Love & Life with Marley (Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog - John Grogan)

Member Name: Absy_Baby

Product:	Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog - John Grogan
Date:	19/02/09 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great story, easy to relate to, written well

Disadvantages: It ended, i could of carried on reading

Love dogs, want a dog, have a dog - read this book!

The most real story I have read in ages, a great story written by John Grogan from his point of view on life.................and Marley. John Grogan is a journalist as is his wife, Jenny, the story starts with John and Jenny setting up home and starting their married life together.

John isn't sure about kids, and although Jenny seems to want one, is now the right time? After talking to a friend John opts for the stage before a kid, and buys a puppy - Marley. He starts off as a cute, tiny, bundle of golden of Labrador.

John and Jenny soon realise Marley is going to get bigger and bigger and perhaps not be as manageable as they had once thought, especially with Marley's obvious lack of concentration and desire to learn and be trained.

Marley becomes a 97 pound problem. The book quite simply tells the story of John and Jenny's lives with Marley and how he affects them and fits in with their ever growing family.

This story is good natured, real and everyone that is a dog lover will be able to relate to it. It is funny and well written, John Grogan has an excellent style in which, is easy and flows, it is not overly formal which I think makes this book much more enjoyable.

The story is of the Grogan's lives from before Marley right up until the end, with humorous antidotes' the whole way through. John really knows how to write and this is obvious in this book, he can really personalise the experience and make you feel like he is just telling you about his dog.

The book really sets the scene and makes you almost feel like you were there, living it alongside them. There is now a film adaptation, which I have seen, and I must say I am not usually over joyed with most film versions of books, but I did like this one, it stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

The film is good fun and does get the same messages across that the book does. I would have liked to of seen more of the fun and disasters Marley caused, but hey it only had an hour and a half to work with. I would say the book is better and would suggest reading that first, although I think even the other way round you would appreciate it.

This book is just the life of an ordinary guy, couple and family and the experiences in which are happy times and sad times, I couldn't put this book down and would recommend it, it is good for animal lovers but I think those who are not overly keen will love it too. It is very emotional and heart wrenching. You will laugh and maybe cry.

The book has 384 pages, I can honestly say I would have read it if it had been 800. The story is great and obviously condensed as it covers a period of about 12 years.

A great read!

Summary: A must read book, can get quite heavy towards the end