Marley and Me
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Love Like a Dog
If you have not discovered them yet, the Marley & Me message boards ( http://www.marleyandme.com/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi ) are worth checking out. Hundreds of readers and dog lovers have come there to share, praise, criticize, laugh, kvetch, tell funny stories, post photos, swap horror tales -- you name it. Many of the entries are heartfelt, and some are particularly memorable and illuminating. Which leads me to a message I discovered today from a man going by the name of Beagleboy. He opens it this way:
"There is something in this book that has affected me even more deeply than Marley. It's John's relationship with Jenny. I left my wife and my two beautiful beagles 3 years ago tomorrow." He then goes on to describe the aftermath.
By the end of his touching note, a note filled with regret and sadness for relationships lost, Beagleboy summarizes the central premise of Marley & Me in a way that had not occurred to me to do, but which makes total sense to me. This is how he put it: "When I cried uncontrollably as Marley aged and slipped away, I knew I was also crying for my family. The message of this book is, Love like a Dog."
I like that. A lot. Love like a dog. Well, OK, maybe not without all the sloppy, slurpy tongue action (not that there's anything wrong with that!), but otherwise it does make a lot of sense. His piece is worth reading, and you can find it here: http://www.marleyandme.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000682.html under the heading "Come here and kiss me," which is a reference to a scene in the book.
posted by John Grogan at 7:30 AM
 
20 Comments:
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John, I was at Clifton and showed you a photo of my chocolate lab Mocha- the one who ate a frisbee and glove within one week's time! It was wonderful meeting you and having you read an excerpt from your story.
I can't wait to see the movie once it's in the works- I wonder who will portray Marley....
Lots of luck and love to you and your family!
Jessica
John, thank you soo much for sharing Marley with the world. I laughed, cried and shoke my head as to say, "yeah I have been through that myself once or twice" (or more like a bazillion times!!). I had two of my boys pass away in the last 5 mos (Bailey in Oct and my Onyx on March 4)and it still hurts but your book has helped in many ways. Check them out on our blog http://ginastanford.blogspot.com/ --That unconditional love just can't be beat... thanks again!!
John, this book is pure genius. It was a total joy to read, and now I'm in a phase of trying to get as many people to read it as I can.
Props to Beagleboy for the message: love like a dog. That's so true, and I can totally see how he got that from your book. (by the way, if you haven't read Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, you might want to look into it.) So congrats on the super book...I loved it.
~Sara
PS. I'm not sure if you're posted this or not, but I was just wondering, how old are your kids?
John, Just discovered your book at Chicago O'Hare and read it during my flight home to San Diego. I got so many comments on the airplane... people asking about the book and commenting on the cute puppy on the cover. I plowed through the first 80% of the book, but now I'm slowing down because I just don't want it to end. I'm going to be so sad to see Marley go. Thanks for sharing your family with us. I wish you were visiting San Diego soon to promote your book.
John, I just finished the book. Right now I'm on dogs #4 & 5, and I "dog earred" the part where you nabbed Marley eating the grilled cheese sandwiches. My husband will get a laugh out of that, as our old girl Chloe is really quite deaf. She is waiting for the mailman right now, and he was here an hour ago. As I finished your book this afternoon, my young pup (18 months) Riley (Border Collie Lab....talk about energy!) jumped into my lap and licked my face as I mourned for your Marley. Thank you so much for sharing your Marley with all of us. It just confirms that we aren't crazy for loving these incredible beasts, its the best darn deal mankind has ever made.
Laura
John, fantastic book! My wife and I lost our dog on February 3, 2006. Alex was a apricot poodle and he made it to the wise old age of 14. You can see a picture of him on his last day with us on my blog: http://www.insanelydull.com
Although he was not a lab and did not have quite the energy as Marley, he did enjoy playing with his toys and his walk every evening.
Reading Marley & Me made me smile and cry as I also had to watch old age take over his and our lives with the end result of us having to make the "decision".
I thought it might have been to soon to read the book, but it actually helped when I read that your family had made many of the sacrifices and adjustments in your lives to see that Marley had the best life possible. Thanks for that!
"Love Like a Dog" because there is nothing in comparison.
John,
Thank You for doing this book. Marley & Me is a wonderful book, although I am only in the 8th chapter, it is so fun to read. what caught my eye was the cover of your book, Marley looks so cute and innocent, but when you start reading I have found, Marley is just not that by no means. I saw that Marley had passed away and am sorry for your loss of Marley. my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I had the misfortune of reading Marley and Me on an airplane. Suffice it to say I was sobbing and snotting all over my window as I hunched against the airplane wall, trying to metabolize the end of the book.
