-natal tour.

The section they are in is for the poorer, mostly immigrant population of their southern Florida community. Seeing their dismay and concern, the Grogan’s doctor assures them that since the poor typically cannot afford prenatal care, they tend to have higher-risk pregnancies so their room was actually equipped with more specialized tools and instruments to prepare for these higher-risk deliveries. Also, these poorer immigrants cannot afford the expensive, pain-relieving epidurals that have become such a common part of births in America, so throughout their entire birth the Grogan’s are treated to the un-drugged screams and painful yelps of their impoverished neighbors. As a non-breeder and a bleeding heart liberal, all of this was thoroughly, thoroughly fascinating. Who would have thought? I open a book looking for a Jack London-esque dog story and get a socio-economic examination of the United States. Ah, books! And to think there’s more to this world than the news and current events I was getting from my usual two sources: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and my pot dealer.

From there, the story meanders down a gently twisting road into an enjoyable story of an American family, complete with happiness and sadness, disappointment and success, children and pet, jobs and vacations. The Grogans get pregnant again and with this baby mom goes into labor months too soon and is relegated to strict bed-rest to prevent a premature birth. A healthy baby boy is finally born at the same hospital and the day after Donald Trump’s baby. Afterwards, mom battles severe post-partum depression and demands that Marley be given away. At this point in the book, I remember silently chanting my encouragements to the narrator to “Get rid of the wife! Keep the dog! Keep the dog!” Ultimately, there was no need for such drastic measures, it’s too good and perfect of a story for tragedy. This story is one where wives and misbehaving dogs learn to live in harmony. There is the birth of a third kid (a girl!), a new job and move to Pennsylvania (complete with dog bellowing from the belly of the plane, serenading all un-amused passengers as his owners play dumb, feigning ignorance and similar disgust at such an obnoxious beast).

And through all of this idyllic American family’s adventure and change, Marley is there, though growing ever older. Marley of course eventually trots into the sunset and my tears were plinking down on the pages the whole way, Grogan tugging every one of my heartstrings. Since I have gotten a dog, I have often remarked that they make great starter-kids. In fact, I have often wondered why parents bother upgrading to human children given that dogs are expensive, entertaining, time-consuming, and very rewarding.

Now I know. Dogs die. We need something that will stick around a bit longer and wipe our ass.(less)

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Sep 13, 2007 Kristine rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: dog lovers (especially Lab lovers)

This is the first book that has ever, and I emphasize EVER, made me laugh so hard and cry so much. All in one book!

Marley & Me is the predictable and somewhat cliche story about a dog and his owner. If you pick up this book expecting a unique story, put it down and look for something else.

If you pick up this book expecting to learn about how to train your dog, put it down and look for something else.

If you pick up this book wanting to read a touching, but very entertaining story about bein...more

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Dec 29, 2008 Dixie Diamond rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: nobody

Shelves: dogs, biography

To be honest, I couldn't even finish this because it was so stupid.

"Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog Owner." For crying out loud--get this poor dog some exercise and a trainer!

I hate books and movies like this: The "zany" antics of poorly-trained, poorly-raised, poorly-managed pets and their self-centered, moronic, owners. I'm always afraid stories like this will encourage other ill-informed, clueless people to adopt dogs they can't handle.

I've owned dogs all my life and never had probl...more

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Kristin This makes me feel like you are the self-centered & moronic one. Dogs all have different personalities as people do... for example some are extrem...more
Jan 10, 2013 10:23am

Erica Unfortunately, that's what a lot of people do...they get Labs and DON'T train them and that is why there are so many Labs in shelters and so many Lab...more
Jan 10, 2013 10:34am

Feb 01, 2009 Oceana2602 rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: dog owners

Shelves: 2006, dogs, english, male-writers

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is one of the handful of books I have read where I have read the ending first. See, Marley and Me is a book about a dog. And books about dogs, especially the ones written by men, usually end with the dog dying. They describe the whole life of the dog, make me fall in love with it, and then it dies. So, after I had fallen in love with Marley the dog, I decided to read about his death first, and then read about the rest of his life, leaving him at a point where he is still young and healthy a...more This is one of the handful of books I have read where I have read the ending first. See, Marley and Me is a book about a dog. And books about dogs, especially the ones written by men, usually end with the dog dying. They describe the whole life of the dog, make me fall in love with it, and then it dies. So, after I had fallen in love with Marley the dog, I decided to read about his death first, and then read about the rest of his life, leaving him at a point where he is still young and healthy and I could imagine a happy end for him.

