Marley is the world's worst dog. At least that's what his family believes when he eats new necklaces, runs away with a cafe table attached to his leash, and jumps on just about everyone that comes to their house. To the owners, he is a nuisance, but as most dog owners understand, he quickly becomes a member of the family. This book follows Marley as he grows and also the author's life.
John and his wife decide to buy a puppy on impulse because it would be great practice for the responsibility of raising kids. John loves the idea, especially after thinking fondly of his childhood dog he loved so much. Despite them both having jobs, they took this responsibility head on. After getting their puppy John finally researches the Labrador Retriever breed and finds out that their high strung personalities, need for constant companionship with their humans, and stubborn personalities with training may be hard to manage. John reads that a good indicator of the puppy's personality is the temperament of the parents. John thinks back to his day at the breeder remembers that while the mother was calm; the only glimpse he had of the father was a frothing, charging, covered in mud lunatic. Needless to say, the Grogans soon learn they might have bitten off more than they can chew! Marley is hyper, untrained, and chews just about everything he can get his paws on. The Grogan's try to work out his energy with scheduled walks, times to play, and games. Marley has a particular fear of thunderstorms, and will break through walls, chew doors, etc. at the sounds of a storm approaching. For all of the moments that Marley is wild and uncontrollable, the family also finds that he is protective of the humans he loves, and can comfort them when they are in need of a shoulder to cry on. While they struggle with Marley, they also have moments of emotional hilarious situations that make this book so enjoyable.
This book was an intimate look into the relationship between an owner and his beloved canine. It depicts the ups and downs, serious moment in their lives, and overall joys of owning a dog. While this book is mostly about Marley's experiences and stories, it also follows the Grogans' lives. John Grogan does not hold back on the details of his life, happy or sad, he tells everything. It makes this book very personal and unforgettable.
. Marley, over the course of the story becomes a member of their family and beloved friend to their children. This book did not take long to finish at all and I loved each chapter. If you have a soft spot for dogs or have one as a member of your family, this book should be on your reading list. Enjoy!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Up Next: Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
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