In the half of the book I read, they did the following: More accurately, I think quite a bit of their behavior borders on animal abuse. What really stands out is that the author and his wife are horrible pet owners. Unfortunately, this isn't what I disliked most about the book. Perhaps I would have laughed at some parts of the book if Marley was my dog, or if I at least knew Marley - but he's not, and I don't.

For this reason, there are no parts of the book that are truly funny. I have dogs whom I love very much, and often things they do I find to be very entertaining even though others might not derive the same level of enjoyment if I were to tell them all about it. Marley sounds like an amusing guy but I think pets are like kids - you don't get nearly as much joy from people telling you stories about their kids as you do from watching your own. Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.This is a mediocre book written by horrible dog owners. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night.

Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, 'Don't hesitate to use these.' And yet Marley's heart was pure. Obedience school did no good Marley was expelled. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world.

The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life John and Jenny were just beginning their life together.

Marley and Me by John Grogan