I firmly believe that God sends a dog to people in need. As a kid, due to the nature of my dad's job, we moved a lot. My dog was my best friend and companion in all the new houses, cities, and schools. I honestly don't know how I would have survived that time if it wasn't for my dog brother.

Journalist John Grogan tells the story of the thirteen years he spent with his dog 'Marley'. Marley came into their newlywed life when they decided to start a family. Marley was there when they had miscarriages and when their babies came home.

But Marley was not your typical well-behaved Labrador. As the title suggests, he was the 'worst behaved'. So much so that once mental illness was suggested. Nevertheless, he loved them and they loved him, and that's the only thing that matters.

Reading the book, I laughed and I cried. The moments of Marley behaving badly were so amusing. He was a Viking of a dog that crashed and crushed everything he felt like, drooled on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything from furniture to expensive jewelry.

The Grogans tried to get him in an obedience school from which he was expelled. When they sought the help of a veterinarian, he was prescribed anxiolytic meds with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these", but nothing happened. Marley remained the same.

I cried at all the beautiful moments of love, be it when the mom comes back home after the miscarriage and (now) calm Marley showers her with love and gets on her lap or Marley's final moments.

The only problem I had with the book is that it is a full family story rather than the dog's story, which I expected. I would also have to say that Grogan was not a very responsible owner. I mean, don't blame the dog when you get him from a backyard breeder without any research and also leave behind your about-to-die dog to go to Disney World. But who am I to say!

With all that, the book is good, a well-written, beautiful account of a not-so-perfect dog and his family. http://drficticity.home.blog/2020/01/...

This book should have been titled "World's Worst Dog Owners".

It just makes me plain mad. Poor Marley was truly abused. He was left alone in a garage without AC for 10 to 12 hours, and left alone with his fear of thunderstorms. At one point, the callous female owner didn't want him anymore. What the heck? This book was awful.

It makes me think of all those unwanted dogs left to fend for themselves because owners don't want to deal with them anymore. I don't understand how this book became so popular.

It gets even worse. The family goes on vacation when Marley is near dying. Love their priorities! This book is AWFUL!!! I can't believe the popularity of this book and that there is a movie! What the.....?

I will NEVER recommend this book to anyone.

The only reason Marley was considered such a "bad" dog was that he was truly neglected ALL the time. It's a horrible, horrible, horrible book and treatment of a family pet all the way to his dying end. The Disney vacation had priority for the Grogan family.

It's just so sad and unacceptable how Marley was treated. This book should serve as a wake-up call for all pet owners to be more responsible and caring towards their furry friends.

Those who have had the wonderful experience of having a Labrador in their family will immediately feel a connection with this book. As you read, you'll be astonished by Marley's antics, and at some point, they will seem so familiar that you'll find yourself smiling while flipping through the pages. The book is excellently written, and John Gorgan makes sure that it adheres to the theme of his life with Marley. He could have easily given in to the temptation of adding more details about Marley to please the readers or resisted sharing the personal aspects of his life in print. However, these fears are baseless. The book strikes a perfect balance between both aspects. And you simply can't help but get emotional at the end (hopefully, it wasn't a spoiler). I can't wait for the movie that is set to be released on the 25th of December.

I initially believed that this book must be an excellent read considering the numerous positive reviews and its bestseller status.

However, upon reading it, I found it to be mediocre at best. It wasn't truly about the dog as one might have expected. Instead, every minute detail of this man's rather uninteresting life was described in excruciating detail.

For instance, it included what he ate for breakfast and which side of the bed he sleeps on. At times, I couldn't help but wonder if people were actually reading the same book as I was!

The story was so dull that it made me yawn continuously.

Before long, I was almost dozing off, with a series of "Zzzzzz" sounds escaping my lips.

It was a real disappointment considering the high expectations I had set based on its reputation.

This individual seems to be suffering from a rather severe case of Precious Snowflake Syndrome.

On the surface, he appears to have a rather ordinary life. He has an average wife and kids, lives in an average house, and earns an average wage. However, this is clearly not exciting enough for him. Instead, he feels the need to act as if he has the most insane dog in the world.

According to him, his dog's digestive tract is more efficient at cleaning gold than any chemical. His dog is supposedly crazier than any other dog that has ever existed in the entire history of dogs.

Not only that, but his wife is so brilliant and perfect that she can overcome postpartum depression practically overnight without the need for any drug interventions. His children are also picture-perfect, sitting quietly and only occasionally uttering adorable things with charming childish speech impediments.

One can't help but wonder if he rides to work on a unicorn and defecates rainbows. While he may very well be a pleasant person to know in real life, reading about his seemingly idyllic life, which is like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life, is not particularly thrilling or humorous.

