After a little more than a year of marriage, John and Jenny Grogan decided to get a dog as a pet. They had no children and thought having a dog would be a good way to practice their parenting skills. They decided to buy a somewhat goofy Labrador puppy they named Marley. Marley, while full of exuberance and love, turns out to be quite a handful with his fear of thunderstorms, love of jumping up on people, tearing the house apart, and habit of chasing any object that moves. "Marley and Me" is a loving tribute to Marley as it chronicles his thirteen years with the Grogan family.

What I liked best about "Marley and Me" is that it's the story of an ordinary family and their love for each other and their dog. The book isn't just about Marley; it describes the Grogan's struggle to have a baby and Jenny's post-partum depression when she does conceive as well as other life changes such as new jobs and moves to different cities. But the book is mostly about Marley and he certainly is a handful. Readers may wince at some of his antics and the destruction he causes, especially with his intense fear of thunderstorms, which ironically was rationalized when he was actually caught outside in one. At times Marley seems almost human, especially when he comforts Jenny after her miscarriage. Grogan's attempts to train Marley are very humorous, such as when Marley fails obedience school and when he literally drags a table he is tied to across a restaurant. Other times his attempts seem almost cruel, like the way he gets Marley to stop jumping on people. While reading the book I sometimes wondered why the Grogans kept Marley, the list of items they left with a dog sitter to take care of Marley was incredibly long and scary. John Grogan is a newspaper columnist and a gifted writer who makes Marley come to life on each page - you can picture him during his various antics. Speaking of pictures, the book is full of pictures of Marley, John and Jenny, and their children. The pictures of Marley look like they were selected with care and often match the chapter heading. And yes, the ending is a bit sad, but uplifting all the same.

Anyone who has owned a pet, especially a dog, should enjoy "Marley and Me". ( )

A nice, easy read - which usually and also with this case means totally forgettable. Marley was a vivid character and deservedly pushed all the other characters aside and surely I know the feeling of living 15 years with two dogs and then loosing them, but this just didn't reach me. I cried and laughed, yes, but just like watching some "smart" tv-series, it left me empty and the only thing that keeps disturbing me is how long Marley had to suffer his bad hips before he was put to blissful sleep - and I know how hard that final decision is. ( )

This book made me laugh, cry and think back on all the hairbrained things my own childhood loopy yet wonderful dog used to do. Grogan is a great narrator and brought out the wonderfully endearing qualities that reside in our canine friends. ( )

2006 ( )

This book is about a couple who decides to get a dog. They go and pick this puppy. They name the puppy Marley after Bob Marley. The puppy starts to grow up to a goofy dog. They try taking him to dog school which blow up in their faces. Some points the wife gets frustrated and wants Marley gone but they husband knows better and she calms down. The dog lets her beat him one day when she got so frustrated and when she is not aloud to get out of bed because she is pregant he stays next to her side and the baby.

I love this book. It made me remember when i had my dog and no matter how mad i get with her she is always right there when you need her. She somehow know when something is wrong n just lay next to you.

This book more for high school students. I would use this book as indepent reading