Excellent journey through the ups and downs of animal ownership (Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog - John Grogan)

Member Name: Bearstorm

Product:	Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog - John Grogan
Date:	16/05/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: so many laugh out loud moments, touching heart warming story.

Disadvantages: The inevtible ending!!!

I read this book about two years ago and I havce to say it's the best book I have read in a while! As a dog lover I pretty much read anything that has a dog on the cover it but this one I could not put down.

It's all about the Grogans and how their lives are pretty much defined by the decision to buy a yellow Labrador retreiver...Marley! They decide to get a dog as a practise run for starting a family so they go off to a breader who has yellow labradors. They see the mother Lab and she's calm and pretty but there is no sign of the father. They decide to pick Marley and shortly after that decision they hear what sounds like a wild bear ravaging the garden...it's Marley's Dad! Inevitably the apple never falls far from the tree and we learn that Marley takes after his father.

I enjoyed reading this book because it is a true account of a relationship between a man and his dog. It's not painted as some perfect family dog that never does anything wrong, is quite all the time and does everything he's supposed to! At the end of the day ...He's a Dog. He's naughty, destructive, rude, unruly and utterly lovable! The story gets the point accross that dogs are hard work and should never be picked just because they look good!

I found myself laughing out loud at the training school incidents and Marley's debut as a Hollywood star. I also find myself sobbing my heart out as the Grogans share with you the greif and emptiness they felt with losing a beloved family pet. Whether you have been through it yourself or not you can't help but feel every pang of sadness John has as he says goodbye to what was his best and most loyal friend.

I would recomend this book to just about anybody and I'd be shocked if they didn't cry too!

Summary: read it!