Other than that, this book is entertaining, but it's a particular kind of entertainment only dog owners can fully appreciate. Because I really doubt people who don't have dogs will want to read about fleas, or dog puke, or drool dripping off everywhere. Marley, of course, isn't the worst dog, and this is the part where I got angry. See, where I live, no one would ever have the idea that a dog would be happy with the backyard and could be left alone all day in the garage. People frown upon that kind of behaviour here, even people who don't own dogs. Dogs are commitment, they need walks, at least three times a day, ideally more, they need someone to be with them at least half the day, and they need contact with other dogs. So, if I read about Marley's "dog poo bombs" in the backyard, I don't feel sorry at all. My own dog would never even pee in our garden. There is no reason for a dog to pee in his own territory unless there is no other place they can go to.

And if I read about Marley being untrainable and having to be calmed with sedatives, I see a poor Labrador, whom nobody ever tried to train properly, who doesn't know what to do with his energy because he is only taken for walks every couple of days, who never really had the chance to play with other dogs.

But what made me even more angry was that the author in the book becomes a father, and they leave Marley with the little babies. He has the audacity to make a smart remark about people who warn against leaving your dog with a baby, because "the wild animal could surface every minute and the dog could kill the baby in seconds". Which Marley would never do,because "everyone can see that he protects the baby."
*bangs head against wall*

See, he is right about that. I believe that most normal dogs will protect a baby that they consider part of the family. Even strange babies, because they see them as puppies, and normal, sane dogs don't hurt puppies. What they do with puppies however, is that they teach them not to totally misbehave. And they do that by taking the baby's whole head into their mouth and shaking it gently. I've seen my dog do that with puppies, and apart from being wet from dog-spit, the puppy was impressed, but not hurt. Some dogs will also take the puppy by the neck and shake it a little bit, or gently put their mouth over the exposed neck of the puppy to show them how such misbehaviour would end if they weren't so small.

All these methods have one thing in common: if applied to a human baby, they end up in serious injuries.

So I can not stress it enough: NEVER leave your kids alone with a dog. NEVER. It's up to you to know when your kids are old enough to understand what to do and what not to do with a dog, but hair-pulling or nose hitting or anything else that babies do out of curiosity can lead even the most patient dog to teach your baby some manners. You cannot fault the dog for this, because it only reacts like a normal dog would react. But if you read up on "formerly harmless pets" hurting babies "out of the blue", you will see that it's mostly head injuries, and that all those poor dogs are being put to sleep because their owners thought it was cute how they took care of the baby. Those owners should be shot and never allowed to have kids (or dogs) again.

Right.
Where were we? Oh, the book. Well, I liked Marley, but I think that people who have a dog for 13 years and still don't know the first thing about dogs, shouldn't be allowed to write books about them. Let alone get a new dog.(less)

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Dec 15, 2008 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

SO my mom sent me this book because she thought I was all down after a stupid break up, and she wanted to cheer me up. I wasn't really down. I was totally fucking pissed off. I went into reading this book seeing red. Maybe that's affected how I interpreted it, but I really think this John Grogan guy and his wife are complete idiots.

There is no reason to ever buy a dog, ever. Ever. There are dogs dying all over the country because people abandon their animals or neglect to have them spayed/neute...more

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Sir Kittykinz Yikes. You should have read this when you were in a way better mood...empathize "way"
Feb 05, 2013 03:28pm

Heather Hildreth I haven't read this book yet, and now I'm not sure I want to. I'm an animal lover (a borderline animal hoarder, if you asked my friends), with two cat...more I haven't read this book yet, and now I'm not sure I want to. I'm an animal lover (a borderline animal hoarder, if you asked my friends), with two cats, two ferrets, two guinea pigs, fifteen backyard chickens, and a coonhound/lab mix we adopted from the shelter last summer.

