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

With three dogs in my house, and the attempted breeding of one of them, it's no wonder that I love dogs. I love how they get so excited to see me when I'm gone for only a few minutes, or how they cuddle like life-size hot water bottles with me on a cold day. I saw life-size because their sizes range from 40-80 pounds. They're not small dogs, but regardless of their size, I've loved them all since day one.

I first saw the movie for Marley & Me and really enjoyed it. When I saw the book at a library sale, I knew I should snatch it up because if it was anything like the movie, it was bound to be awesome. The movie and the book are both quite similar. It's the story of a couple just having gotten married and getting a dog. Naturally, they fall for looks rather than researching their option and end up with Marley.

According to the movie, Marley is an absolute terror, but he really doesn't come across as one in the book. At least not so much. I hate to compare the two, but I really liked how the movie was based on newspaper articles written by Grogan, but that really doesn't happen in the book. In fact, the book comes across just as I said earlier, a couple who poorly researches a dog, gets one based on looks alone and has no idea what they got themselves into.

Being a dog owner, I know what it takes to yield a good dog. In fact, my husband and I researched our first dog so much and had to wait a year to get her because we wanted one from a specific breeder because they seemed like the best. They were wonderful and we met the mother and the father of the litter, got to know them before the litter was even born. After spending that long with the breed, we were more than certain when our litter was up.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the novel, suffice to say. We spent time training all of our dogs and while they're not perfect, they are excellent listeners when it counts. Sure, they still jump on people when they're really excited (usually just family, and it's only one dog who does it), but they don't jump onto the counter, they don't make a lot of noise, they don't make huge messes or cause a lot of mayhem, all because we took the time to make them respect us.

There were so many moments in the book that I just didn't understand, parts that made me shake my head wondering how the author could publish them. If you've seen the movie, you would have seen the part where Marley gets out the window of the car on the freeway - what kind of people would even let their dog get close to that point? Our windows are opened a crack for the dog, not even big enough to get their head out - enough room for them to get air, but not enough to hurt them. There's another instant that happens towards the end of Marley's life that I just couldn't understand. I'll just say this - if the time comes and one of my dogs is sick, I am NOT leaving its side.

Anyway, I felt like the book fell short. It had some cute and heartwarming moments throughout, but if you hope to read something similar to the movie, then you're not going to get it. Yes, the book is sad, and yes, Marley can be quite a handful, but if you're looking for a can't-put-it-down dog book, there are better books out there.

Six years ago today our life changed.

Shade was our pride and joy and crazy energetic black lab dog. And at 16 and a half years old she went to Doggie Heaven.

Our loss was insurmountable with only one story being a helping guide through our process of grief and remembrance.

Marley And Me tells the journey of one incredible golden lab and the impact he has on a families existence. This vibrant tale connected so well with us on multiple levels. We lived this.

Shade graced us with her joy in June of 1989. She exploded all over the house with an energy and verve that made the place shudder. Rules were to be mocked by this puppy and the laws of physics defied. My wife and I were still in high school back then, and whenever I accompanied her home after school we were always greeted by Shade and the ever present saliva filled tongue. Her forceful personality coupled with a slathering of dog spit told us more then any words of how loved we were.

John Grogan, the teller of Marley's mischief, was a newlywed newspaper writer who procured a puppy (or did Marley procure them?) and quickly learned who really was in charge. Chaos and destruction followed, along with many attempts to reign in his dogginess. As the Grogan family expanded with the birth of their three children, Marley continued on his merry way and infiltrated their hearts. And cause much property damage.

As Shade grew up and became a responsible adult (yeah right), we passed through high school and college and into civilian life. After several years, we moved forward with our lives and started planning our wedding. From the beginning, the inclusion of Shade in the ceremony was mandatory. On a beautiful June day, set in our idyllic backyard, our family and friends witnessed our wedding. And Shade walked me down the aisle, letting out a big yawn right at the start. Even with all her buddies and belly rubbers in attendance, she just acted like it was a normal day on planet Earth. After all everyone was really here to see her.

Age started to take its inevitable toll on Marley and causes much distress to the Grogan family. Repeated trips to the vet become more and more required. John and Jenny Grogan have to prepare themselves and the children for the hard next step.

A horrible nosebleed afflicted Shade a month after our wedding, derailing our honeymoon plans. After a slow, prolonged recovery, she was never quite the same. The mischievous spark was ever in her character, but the body was growing tired and weary of the escapades.

The coda of Marley's journey occurred just before New Year's and left the family devastated. John Grogan turned to his column in the Philadelphia Inquirer to pay tribute to the "world's worst dog." After publication on Tues Jan 6, 2004, a flood of responses poured in, giving him impetus to write Marley and Me. It became a bestseller and is viewed by many as the On Death And Dying for pet owners.

The beginning of Shade's next adventure also happened around New Year's and brought much sorrow to us. With her body slowly growing weaker, we took her to the vet one last time on Frid, Jan 13, 2006. Seeking solace with each other, we then discovered Marley, and slowly eased ourselves through our grief.

Massive success lead to more massive success for Marley and Me. A movie version captured the essence and facts of the story and is a worthwhile companion to the book. Various spinoffs rolled out, including a YA novel (Marley, A Dog Like No Other), and a picture book series (Marley and the Kittens).

We cleaned out Shade's belongings days later and started a mini collection of books that reminded us of her craziness. We connected with Remembering Farley by Lynn Johnston. Farley was the main dog in the For Better Or For Worse newspaper comic strip who passed away as well. The wonderful poems "Beau" by Jimmy Stewart and "The Rainbow Bridge" were also very enlightening. For young children, the picture book Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant became very touching to us.

Grogan exemplified Marley's crazy and loving life with his book. Telling tales of knocking over patio tables at cafes or destroying the garage walls during thunderstorms. We felt like Marley and Shade were comrades in arms. One time in the middle of the night she decided that the really loud laughing squeaky toy just had to be played with. Right now. Or the time she snuck into the kitchen and licked my mashed potatoes, just laying on the plate. She gave me a very innocent look when caught. No jury would have convicted. The tales are many and quite legendary. Shade made an undeniable impact on our lives, still felt even today.

So today we celebrate the life and excitement and joy that was Shade. Thanks to the catharsis of Marley And Me, our healing has been more complete. We can smile not cry now.

Shade and her slobbering saliva kisses would approve.

Scoopriches

An amazing, laugh out loud story, that will have dog lovers and pet owners alike zipping through.Having recently lost my dog this story reminded me about all the good things that I had forgotten about my own dog.

While the story itself is a bit sad by the end, it carries a happy tone throughout the rest of the book. Well worth the read.

It does not matter if you have a big yellow lab, a small lap dog or no dog of your own. You will read this story and laugh, sometimes so hard you'll have trouble catching your breath. John writes so well you can see everything Marley and the family are experiencing on every page. I would recommend it to everyone and when I get my copy back will pass it on to some one else to enjoy! A must read for the summer. Sit outside and laugh out loud while your own dog(s) entertain you as well.