Marley & Me
Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

John Grogan

12/22/2005

When John and Jenny Grogan are newlyweds, they decide to get a dog. They had both had "saint" dogs when they were children. They knew a dog would be a good addition to their family. They start looking for a puppy.

What they find is Marley. He is a puppy, a registered Lab. Marley is "clearance dog" - less expensive than his littermates. He looks they way they know is for them. Three weeks later they take Marley home. Let the games begin!

Marley is active - really active. Nothing is safe from his puppy teeth, whether he has shoes, balls, cushions, or wire cages. He needs two or three runs a day to keep his energy level containable in the house. And that isn't always enough. Eventually they discover that Marley has an attention hyperactive deficit disorder problem. Also, that is a common problem with Labs.

Marley is afraid of thunderstorms. That is a problem where they live near Miami, Florida. During the rainy season, thunderstorms come through most afternoons. John and Jenny are amazed to find that Marley has almost destroyed the garage. If it didn't have concrete walls, it would be gone. Marley had destroyed part of the door before they return home. Labs grow to an average weight of around 70 pounds. Marley grew to around 90 pounds. Their home was babyproofed from Marley's constantly wagging tale long before they had children. John and Jenny took a trip to Ireland. When they returned home, the dog sitter left their house in a daze. They knew they couldn't ask her to spend a week with Marley again!

This book is an absolute charmer. Grogan calls Marley the world's worst dog - he wasn't the worst, but he certainly had his moments! For all his exuberance, Marley was friendly to all, devoted to his family, and intuitive to serious moments. I've already recommended this book to a friend of mine who owns a Lab mix dog. Animal lovers will love Marley & Me. Other readers will be delighted to read of Marley's exploits. Grogan tells the story of Marley's life with him over the years from newlyweds in Florida until Marley's death from old age three children later and in Pennsylvania.

You'll laugh out loud. You'll shake your head. You'll wonder how anyone could have lived with Marley - I know I couldn't have. Yet by the end, the Grogans don't know how they could have lived without him. Grogan's pathos when Marley gets older, arthritic, and deaf is not overdone, but lovingly described. Marley & Me won't disappoint.

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