I'm kind of a snob when it comes to how animals should be cared for. Our first ferret came from a garage sale (can you imagine selling your family pet at a yard sale?!?), and I had no experience with ferrets at the time, but thought they were awfully cool and wanted to get poor Weasel out of that hot driveway. But the *very first thing* I did when we got him home was google ferrets - their nutritional needs, housing, stimulation, bathing, etc. The next day, I went to the pet store for everything we needed (including ferret food - they'd been feeding him cat food all this time), and also picked up a book about ferrets, just to make sure we knew how to best care for our new pet.

We read up on guinea pigs before we got them, and chickens (did you know there are tons of Internet forums for backyard chicken owners? Crazy lol). The dog was kind of a surprise, since we unexpectedly fell in love with her at the shelter, having no prior knowledge of the breed characteristics, etc. or dogs in general, for that matter.

BUT. The first thing I did was read, read, read. And watch YouTube videos and dog behavior programs. Turns out coonhounds are insane with energy and so easily distracted by sounds and smells that they're difficult to train. But she is NOT a bad dog. Once we understood how strong her nose is and how tracking is built into her genes, then it was easier to understand WHY she did the things she did. She's crazy smart: house trained in less than two weeks after we adopted her at four months old, had learned "sit", "down", and "drop it" by our third week with her clicker training. But if she's in the yard with a squirrel, now at a year old, there's no way she's gonna sit or stay. If she somehow gets out of our fenced yard, it's a half hour of chasing her all over the neighborhood because she refuses to come when you call her. It's not because she's bad. It's because she's bred to run and track, and those instincts are stronger than any, "Pepper, come!"

And that's why I say I'm a snob about it. Because I think you should at least try to understand where your animal is coming from before you pass judgement on their behavior. I have seen far too many animal owners mistreat or neglect their pets because they don't take two seconds to think of what might be going on in the animal's head. You don't have to have a lifetime of experience, but you do have to have information and *compassion*.

Bless you for your support if animal welfare. I am delighted to find there are so many people who try to make the best possible environment for animals, instead of trying to make animals fit into a convenient human environment.(less)
May 13, 2013 12:05am

Apr 05, 2008 Julie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Sit down and make a list of all the things your dog might do if he was brain damaged. Of course, you're a good person and you love him anyway so write about that. There, you just wrote Marley and Me.

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Aug 23, 2008 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: dog-lovers, people with a soft heart

