John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow fur ball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barrelling, ninety-seven-pound steamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. 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 jewellery.
Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. 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. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behaviour, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple’s joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms. The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life.
Life lessons in the mould of Tuesdays With Morrie.
This is a book for everyone who has ever wanted, owned, or known a dog.
About the author:
John Grogan is a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and former editor in chief of Rodale’s Organic Gardening magazine. He lives in Philadelphia, PA.
Industry Reviews
"A book with intense appeal... tenderly follows its subject from sunrise to sunset, from the ball-of-fluff stage to the heartbreaking farewell. "
New York Times
