Marley & Me

Overview

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

John 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.

Editorial Reviews

Labrador retrievers are generally considered even-tempered, calm and reliable--and then there's Marley, the subject of this delightful tribute to one Lab who doesn't fit the mold. Grogan, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and his wife, Jenny, were newly married and living in West Palm Beach when they decided that owning a dog would give them a foretaste of the parenthood they anticipated. Marley was a sweet, affectionate puppy who grew into a lovably naughty, hyperactive dog. With a light touch, the author details how Marley was kicked out of obedience school after humiliating his instructor (whom Grogan calls Miss Dominatrix) and swallowed an 18-karat solid gold necklace (Grogan describes his gross but hilarious "recovery operation ). With the arrival of children in the family, Marley became so incorrigible that Jenny, stressed out by a new baby, ordered her husband to get rid of him; she eventually recovered her equilibrium and relented. Grogan's chronicle of the adventures parents and children (eventually three) enjoyed with the overly energetic but endearing dog is delivered with great humor. Dog lovers will love this account of Grogan's much loved canine. Agent, Laurie Abkemeier.(On sale Oct. 25) Copyright 1997-2005 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
-- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

Author Information

Bio of John Grogan

I was born in the Motor City--Detroit, Michigan--on March 20, 1957. My very Catholic parents were hoping for a St. Patrick's Day baby. Then for a St. Joseph's Day baby. I was having no part of it. Instead, I arrived on the first day of spring, the youngest of four. Not long after, our family moved from the city to the sleepy village of Orchard Lake, Michigan. My neighborhood was called Harbor Hills, and it is the setting for much of my new memoir, The Longest Trip Home. The church was just three doors down--no coincidence--and my earliest memories are steeped in the fragrances of devotion: incense and sacramental wine, beeswax and musty pews. I was an altar server and later the office boy at the church rectory, where I earned a dollar an hour answering phones and doorbells.

Customer Reviews

• The Ultimate Dog Lovers' Story

  Posted January 12, 2007 by greg.bayer, Los Angeles

  I may be a bit skewed, since the events of this book really mirrored what I've experienced: boy meets girl, falls in love, gets a dog, dog wrecks home, boy and girl move in together, dog continues to wreck home, boy and girl get married, and ultimate have kids.
  
  Given all this, it was amazing to read how a dog became part of a couple's life almost identical to how it entered ours. Grogan's narrative is not sappy at all, and very very funny telling stories of how the dog continues to ruin his house, lawn, etc. If you've ever had a dog you absolutely loved part of your family, this book is a must read.

• hilarious good read

  Posted December 14, 2008 by jade, quincy

  it's a light hearted story of a family's 4 legged member who creates chaos in their lives. the author and his family only realize the life lesson their beloved marley taught them only when it's near the end of marley's life. this is a story filled with laughs and parallels with many people who own dogs.

• Anyone who owns a dog can relate to this book.

  Posted December 23, 2008 by Melissa, Langley, SC

  This book was easy to read and follow. It left me light hearted and more willing to forgive some of the dumb mistakes my dogs make! Everyone should read this book before adopting a pet!

• Great Read - Tugs at heart strings!

  Posted December 26, 2008 by kubacon, Baton Rouge, LA

  This is a great book! It touches your heart, makes you laugh and cry.

• Read this book!

  Posted January 05, 2009 by C Helm, Ohio, USA

  I loved this book because it brought back bitter-sweet memories of my lab's puppyhood. The stoic resignation of an elderly Marley will, I hope, prepare me in some way for that not-so-distant future. I read this cover-to-cover and will revisit it often.

• Very entertaining.

  Posted February 16, 2009 by Shelly, Creighton, SK

  I haven't read a book in a long time that made me laugh and cry out loud. It was very entertaining.

• Such a great book.

  Posted March 22, 2009 by Shellenek, Nacogdoches

  I really enjoyed reading this book. You have to truly love your dog to put up with what the family did for Marley and he was truly a family member for his long life.
  A great read.

• Great Book!

  Posted March 26, 2009 by Gabrielle, Seattle

  I loved this funny, loving and compassionate true story! It was well written and kept my attention. I laughed out loud while reading it in bed which annoyed my husband because he was trying to read a murder mystery at the time. Anyone that has ever been owned by a dog will enjoy this story !

• A must...loved it

  Posted June 24, 2009 by Ali, Fl

  I loved this book, no dog owner could not, I laughed( out loud) and cried, a really good read. Saw the movie after reading the book, and still laughed and cried. I have recommended it to all my friends and family.

Additional Info

Imprint

HarperCollins

Filesize

917.99 KB

Number of Pages

304

eBook ISBN

9780061178450