Recommended to Valerie by: Mom

Ahhh! I loved this book. I laughed, I cried, I remeneniced. I thought about my beloved black labrador, Duff. Just like John said, "They really are they when you need them." Duff was always there for me. Walks down the hill, over the streets, down by the Golf Course, with the sunsetting. Sitting on the couch together watching a movie. Sitting out on the hill, at my sunnyspot on the hill, writing or listening to music. Duff was always there. Sometimes he slept on my bed, but usually he had too man...more Ahhh! I loved this book. I laughed, I cried, I remeneniced. I thought about my beloved black labrador, Duff. Just like John said, "They really are they when you need them." Duff was always there for me. Walks down the hill, over the streets, down by the Golf Course, with the sunsetting. Sitting on the couch together watching a movie. Sitting out on the hill, at my sunnyspot on the hill, writing or listening to music. Duff was always there. Sometimes he slept on my bed, but usually he had too many fleas. I fed him, gave him water, took him on the most walks out of all the family members, he helped me lose weight that way. Then he got sick in his old age, he was 13 years old. I was there for him during his last months. I was living at my parents house and happened to be dying. I took him on some of his last walks trhough the countryside. He would sniff the cows and they would try to knock him over, probably 'dumb old dog'. But he was ours. Michelle saved another dog from his viciuos tearing. I was too afraid to do it, but she just jumped in there and saved the dog. I mopped up Duff's 'who know' when he was too old to move. That is how much I cared about him. Dad would lift and carry him up and down the stairs. I would give him hugs. I loved his little face. He just celebrates my teenagehood for me. We got him when I was 11? and then he died when I was 24? I love Logan, but I really loved Duff. Probably because of our long walks we took together. Him and I would walk for hours on the ranch and I would let him chase things in the river or down the gravel path. I loved playing frisbee and ball with him when we lived at 5899 Marigold Ln at San Miguel Elementary, he was so good at it. He kept us safe too, in our house on the hill when my parents were out at business meetings until 2 or 3 in the morning, Duff was there and he watched over us all, barking at anyone that came to the door. He was one of the best things that happened to our family, one of the few things that made us 'normal' and human. I loved trips to Healdsburg memorial Beach with Duff and Dad. Jeff and Michelle would come too and we would play for hours at the river, Duff swimming, fetching sticks, and grabbing rocks in the water and struggling to bring them back to Dad. It was one of the times when my Dad was truly happy. If it wasn't for Duff, I don't know if we ever would have spent much time together as a family. He was a beautiful, genuine soul. He made my mom a Dog-Lover and I myself will always be a Dog Lover. I have a Dog personality, rather than a cat. Fun-loving, carefree, and free-spirited. Dogs rock! My favorite quote from the book is: "I have a theory, and writing the book sharpened it, that people can learn a lot from their dogs. Lessons on how to lead happier, more fulfillinf lives. Lessons for successful relationships. Think about it. Many of the qualities that come so effortlessly to dogs-loyalty, devotion, selflessness, unflagging optimisim, unqualified love-can be elusive to humans. My hunch is that people who act more loke dogs have happier marriages. That's assuming, of course, you don't marry someone who emulates cats. Then you're in trouble. Cats will outsmart dogs every time." Page 304

Yes, I am a dog person, and yes, my first marriage was to a cat person! He has said he loves cats! So that's why it didn't work out! Now I look for someone that has that same free-spirited nature that I have.

This book made me think about my beloved black lab. I pray that I can have my own black lab someday. I want one so bad! I need a house, a stable job to care for the dog, and time, as well as patience. It's funny because the way I think about having a dog is the same way most people think about having children, the responisbility factor. For me, having children, was like, yeah, let's just jump right in! Dogs, I know better, I know what it takes.

I love this book and I am glad John Grogan wrote it. His memoir is so complete, moving, and beautiful. I want to live with that family. I want to be able to have Marley or Duff to lean on when times get hard. I absolutely love and cherish this book and will probably reread it just to live it all over again. I was at work when I was reading it and I was sitting there at my desk, literally sheding tears. No one saw me though! I also highly enjoy the fact that John is a journalist, editor, and columinst. He inspires me! I want to go to his book signing in November 2008 down in Corte Madera, I may actually go meet him, he is that good of an author and now one of my favorites! Love it, love it, love it!!!(less)

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Feb 19, 2008 Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So I'm actually one of those who tend to sway to the Molly Mormon side of things (okay, okay; I’m a stick-in-the-mud goody-two-shoes), and consequently I’ve got to preface my whole review by saying that Marley and Me will probably not be available at Deseret Book anytime soon. It’s not that it’s full of inappropriate language, sex, and violence (if it was a movie, I’m not even sure it would go to PG-13), but there’s some of that kind of thing included. I’d feel embarrassed bearing testimony abou...more

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Oct 17, 2007 Ryan Marquardt rated it 4 of 5 stars

OK, I'm a complete sucker for this book. Yes, some of the anecdotes are things that every pet owners experiences, and are not really that compelling as a result. And some parts of it are more about life with a dog than the life of a dog. It was well written though, and really funny at times. Marley sounds like he was a complete love.

And that is why it was so tough to read the end. Yes, you know how it ends. But Grogan's description of the canine aging process is really accurate. Dogs do live in...more

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Sep 06, 2007 Donna Bolton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: any one who has a love and passion for their "horrible" dog.

