Writer. Contributing Editor at The Discarded Image. Digital Content Strategist. Here's where I publicly explore the books I'm reading, the projects I'm working on, and other current interests. Marley & Me
Animal lovers, you’ve probably read this one already. The term doesn’t exactly describe me, so I wouldn’t have read this anytime soon if Diana hadn’t left her copy on my desk with a book idea it had inspired (honestly, between Brandon and Diana, I won’t need to come up with an original writing project for the next 10 years–not that I’m complaining).
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog is journalist John Grogan’s memoir of 13 years with his beloved, impossible Golden Retriever. I wasn’t impressed with this story at first, but I have to admit it grew on me.
Marley eats dirty diapers, mangoes, leashes, and gold necklaces. Marley bloodies his muzzle chewing through drywall to escape thunderstorms. Marley gets kicked out of obedience school. Marley is comfort after miscarriage and nursemaid after childbirth. Marley stars in a straight-to-video movie. Marley follows John, Jenny, and their three kids from a South Florida bungalow to an Eastern Pennsylvania farmhouse, where at the end of his long life he finds his resting place under a favorite cherry tree.
“Part of our journey as his owners,†Grogan writes, “was to mold him to our needs, but part also was to accept him for what he was. Not just to accept him, but to celebrate him and his indomitable canine spirit. We had brought into our home a living, breathing being, not a fashion accessory to prop in the corner. For better or worse, he was our dog.â€
This is not destined to become a classic, and it’s a bit too long, but Grogan is a good storyteller. Anyone with a canine member of the family will relate to the goofy, infuriating, endearing antics of Marley—and since this book has been a #1 New York Times bestseller, apparently a lot of people can relate. For me, Marley’s stories brought back fond memories of chasing Cinder, our Black Lab, through the Queen Anne’s Lace, and saying goodbye years later when she contracted meningitis.
I’m not much for “heartwarmers†but this one has good qualities—humorous, told with love, and easy to read.
P.S. Mom, this is one for you and your giant Weimaraner shadow to curl up with!
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