Marley: A Dog Like No Other

My whole family thoroughly enjoyed Marley & Me. My husband received the original hardcover as a birthday gift, and he read it out loud to our eight-year old, using lots of on-the-fly Daddy editing. Grogan wrote the original Marley & Me for an adult audience, and it's really a memoir of his family life as much as a biography of his dog (a brilliant angle, really, for Grogan to be smart enough to realize that his personal memoir would not have created as much interest as "life and love with the world's worst dog"). That being said, I want to emphasize that if you want to share Marley's story with a child, please make sure to buy the kids' edition, either Marley: A Dog Like No Other or the Marley Movie Tie-in Edition: A Dog Like No Other. It's a very worthy adaptation, keeping Grogan's authorial voice and Marley's stories intact, and the kids' version does still contain the "circle of life" lessons of the original book, which I thought was important. I definitely recommend the youth adaptation for anyone younger than high school, as well as any reader who is primarily interested in Marley as the star of the Grogan family. It's still a solid book, 24 chapters, almost 200 pages--a quality read. The young readers' edition focuses on Marley and significantly tones down the content about John and Jenny Grogan's fertility issues and postpartum depression, and also takes out the stories about the crime in their neighborhood, which culminated in a horrifying report about an elderly neighbor being brutally murdered. I had forgotten how upsetting some of the book was until my child picked up the adult version recently and read it through without me--it was not a happy outcome. There is a great tale for the whole family embedded in the original Marley & Me, which is why I am so glad that John Grogan went to the trouble of creating a high-quality adaptation for young readers. The Grogans were typically inept dog owners when faced with their high-maintenance Marley. If they weren't, half the antics in the story would never have happened. They love their dog and their kids, and Marley sure was a character. With the Marley & Me movie coming out, there is sure to be renewed interest in Marley, and this entertaining, heartfelt family story.

Desperate for something contemporary and entertaining to read to my fifth grade class I decided to give Marley: A Dog Like No Other a try. My students were immediately attached to Marley and his amusing antics, as was I. Grogan does a wonderful job catering to this particular age group; he includes several references to bowel movements and vomit, thoroughly describes Marley's destructive nature, and keeps the text moving at a brisk pace, eliminating the possibility of boredom. Day after day, my students begged me to read about Marley, even though we all became sadly aware of what the end of the book would bring. I recommend this book to parents, students, teachers, and all other animal lovers. It may bring tears to your eyes at the end, but it makes you remember how important the relationships we have with our pets are.

This book was just perfect, even the second time around! My nine year old daughter watched as I laughed and cried through Marley and Me, and desperately wanted to read it. I just couldn't let her due to the adult content. I was thrilled to hear of this version and even happier with the read! After my daughter was finished (she loved it!), I was caught stealing her copy. It was still the same loveable Marley! It is a great adaptation.

Author John Grogran adapted his mega bestselling "Marley & Me" specifically for young readers. And rightly so as no one should miss this heartwarming story of a family and their dog - or, perhaps a dog and his family. Stage, television and film actor Neil Patrick gives a strong, understated reading. Known for his starring role in TV's How I Met Your Mother, his voice is easy, listenable, and ably conveys the joys of living with Marley and the sorrow at losing him. Now, don't ever confuse Lassie with Marley. Minding was something Marley couldn't quite manage - this is despite obedience school and concerted efforts by his adoptive parents, John and Jenny. Marley was a Lab with few of a Labrador Retriever with few of a Lab's characteristics. He was 97 pounds of almost non-stop accidents waiting to happen. Actually, John and Jenny wouldn't have had him any other way nor would we. His heart was huge and his love boundless despite his lack of social graces (sniffing crotches is definitely unacceptable as is swallowing costly uneatable items). In retrospect, John can remember Jenny's reasoning - they were newly married and she thought having a puppy would be good training to caring for children when they came along. He writes, "If Jenny really only wanted a dog to hone her parenting skills, I would have tried to talk her off the ledge and maybe placate her with a goldfish." They both had full-time jobs and knew that a dog was a large responsibility. But, they both also had happy memories of having a dog when they were children. So, their decision was made and Marley was their pick of the wriggling, furry litter. Little did they know. (Even though upon first meeting Marley all but chewed his way through John's watchband.) "Marley: A Dog Like No Other"" is so much more than the story of a lovable canine, it's the story of a family - how they grew together, their celebrations and their griefs. It's also a tale sure to provoke both laughter and tears. - Gail Cooke

John Grogan has loved dogs since he was ten-years-old, when he finally convinced his father that he was responsible enough to care for his very own canine. So when, years later, John and his new wife, Jenny, decide that it's time to add a little bundle of joy to their growing family, they look no further than a rambunctious puppy. The couple knows that a puppy would be the perfect addition to their family, as he'll provide them with comfort, warmth, and love year-round; and so they begin their quest to find their newest family member. They don't have to look far, however, for they find love in a squirming Labrador Retriever puppy they aptly name Marley - after their mutual love for the reggae sounds of Bob Marley. Marley proves to be quite a handful - albeit a cute one - from the start. He appears to be untrainable, and spends his days flinging drool, eating everything in his path - including toy soldiers and expensive jewelry - and tipping over any trash can he comes in contact with. While Marley's bad behavior makes John and Jenny question their adoption at times; his ability to win them over with sloppy, slurping kisses only makes them value his presence even more. Of course, as Marley morphs from a tiny puppy into a 97-pound slobbering dog, the Grogan family begins growing - adding two sons, a daughter, and countless new pets - and a move from sunny Florida to snowy Pennsylvania, John becomes determined to teach his old dog new tricks, by giving him a little one-on-one training and curbing his bad behavior. It soon becomes obvious, however, that Marley has a mind of his own, and does as he pleases. While this way of thinking may drive some insane, it only makes Marley shine even more in the Grogan's hearts. Showcasing Marley's irresistible personality, larger-than-life heart, and loyalty. But the years are passing, and the tiny puppy that Marley once was is now nothing more than a distant memory. And, as Marley begins to slow down, and lose some of his joie de vivre, the Grogan's face the difficult decision of keeping him going - in the bad shape that he's in - or laying him to rest in dog heaven, where he can return back to the playful ways of his puppy-hood, and, once again, be at peace, and relieved of the pain that has stricken him. As an animal lover, there was never a doubt in my mind that John Grogan's MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER would not win a place in my heart. However, upon completion, I was surprised to note that, not only was Grogan's effort entertaining and heartwarming, it also possessed a profound, lyrical undertone that certainly works to help readers - both young and old - to come to terms with the life, and death, of a beloved pet. John is a likable character, whose ability to put up with just about any crazy behavior Marley decides to embrace is hilarious. His easygoing personality, and obvious love for Marley only makes the reader enjoy his presence from beginning to end. Jenny, while not as prominent of a character, als