I loved this book. My now husband bought it for me last year for my birthday. When we had started dating, we found and loved a little mutt named Stella. When she was killed, our world was rocked. We felt foolish for being so upset over a dog. Neither one of us could stop crying for weeks. We didn't even have her a year when she died. This book made us both feel so good becuase it reminded us why we were so devistated. It was not only because Stella was a PERFECT dog. It was that she was there wh...more

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Jul 21, 2007 Matt rated it 1 of 5 stars

You have to read books your grandma gives your for Christmas. Having said that, Marley's antics were mildly amusing (I guess), but I couldn't see past the fact that the owners were simply moronic. Example: they know their dog goes bananas and tries to claw its way to perceived safety anytime thunderstorms hit, tearing the house to shreds in the process. So what do they do to prevent it from ripping apart the house in the event of a thunderstorm in their absence? They put it in a little dog crate...more

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Jan 15, 2009 Glenna rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was fully prepared to give this book 3 stars before I started reading it. (based on seeing the movie) but the book really touched my heart. I laughed and yes I cried. (listening on CD might not be a good idea because driving home from work with your eyes full of tears makes staying in the lines hard)

Because each book we read is affected by the experiences in our lives that we bring to the reading, I'm not sure if someone who has never loved something furry would love this book. It would be int...more

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Jan 26, 2009 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, I read two dog books in a row because my book club decided to do this for our February meeting. That said this book made me laugh so hard I cried and then, of course, I cried at the end as one must with all dog books if one loves dogs. I am the former owner of four Marley's--a black Lab, a yellow Lab (pure breed AKC registered and probably Marley's first cousin), a chocolate Lab, and a Lab/Husky/ Wolf mix. They all cost me thousands of dollars in vet bills, household and yard improvements...more

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Feb 03, 2009 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dog-books

This is a book for dog lovers, and for those who have been loved by a dog. The Grogans may not have been the best dog trainers in the world, and they may have made a common mistake of buying their dog from a backyard breeder, but what they did right was they loved their dog, and stayed devoted to him through his whole life, from puppyhood to old age. In this throwaway society, where many people consider pets to be "disposable", to be dumped at the pound when they are no longer a cute puppy, or w...more

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Nov 30, 2008 marg rated it 2 of 5 stars

I hate dogs. Always have, always will. I cannot at all understand the time, energy and devotion that people so willingly dish out to a furry monster who will wreck their home and treat the greater world as one big public bathroom and not even grow to be a contributing member to society and take in their owners in their old age which would at least justify it.
So in that sense I may not be the best person to review this book. I certianly wasn't interested in the premise, which is, couple gets psyc...more I hate dogs. Always have, always will. I cannot at all understand the time, energy and devotion that people so willingly dish out to a furry monster who will wreck their home and treat the greater world as one big public bathroom and not even grow to be a contributing member to society and take in their owners in their old age which would at least justify it.
So in that sense I may not be the best person to review this book. I certianly wasn't interested in the premise, which is, couple gets psycho dog and things are therefore psycho. Yippee. My feeling on the matter of memoirs is, either your life is fascinating and write about it, or your life is actually not that interesting but YOU are so you can make it a good read (sort of like Elizabeth Gilbert). Well this was neither - I guess I was supposed to find JOhn and Jenny endearing or something but they just seemed like two orindairy Joes (even their names were ordinary) and the entire book felt like a belabored attempt to bring color into a work that just doesn't have any.
So enter Dog. Well, for one thing, I echo the reviewer who chastised the couple for being irresponsible - I mean I don't think they were abusive as he says, in fact they seem ridiculously loyal to this fur ball demon, and the fact that they bought a lab with no knowledge of what that entails sounds like smething I would do (if I bought a dog, that is, and I would sooner eat nails), ie, you're overly excited and sort of stupid. I was annoyed, though, that they did this to train for parenting (I mean sheesh, get a sack of flour and walk around with it all the time like they do on TV if you're worried about parenting skills, and flour doesn't need to be housebroken) and that if anything, their parenting seemed more bothersome - aside from having this special needs canine on baord with them which I can't imagine was beneficial for the genuine children who actually require attention and care whereas pets are second tier (though psycho dog could be nothing less than number one) they also spent over a decade in a city that had prostitutes and heinous murders going on on their block, figuring psycho would be their protection (his main attack being saliva).
The thing is, if you're going to try and pull at my heartstrings, a four legged freak just isn't going to do it for me. At the end of the day, you do not sell your children, you do not put them to sleep, you do not have those options. Whereas with a dog and certianly one that is clearly not meant to be a pet, you do. Which always makes me wonder, what exactly is the appeal? You are putting more of yourself (and your money and your house repairs) into something that actually isn't really YOURS. So if your life gets flipped around from a mentally unstable animal, I say, lose the animal. What is so complicated?
At what is supposed to be a heart wrenching moment, I guess, post partum Jenny insists that the dog GO and I applaud her head on. She has just had her second child in two years and she is tired and cranky. The dog in the best of times is a liability. But they march on, and this is supposed to be heroic? This dog is like taking on an untamed lion for a pet and then writing about it.
So at the end of the day at times it was humorous, but I again echo that reviewer in saying, when its yours its funny, when its not, who cares?

