false 12691 0739461192 9780739461198 28644 6947 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12691.Marley_Me_Love_and_Life_with_the_World_s_Worst_Dog 8002 John Grogan 33658 8382 3 1 false Tue Sep 08 17:53:16 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 08 17:54:57 -0700 2009
Marley and Me is Grogan's memoir of his life with an animal who displayed both the best and the worst of the canine world. An unusually large version of a dog originally bred for field hunting, Marley was ill-suited to a life in a Florida housing tract and channeled his boundless energy into, among other things, meticulous destruction of the Grogan home. Despite his terrible habits, however, Marley was also fiercely loving and loyal in the way that only a dog can be, forcing his bulky, muscular way into his owner's hearts and refusing to leave.

There is no question that this is a moving book. Some of the antics Grogan writes about are very funny, and anyone who has ever felt a deep bond with an animal will not be able to avoid empathizing with the Grogans as Marley's life runs its inevitable course. Despite this, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I was anticipating given its blockbuster status. It sort of had the feeling of listening to stories about other people's kids; they just aren't quite as interesting when they're not your own. In addition, I had a hard time connecting to Grogan himself as a character. I think the movie did a better job of actually showing how crazy dog and man grew together; the book leaned a little too heavily on the dog. Despite this, it will probably be enjoyable reading for anyone who has ever struggled with a challenged dog, provided they keep a big box of tissues at hand for the end.
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