Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description

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

Now with photos and new material

Customer Reviews: Read 1343 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

A true story that will warm your heart! October 27, 2005
736 out of 789 found this review helpful

I just finished Marley and Me last night. I picked it up last weekend at Barnes & Noble as I was walking near the magazines. The adorable photo on the cover caught my eye....they had a display of the book out in the open. Being an avid animal and dog lover, I couldn't pass it up.

Needless to say, I devoured the book in two days. I loved it. To me it was so refreshing to see such commitment in another dog owner. I have always believed that when you adopt a pet it should be part of the family, and it is a lifelong commitment. You don't give up and get rid of them, just because of hard times or problems.

I applaud Mr. Grogan, and his family, for being the kind of people who love and care for their dog friends and for writing such a heartfelt tribute to his pal, Marley. Pets ask for so little and return so much.

I have had many dogs and I always get a kick out of the commercial on TV for a new ziplock dogfood bag for a certain chow...they use the expression "Dogs Rule". How perfect. There is nothing quite like having a dog, whether they have impeccable manners or not.

I laughed and I cried and I understood everything that Mr. Grogan had to say. I also live in Florida so I felt a special connection to the Grogans when they were speaking of the culture here and the thunderstorms--and how dogs hate them.

All in all, Mr. Grogan's writing is clear and interesting and down to earth. I couldn't put the book down. It is a joy.

I even went so far and to visit the website he has listed in the book. There was an email address to write to him, which I did, and I was absolutely amazed when Mr. Grogan wrote back to me three hours later to thank me for my nice comments.

Do yourself a favor and read the book.....you'll close it in the end and your heart will feel like it is too large to fit inside your chest.

5 out of 5 stars

DON'T MISS THIS ONE - IT'S A GEM ! November 6, 2005
336 out of 382 found this review helpful

Don't ever confuse Lassie with Marley. Minding was something Marley couldn't quite manage - this is despite obedience school and concerted efforts by his adoptive parents, John and Jenny. Marley was a Lab with few of a Labrador Retriever with few of a Lab's characteristics. He was 97 pounds of almost non-stop accidents waiting to happen. Actually, John and Jenny wouldn't have had him any other way nor would we. His heart was huge and his love boundless despite his lack of social graces (sniffing crotches is definitely unacceptable as is swallowing costly uneatable items).

In retrospect, John can remember Jenny's reasoning - they were newly married and she thought having a puppy would be good training to caring for children when they came along. He writes, "If Jenny really only wanted a dog to hone her parenting skills, I would have tried to talk her off the ledge and maybe placate her with a goldfish."

They both had full-time jobs and knew that a dog was a large responsibility. But, they both also had happy memories of having a dog when they were children. So, their decision was made and Marley was their pick of the wriggling, furry litter. Little did they know. (Even though upon first meeting Marley all but chewed his way through John's watchband.)

"Marley & Me" is so much more than the story of a lovable canine, it's the story of a family - how they grew together, their celebrations and their griefs. It's also a tale sure to provoke both laughter and tears.

Don't miss it, especially as read by the author.

- Gail Cooke

1 out of 5 stars

John, Jen, and Me: Life with the World's Worst Dog Owners May 15, 2006
185 out of 303 found this review helpful

In the best of all possible worlds, the spirit of Marley would somehow return and write his own version of life with the Grogan tribe. But even in this best of worlds, Marley's innocence and goodness of heart would prevent him from writing the scathing retort Mr. Grogan deserves.

Having disliked the book, I checked out the customer reviews here before I wrote mine. Out of the [presently] 554 reviews, only 25 gave the book one star and went on to discuss the essence of this book: a shallow, self-absorbed, and stupidly arch litany of revelations about "the world's worst dog"--in reality, a normal Labrador Retriever. Perhaps the majority of readers were blinded by their own good-heartedness; perhaps they just plucked out the charms of Marley and didn't dwell on the darker themes that lard the tale. I think most readers must have dwelt on passages that echo their own love of dogs and ignored the rest.