It's as if he is trying too hard to make his ordinary life seem extraordinary, and in doing so, he comes across as a bit of a caricature.

Perhaps he should embrace the simplicity and beauty of his average life rather than trying to create a false narrative of extreme uniqueness.

After all, sometimes the most ordinary things in life can be the most precious.

I saw the film years ago. I saw it and appreciated it.

Therefore, when I had the opportunity to borrow the book from Via della Viola, I took advantage of it.

I didn't appreciate the author's style at all, except in some happy moments, when the events narrated and the way of narrating seemed to me to be in harmony.

Fortunately, Marley's story is still a beautiful story.

Marley, with his exuberant spirit and his loyalty, I couldn't help but appreciate him.

And more than once a tear came to my eye.

The film had left a deep impression on me, and I was eager to explore the story further through the book. However, I was disappointed by the author's writing style. It felt disjointed and lacked the emotional depth that the film had managed to convey.

Despite this, the essence of Marley's character shone through. His boundless energy and unwavering loyalty were truly endearing.

As I read on, I found myself becoming more and more invested in his story. I laughed and cried with him, and by the end of the book, I felt a sense of loss.

Overall, while the book may not have lived up to my expectations in terms of writing style, it did succeed in telling a beautiful and moving story about a remarkable dog.

John Joseph Grogan is a well-known American journalist, who achieved fame with his book “IO & MARLEY”. This is an autobiographical novel from which the eponymous film was adapted in 2008. In this book, the writer narrates thirteen years of his family life, starting from the adoption of Marley, a Labrador Retriever puppy that revolutionized his existence.

Through funny and often tragicomic anecdotes, we quickly grow attached to this four-legged companion. And although we can intuit the ending, we can't help but turn the pages until, with great emotion, we are forced to say goodbye to him definitively.

I truly admired Grogan's gesture. I think that dedicating a book to celebrating the existence of his dog was the best way to express and reciprocate the affection, loyalty, and devotion that Marley himself had always shown him, despite the disappointment of expectations and the countless disasters he caused.

In the final pages, there are certainly no shortages of ideas for reflection. Despite his perennial inadequacy and inability to respect social norms, in Marley, we cannot help but admire the “unbridled exuberance”, the joy of living, the ability to appreciate simple and essential things, the inexhaustible optimism, the desire to make friends, but above all, the loyalty and the capacity to love unconditionally those who have always taken care of him and welcomed him not as a domestic animal, but as a full-fledged member of the family.

At first glance, John Grogan’s Marley and Me seems to be a “feel good” novel for dog lovers. However, as an active member of that group, it’s a disappointing illustration of the many mistakes people make when raising a puppy.

The secondary title, Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog, would be more fitting if it were Ridiculous Decisions of the World’s Worst Dog Owners. Let me elaborate. The autobiographical story starts with a young Grogan and his wife considering dog ownership. Readers learn that for the Grogans, having a dog is a natural step and a precursor to parenting.

Admittedly, Grogan mentions several instances where he and his wife overlook obvious signs of trouble, like the deceitful “breeder” they choose and the personalities of the parent dogs. This is to his credit as he then goes on to blame other factors for Marley’s misbehavior.

The novel follows the lives of the Grogans and their growing family. Often, their lives do not involve Marley, which is a common scenario in many households today. Once the children arrive, the dog becomes less important and more like a piece of furniture. Yet, the expectation that Marley should become a “good” dog persists, even though no effort has been made in his regard. A good dog doesn’t develop by osmosis but through consistent training with effort, love, and loyalty.

While Marley’s antics are often humorous, I’m saddened that “Bad Dog” Marley is blamed when the fault lies with the Grogans themselves. This may sound harsh, but as a dog trainer, I firmly believe that our dogs are the result of the time and effort we invest in them. Dogs are not disposable, despite living in a society that promotes this idea. Even though the Grogans keep Marley throughout his life, the fact that he is not fully cherished is evident, especially from Mrs. Grogan’s actions when she expels him from the house and wants him gone shortly after the birth of one of their children, exclaiming, “Get rid of him.”

Overall, Marley and Me remains a sad example of what many pet owners are like today – uninformed and uneducated about dogs. Poor Marley could have been a great dog if he had had great owners.

I cried so much. It felt like all the emotions just came pouring out of me. I don't even know exactly what made me cry this time. Maybe it was the stress of the day, or maybe it was something that had been bothering me for a while and finally reached a breaking point.

But now, I know what I need to do. I'm gonna go hug my dog. My dog is always there for me, no matter what. He doesn't judge me, he just loves me unconditionally. When I hug him, I can feel his warmth and his love, and it makes me feel so much better.