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Jan 05, 2009 Dixie rated it 5 of 5 stars

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbols mean nothing to him. A water-logged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his."

I never 'dog-ear' pages in the books I read. I like my books to remain looking as new as possible and I enjoy perfectly pressed paper with no...more "A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbols mean nothing to him. A water-logged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his."

I never 'dog-ear' pages in the books I read. I like my books to remain looking as new as possible and I enjoy perfectly pressed paper with no hint of wear. Last night as I finished the last few pages of the book, "Marley & Me" I dog-eared two pages; very unlike me. I couldn't help it. I was so moved by Grogan's words that I wanted anyone (myself included) who read or re-read the book to be as moved as I was.

This book for me was something special. I am stingy about giving 5 stars to any book I read. When I was about 2/3 of the way through, my husband asked me what I thought of the book. I hesitated before responding, "Uh, its alright". I was not overly impressed at that point. I was enjoying the story but I knew where it was heading. I knew I would finish the book with tears (which is not out of the ordinary for me). Sure enough, when I finished the book, tears streaming down my face I was sad it was finished and knew, for me, it was going to be a 5-star book. I was swept away with the writing and the story. It moved me emotionally and the more I think about it, the more I love it.

The author, John Grogan, is the owner of the crazy dog and the storyteller. For his profession, Grogan is a columnist so he has amazing writing skill. I enjoyed his sarcastic humor and the creative way he told his story about Marley. My husband and I are non-pet owners and will likely remain so. We both work full time. We are clean freaks. We like to travel. That being said, my mind for a half of a second wanted to change as I dog-eared the second page:

"He became part of our melded fabric, a tightly woven and inseparable strand in the weave that was us. Just as we had helped shape him into the family pet he would become, he helped to shape us, as well- as a couple, as parents, as animal lovers, as adults. Despite everything, all the disappointments and unmet expectations, Marley had given us a gift, at once priceless and free. He taught us the art of unqualified love. How to give it, how to accept it. Where there is that, most of the other pieces fall into place."

I'm not sure I'll see the movie because I know the book is better. I don't have to see the movie to know that I already like the book more. A movie can't capture the thoughts of Marley's family like the book can. The movie will also lose the enchanting writing of very talented author.(less)

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Apr 22, 2012 Signe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Angļu rakstnieka Džona Grogensa komēdija/ drāma ir patiess stāsts. Darba autors ir žurnālists, kurš stāsta par to, kādus piedzīvojumus, prieka brīžus viņam sagādājis labradors Mārlijs. Notikumi šajā grāmatā ir mīļi un sirsnīgi.

Galvenais varonis Džons ir gādīgs, vidusmēra vīrietis. Džons vēlas sasniegt savus sapņus, mērķus, lielisku darbu, lielu māju, kuplu ģimeni, lai viņi ar sievu varētu justies laimīgi. Tā kā galvenais varonis vēl nav gatavs audzināt bērnus, viņš iegādājas savai līgavai Dženij...more Angļu rakstnieka Džona Grogensa komēdija/ drāma ir patiess stāsts. Darba autors ir žurnālists, kurš stāsta par to, kādus piedzīvojumus, prieka brīžus viņam sagādājis labradors Mārlijs. Notikumi šajā grāmatā ir mīļi un sirsnīgi.

