About the Book
Marley & Me is the autobiographical tale of John Grogan and his rambunctious Labrador Retriever, Marley. As a young pup, Marley is adopted by the recently married Grogans - it is almost like a "test run" at parenthood. What they end up getting is far more than they could have imagined. Marley is thick-skulled, wild, and full of antics. Grogan tells the tales of Marley's mischievous handiwork with witty humor and realism. As a Lab owner, I found myself flashing back to my own dog's younger days of naughty behavior, then cringing and laughing at the same time. Grogan also shares Marley's sensitive side. Despite his sometimes boorish behavior, Marley connects with his family on an emotional level, feeling the pain of life-changing tragedies and celebrating the birth of children with gentle glee. Marley is a part of every aspect in Grogan's life, whether minor or major. Though lovingly dubbed "the world's worst dog," Grogan realizes the value of his unruly pooch and shares his touching story with the world.What I Thought
As a veterinary technician and a seasoned dog owner, there were moments in Marley & Me when I almost found myself silently criticizing Marley's inexperienced owners. Marley lacks discipline, flunks out of obedience school and wreaks havoc on the household. However, I am impressed with Grogan's honesty, admitting the things he would learn later that would make sense in hindsight. This is the true experience of so many new dog owners who are naive about dog ownership and its responsibilities. It is a constant learning experience, and Grogan paints this picture quite realistically.For me, the most poignant aspect of Marley & Me is Grogan's ability to describe the beauty of the canine-human bond with such candor. As dog lovers, we have intense bonds with our canine companions. We connect with them on such a deeper level than most non-pet owners can comprehend. Grogan captures this beautifully, putting into words what so many of us have felt for our own dogs. At many times while reading this book I found myself reduced to tears - sometimes out of sadness or empathy, other times because I was just laughing so hard!
I really enjoyed reading Marley & Me. I found the book to be heartwarming, entertaining and informative. I would recommend this book for just about any adult or young adult - but especially for dog lovers and those considering becoming dog owners.
