Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Dogs are so precious, we literally don’t deserve them
I just finished watching the movie on Comedy Central (rly? This movie on Comedy Central?) and it reminded me of the book and. Fuck.
Before I say anything else I want to say that yes, yes I know that the Grogan's made a lot of mistakes in dog ownership, but they truly loved that dog.
This book is the most emotional book I have ever read. Never before have I sobbed more than when I read this book. I was incosolable when I finished it, and had to cry into my sister for about an hour. It's one of the most beautiful books I've ever read, truly.
I don't like the mistakes that the Grogan's made, but also, this family loved that dog. That was clear on every single page. If this was any other book, I wouldn't be rating it 5 stars. This clearance puppy stole their hearts, and he stole mine as well. I know it's going to cause me even more emotional breakdowns, but damn I wanna read this book again. Seriously, if you can get past dog ownership mistakes, read this book. Marley stole my heart; give him a chance to steal yours.
Before I say anything else I want to say that yes, yes I know that the Grogan's made a lot of mistakes in dog ownership, but they truly loved that dog.
This book is the most emotional book I have ever read. Never before have I sobbed more than when I read this book. I was incosolable when I finished it, and had to cry into my sister for about an hour. It's one of the most beautiful books I've ever read, truly.
I don't like the mistakes that the Grogan's made, but also, this family loved that dog. That was clear on every single page. If this was any other book, I wouldn't be rating it 5 stars. This clearance puppy stole their hearts, and he stole mine as well. I know it's going to cause me even more emotional breakdowns, but damn I wanna read this book again. Seriously, if you can get past dog ownership mistakes, read this book. Marley stole my heart; give him a chance to steal yours.
A book, a gesture of Love. I received it from my favorite uncle at a special moment in my life!
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
I read it in my late teens and loved it. At the end, I couldn't help but cry a lot.
This is a mediocre book written by horrible dog owners.
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. 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. For this reason, there are no parts of the book that are truly funny. 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.
Unfortunately, this isn't what I disliked most about the book. What really stands out is that the author and his wife are horrible pet owners. At best they are negligent parents. More accurately, I think quite a bit of their behavior borders on animal abuse. In the half of the book I read, they did the following:
* Decided to get a dog for purely selfish purposes (parental practice)
* Read nothing about the breed before choosing to adopt a Lab
* Failed to do any research into the breeder
* Failed to seek out a trainer to work with Marley's quirks despite obvious behavioral issues
* Failed to provide Marley with adequate protection from storms which completely terrified him
* Used a choker with zeal, while almost deriving joy from Marley's near self strangulation
* Allowed Marley to escape from a moving vehicle, seemingly finding humor in Marley hanging out a moving car by his collar
The worst part comes at the end. During the last few weeks of his life, Marley becomes very sick. What does the author do? He leaves the dog at the vet's office and packs the family into the van for a Disney vacation. Fortunately he gets back just in time to have Marley put down. I then get the impression that he expects us to feel sorrow for his loss.
I can't imagine going on vacation while either of my pets are left, deathly ill, at the vet's office. I had already developed a strong dislike for the author's idea of pet care. This last incident really validated that opinion.
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. 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. For this reason, there are no parts of the book that are truly funny. 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.
Unfortunately, this isn't what I disliked most about the book. What really stands out is that the author and his wife are horrible pet owners. At best they are negligent parents. More accurately, I think quite a bit of their behavior borders on animal abuse. In the half of the book I read, they did the following:
* Decided to get a dog for purely selfish purposes (parental practice)
* Read nothing about the breed before choosing to adopt a Lab
* Failed to do any research into the breeder
* Failed to seek out a trainer to work with Marley's quirks despite obvious behavioral issues
* Failed to provide Marley with adequate protection from storms which completely terrified him
* Used a choker with zeal, while almost deriving joy from Marley's near self strangulation
* Allowed Marley to escape from a moving vehicle, seemingly finding humor in Marley hanging out a moving car by his collar
The worst part comes at the end. During the last few weeks of his life, Marley becomes very sick. What does the author do? He leaves the dog at the vet's office and packs the family into the van for a Disney vacation. Fortunately he gets back just in time to have Marley put down. I then get the impression that he expects us to feel sorrow for his loss.
I can't imagine going on vacation while either of my pets are left, deathly ill, at the vet's office. I had already developed a strong dislike for the author's idea of pet care. This last incident really validated that opinion.
-it was cute, though i bet you can guess what happens at the end
Heartbreakingly Amazing, that is how I describe this book. I know for some that that might be a bit cliché but to me it is the best way to describe it. This is not a book just about a dog or just about an experience this is a book about family and life. Overall this is a book about life, and all its wonders and sorrows. Join John and Marley as they teach you about life and growing up. I have read this book so many times, I recommend it to so many people. Once you start its hard to put down.
I am having the hardest time reading this book. It has been on my bookshelf for over a year, my book club read it, I have read great review but I cannot seem to get into it.