Galvenais varonis Džons ir gādīgs, vidusmēra vīrietis. Džons vēlas sasniegt savus sapņus, mērķus, lielisku darbu, lielu māju, kuplu ģimeni, lai viņi ar sievu varētu justies laimīgi. Tā kā galvenais varonis vēl nav gatavs audzināt bērnus, viņš iegādājas savai līgavai Dženijai kucēnu cerībā, ka par to nebūs jāuzņemas tik liela atbildība. Parasti dzīvnieku saimnieki uzskata, ka viņu mīlulis ir īpašs. Suns Mārlijs, patiešām, ir citādāks, nekā pārējie suņi. Viņš ir aktīvs, kustīgs un ļoti, ļoti nepaklausīgs. Katra diena suņa saimniekiem ir piedzīvojums. Mārijs izstrādā arvien jaunus nedarbus. Tas ir atgādinājums, ka dzīvnieks nav rotaļlieta, aksesuārs. Dzīvnieka uzturēšanā jāiegulda mīlestība un rūpes. Autors uzskata, ka šis suns ir bijis viņa garīgais vadītājs, skolotājs. Mārlijs palīdzējis Džonam saprast, ka viss, kas ir svarīgs, nepieciešams jau atrodas mums līdzās.

Stāsta gaitā ir parādīts, ka Mārlijs ģimenei ir līdzās dažādos dzīves posmos, dažādās dzīves situācijās. Kad ģimene sastopas ar aizvien lielākām dzīves grūtībām, viņi vēlas atbrīvoties no suņa, tomēr viņi saprot, ka tas nav risinājums. Mārlijs nav vienkārši suns, bet gadu gaitā ir kļuvis par pilntiesīgu ģimenes locekli.

Grāmata sarakstīta vienkāršā valodā, bez mākslinieciskiem izteiksmes līdzekļiem, reālistiskā stilā, tādēļ tā piemērota arī mazākajiem lasītājiem.

Suns ir cilvēka labākais, uzticamākais draugs.” Tam nav vajadzīgs lepns auto, liels nams vai dizaina darināts apģērbs. Arī sabiedriskais stāvoklis viņam neko nenozīmē. Pietiek ar jūrmalā izskalotu kociņu. Suns spriež par cilvēku nevis pēc ādas krāsas, reliģiskās piederības vai bagātības, bet gan pēc tā kāda ir viņa dvēsele.”

Dzīvnieks iemāca uzņemties atbildību, tas vienmēr mīlēs savu saimnieku, lai arī kā tu izturētos. Uzskatu, ka dzīvnieki no šāda skata punkta ir augstāk vērtējami nekā cilvēki. Suns ir vienīgā būtne uz pasaules, kas tevi mīl vairāk nekā tu pats sevi.
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Oct 19, 2012 Asha Seth rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: dog-lovers, dog-haters, dog-owners and everyone else

Recommended to Asha by: Goodreads

Shelves: 2012, non-fiction, for-dog-lovers, my-precioussss, books-that-made-me-cry, books-to-movies, impossible-to-forget, re-readables

“A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his.

Just like Marley, my Golden-Retriever, Alfey is a classic example of the above mentioned fact. All dogs are! One just needs to see.

A Great piec...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Claire Grasse rated it 3 of 5 stars

Anyone who has ever been subjected to a badly behaved dog (say, belonging to a relative) will not find this book as endearing as the rest of the population did. I tried to love this book, but it just evoked unpleasant memories of dogs from my past wreaking havoc on the properties and persons around them while their owners looked on in fond amusement. I actually felt my blood pressure rising at a couple of the scenes that hit a bit too close to memory. It was like watching a badly behaved kid in...more

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Jul 13, 2008 Shira rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really enjoyed this book, probably because I could identify a bit too much with the author's woes with his crazy dog, Marley! Although I have to say that next to Marley, even our nuttiest family pets seem relatively tame! The author did a very good job of interweaving the tale of Marley with the overall story of over a decade in the life of his family, encompassing all of the ups and downs and heartaches that a family faces. I found it hysterically funny at times, deeply touching at others, an...more

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Jul 18, 2007 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: dog lovers, humor fans

I'm a dog person. I see them as basically goofy entertainment accessories most of the time, and every so often a dog will do something to win your heart. However, this is usually a difficult thing to describe completely and honestly to someone unfamiliar with dog ownership. John Grogan has managed to capture in a relatively brief 300 pages all the joy (and sadness) owning a dog can bring to a life, and to a family.