I think sometimes we forget how important our pets are to us. They are more than just animals, they are our friends, our family. They can bring us so much joy and comfort when we need it the most. So, I'm going to go give my dog a big hug and just soak up all his love.

Marley is an endearing Labrador, and he serves as the central structural element around which Grogan weaves his own coming-of-age story.

Grogan and his wife are reporters in South Florida. They take on the responsibility of a dog as a means for his wife to determine if she is up to the challenge of handling a baby. We follow Grogan as he endeavors to gain some semblance of control over the boisterous Marley. He leads us through the life of a young couple as they initially struggle and fail to have a child, only to try again and again until they are successful. He showcases the changes in his corner of Florida, as well as the changes in Marley and his wife. We are introduced to their babies and witness how Marley bonds with them. It is a charming tale, told with warmth, about a flawed yet lovable dog.

Unsurprisingly, this story shot to the top of the bestsellers' list and remained there. Eventually, the family relocates to Pennsylvania when Grogan assumes publishing duties for the Rodale Press. The Pennsylvania portion is无疑 the weaker part here. Marley discovers snow and gets a taste of the Middle Atlantic, but all too soon he starts to go gray and shortly after begins a rapid medical decline. The final chapters deal with his passing. I was especially reminded of the loss of Bo, our alpha cat, while reading this, and I was choking up the entire time. Grogan adds his thoughts on what Marley taught his human masters. It was a bit sentimental, but so what. This is a highly engaging and enjoyable read. The subject matter, such as it is, pertains to dogs in general and Labradors in particular. But the joy here lies in the pure, unrestrained love of Marley for life and his unwavering loyalty to his family. Highly recommended. Remember to carry tissues.

Os Mestres Do Amor Incondicional

Whether in real life, in the cinema, or in literature, dogs win us over!

They share joys, console sorrows - they are adorable beings and an inexhaustible source of unconditional love.

They are experts and masters in this art, and Marley is no exception.

Strange as it may seem, the continuous coexistence with the dog makes us, humans, more human!...

Dogs have a unique charm that touches our hearts deeply. Their loyalty and affection are unwavering, always there to greet us with a wagging tail and a warm gaze.

In the company of a dog, we learn the true meaning of love and acceptance. They don't judge us for our flaws or mistakes; they simply love us for who we are.

Marley, in particular, is a prime example of a dog that embodies the essence of unconditional love. His antics and mischief may have driven his owners crazy at times, but his love and devotion were always present.

He taught them valuable lessons about life, love, and the importance of living in the moment.

Overall, dogs are truly the masters of unconditional love, and we are fortunate to have them in our lives.

Marley and Me by John Grogan was an outstanding book!!

This novel is narrated from the perspective of the author himself, John Grogan. The prologue alone had me in tears as John recounted his childhood dog. The story had its hilarious moments that made me laugh out loud, yet at times it was incredibly heartbreaking!!

I can't believe I procrastinated for so long before reading this story, but I'm extremely glad I finally decided to pick it up. What's not to love about a dog on the cover of a book? That's precisely what caught my attention. As you read this book, expect to experience a rollercoaster of emotions - laughter, tears, and moments when you'll shake your head in disbelief.

John and Jenny Grogan were just starting their life together. They both worked at a newspaper company in Florida, young and deeply in love, living in a perfect little bungalow with no worries in the world. Both John and Jenny had beloved pups during their childhood, and they decided to get a dog when they got married. They brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a Labrador retriever puppy. From that moment on, life would never be the same.

I thought Marley was such a sweet, fun-loving, and utterly adorable dog. However, Marley quickly grew into a massive, ninety-seven-pound steamroller of a retriever, a dog like no other. Marley was so unique in his own ways that nobody could fully understand him. He crashed through screen doors, gouged holes in drywall, spat on people, stole women's undergarments, and ate everything in sight, including couches and expensive jewelry.

John and Jenny took Marley to obedience school to teach him to behave, but it was all in vain as Marley was soon expelled. Despite his mischievous behavior, Marley's heart was pure. He joyfully defied any limits on his actions, yet his love and loyalty knew no bounds. As John Grogan put it, Marley was a man's best friend. I just wanted to enter the book and hold Marley tightly to my heart!!

Marley shared in John and Jenny's joy during their first pregnancy and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when Patrick, Conor, and Colleen were born into the world. Marley was present when a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim's screams shattered the night. Marley was always there. He shut down a public beach and even earned a role in a movie. Marley was constantly winning hearts, despite the chaos he caused. He taught the Grogan family about unconditional love, and they would soon discover that love comes in many different forms. Marley and Me is a heartwarming and unforgettable tale of a family in the making and a crazy, loving dog who taught the Grogan's what truly matters in life.