The other one-star reviewers have itemized most of the Grogan's shortcomings as Marley's owners--most spectacularly, their leaving an old, ailing, uncomprehending, kennel-fearer in a kennel while they enjoy the thrills of Disney World. I would like to add my own worst moment of repugnance. On their return drive from vacation, they receive a call from the kennel when they are only 4 hours from home. One of the vet's workers tells them that Marley's doing poorly. Marley, the dog who has a history of coming home from kennels gaunt and raw-nosed from trying to get out of cages: Marley, who has a history of serious medical problems; Marley, whom they so love. And Marley who, by the way, they have left behind in the Vet's 24-hour intensive care unit because he's so ill. When do the Grogans pick Marley up from the kennel? Truly, the next day. I suppose they were too full of Disney afterglow, too road-weary to make a beeline to their suffering companion.

Yes, this book upset me a lot. I have to indulge in another rant about an example of Grogan's shallow heartlessness and denial. After Marley has been put to sleep, Grogan reflects that at least the procedure had been peaceful and painless, ignoring the three prior, painful attempts to remove Marley's stomach blockage and the insertion of a catheter through the dog's ribs.

As literature, this book is written from a tunnel-visioned, self-serving perspective that casts shame on its author. A good read if you're into being horrified.

Toward the end of Marley and Me, Grogan speaks of the life lessons--loyalty, courage, devotion, simplicity, joy--that Marley taught him. This was the first laugh I got out of the book.

1 out of 5 stars

If You Truly Love Dogs, Do NOT Support This Book March 24, 2006
69 out of 96 found this review helpful

I gave up on this book after 8 chapters of growing increasingly disgusted. This book is filled with unnecessary, detailed information seemingly designed to grab the attention of readers who otherwise might be saying, "ho-hum," (i.e. doctor's office sequence), and other ego-boosting examples, which make me think a more appropriate title to this book may well be, ME, ME, ME, and MY wife, and MY home, and MY dog. All of that, however, is not what compelled me to rate this item as a 1 star. It was rather the author's misguided, misinformed, and in fact, stupid, and heartless assertions in this book regarding dogs in general; to wit, (1) keeping your dog in a garage, (2) stating the absolute ridiculous concept that "backyard breeders" were more concerned about the "preservation of the breed" than they were in making money, and then in the next sentence relaying that all the puppies were $375-$400 each, and prior to that how this particular breed of dog was the most popular [hardly needing "preservation"] (3) relaying that he knew enough to "steer clear" of puppy mill dogs because they could have health problems. This was all at the beginning of the book, and I was already livid and heartsick. "Backyard breeders" are CLEARLY AND ONLY "in it for the money." As a long-time rescuer and rehabilitator of puppy mill dogs, this author's ignoble reason for not purchasing one of these was sickening. Please - do not avoid a puppy mill dog (one purchased in a pet store) because you may get one that is less than healthy - please avoid purchasing one of these because you will contribute to the horrific perpetual cycle of their parents living in a filthy, tiny cage, in some barn somewhere, being bred until they die. Don't assist this man in profitting any more than he has off of Marley. Instead, put your money towards helping a dog at your local shelter or humane society. If you would like a dear one to love like Marley, get on Petfinder.com and adopt. There are so many that need your help.

1 out of 5 stars

A disappointment January 13, 2006
68 out of 118 found this review helpful

I received this book as a Christmas gift from my wife (as I expect many dog lovers did this year); we have a yellow Lab who resembles Marley. I was looking forward to reading it, and was quite disappointed to find that it was unbearably cloying and sentimental. The book is only partly about Marley the dog; much of it focuses on Grogan and his wife, who come off as being hopelessly self-absorbed and materialistic.

The dog stuff is amusing, but just barely. Far from being "the world's worst dog," Marley is just a typical Lab who is spoiled by his owners' self-indulgence and poor decisions. At times Grogan acts as if he's the only person who has ever owned a dog; most of one chapter deals with a game of fetch with Marley, including Grogan's astounding discovery that he can fool the dog into thinking he's thrown the stick when he really hasn't! Yeah, that's hilarious.

How this book became a bestseller is a mystery to me. I much prefer Dave Barry's essays about his dogs Ernest and Zippy; now that's good dog writing!

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