If, like me, you've shared part of your life and living space with a dog, then th...more

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Jan 23, 2008 karen reyes rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a funny book! I loved it! I do not have dogs (allergies) but I was able to somehow relate to the images that the author portrays. Pets can be amazing to live with and be entertained by. Marley was an adorable, oversized pooch that touched my heart from the very beginning of this book. I laughed and laughed as I read about all of the crazy things this dog did, making his owners nuts! Despite his overenthusiastic love for life, Marley turned out to be more than just a pet. He was a member of...more

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Dec 11, 2008 Nipun Sohanlal rated it 5 of 5 stars

those who have had the pleasure of having a Labrador in their family will instantaneously connect with this book. You'll be amazed with Marleys antics and at some level they will seem so familiar that you will find yourself smiling as you flip through the pages. The book is well written and John Gorgan ensures that the book sticks to the theme of his life with Marley. He could have succumbed to the fallacy of playing to the gallery with more details on Marley or resist the temptation of not shar...more

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May 12, 2008 Becci rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who loves dogs.

Recommended to Becci by: I have been waiting for this book to come to soft back since it

I really, really didn't want this book to finish! Marley is so close to our female mutt named Sunny Dew Rose that I can't help but cherish her more because of this book.
It is like my heart is already mourning her before she is gone so I am able to cherish each moment with her while she is still with us.
Sunny is still a puppy of two years and will still be a child at the age of 10, she refuses to grow up.
After reading about 'Marley'. I am able to certain every moment with her while most would t...more

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Dec 14, 2008 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this sweet though predictable story. Appreciate how this couple endured the destructive and neurotic behavior of this large, affectionate dog. Proves that man can be dog's best friend too.

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Apr 07, 2011 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

First, I am a sap for a good dog story, so the book would have to tank to get less than three stars from me. This book resonates with me because it speaks to those of us who owned dogs that weren't Rin Tin Tinnish or Lassie-like. It was real and humane in its approach. Everyone thinking to get a puppy for the first time would do well to read this book first to determine if they are up for the experience. In case you were wondering... I cried unabashedly through the last two chapters. The situati...more

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Jan 05, 2009 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who has ever loved a dog

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ***Spoiler Alert...sort of***

What a delightful little troublemaker Marley was...I found this a joy to read in the moments I could steal away from work and family in the holiday week. I was a little afraid to read it at first, knowing how connected I still am to my own loss of beloved pet, now nearly 2 years ago. Like Marley, my Mandy was every bit the "bad dog"...and with every run away from home, every cabinet chewed, every carpet dug, I fell more and more in love with my childhood pet. Grogan...more

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Jan 05, 2009 Tanish rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

so far, a good, relaxed read with some every funny bits- especially if you've ever owned a dog-from-hell...:)

stayed true throughout- not high end literature for those who want it, but a very enjoyable summer read. it made me think of patches and her regular antics: dragging 10 ft of technicolor pooh across the yard after eating a decorative rope thingy; biting even the off-duty mailman; dragging me along on our "walks" and then being dragged home once she was tired out and over it; barking for 1...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Madison Hanneman rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't know if I loved this book because it was touching or if it's because I'm a dog lover. This is the only book that has made me laugh and cry. I could really relate to this book, because I own a dog too. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs! It touched my heart, and I never wanted to put it down! The book was better than the movie, however both made me cry. My all time favorite quote from John Grogan is, "A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A wat...more

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About John Grogan

John Grogan's first book, Marley & Me, is a number one international bestseller soon to be released as a major motion picture. His second book is The Longest Trip Home. John lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenny, and their three children.

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“A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.” — 418 people liked it

“Animal lovers are a special breed of humans, generous of spirit, full of empathy, perhaps a little prone to sentimentality, and with hearts as big as a cloudless sky” — 234 people liked it

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