Wow.
I may have fallen a bit in love with you when you describe Marley in the movie... you two are in the hotel lobby and you say to the man "excuse me, but do you know who you're talking to?".
Marley and Me is such a beautiful marriage of humor, sadness, love and loyalty. I have a three year old labrador evader that I love more than anything. My husband accuses me of speaking to him through the dog. Am a bit paralyzed emotionally when it comes to humans.. but my husband says he knows that I love him by the way I use the dog to talk to him.
"Max you love your Poppers don't you.. we sure love our Poppers".. A bit sad, I know.
Thank you John, for putting to words what so many of us have felt for our pets for so long. I will never, ever forget this book.
Monica
One of the best books I have EVER read.For two days I could not put it down. Thank you so much for sharing your story with the world. I love giving books as gifts, and yours is now at the top of my list.
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hi john, i love dogs too.
i also like to write about dogs.
congratulations for the success
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dogwalker/
http://logik9.blogspot.com/
I just finished reading your book "Marley & Me" and I absolutely love it. This book made me laughed and cried and it was great! Well, to be honest the front cover really got my attention first and you cannot resist a cute puppy cover. I have to write 7 page essay about this book for my english class, this book made it less painful than most. Thanks!
Dear John,
Drawn to the "pet" section of Barnes and Nobles as I often am in a kind of daze, I picked up your book and read it in just a few days, unable to put it down. You see, a few days ago my family and I decided it was time to say goodbye to my best friend and constant companion, Kipi. Kipi was a Sheltie, and lived to be 18 years old. He's been by my side since I was three. I prepared myself well in advance for his sad departure, but I was still sure I would be deeply affected by his death. Then, when the time came, I found myself unable to shed a tear. I was shocked and appalled at my lack of emotion, and for the next few days wandered around, not sure of how I felt. It was confusing and upsetting and I didn't feel like myself. I'm normally a very emotional person, and I like myself that way. Then, towards the end of your book, all the emotion I couldn't find before swelled up and hit me. I think I cried for eight straight hours, and, though sad, it felt right, and I was so glad to get it all out. I'm not sure what I would have done without your book... wandered in a perpetual daze until the stress of not grieving overwhelmed me? Who knows. The point is, I've been looking for a way to contact you so that I can thank you for sharing your wonderful stories. Your work has moved countless numbers of people, now including me. I'm an aspiring writer myself, and I can only hope to share my world with others as beautifully as you have. Thanks again,
Nyssa-- nmjohnso@bulldog.unca.edu
I cannot wait to read your book, but I'm still working up the courage to do so.
We just lost our 11-year-old Siberian Husky, Nanook, to cancer. I'm not sure when, or if, the lump in my throat ever will disappear. He taught me and my new husband so much about love.
I'm looking forward to reading about you and Marley's bond.
Dear John,
Like so many others before me I am writing to THANK YOU for sharing yours and Marley's "story". I was very deeply touched and inspired I agree with another blogger who wrote she read the last few pages ever so slowly as we didn't want the story (or Marley) to end... However, I was inspired by the concept of "Love like a DOG". How refreshingly simple and true to apply it to our own lives... Again thank you for sharing a life lesson learned from Marley, the GOOD DOG!
John, your book portrays life with family so beautifully. I couldnt' put this book down.You are pure brillent. I cried buckets in the end. Laughed through the middle. And enjoyed every word.
You are now my favorite.
Karen
John, your book is the best I have read in a long time..I smiled in the beginning laughed thru the middle and cried buckets in the end. You portrayed family life and love with a dog that so far has been unexplained. You put every emotion into words that so many others have only tried to explain. I felt your book. I am a dog lover and slave to three dogs. Your wonderful.
Karen
John, Just wanted to thank you for your story of Marley,the "bad" dog! So glad you realized what a great dog he really was! My Phoebe was a great dog also...so great in the end that I can scarcely remember her ever being a "bad" dog..though she did go thru a rough "puppy" stage while I was getting used to having my first dog. I hadn't allowed myself to grieve for her properly until I read the final chapters of your book. The sequence of events was so close in nature to what my Phoebe went thru in her last days it showed me that I was not the only one who felt sorrow at the passing of a dear furry friend. Finally the tears flowed freely and I feel...if not better...at least not so alone in my grief. Thanks again for a beautiful story. Judi
John,
When my neighbor told me that I had to read your book, that I would be unable to put it down, I saw her a few days later (having just started it). I told her I wasn't hooked yet and she said to keep reading. Soon I was enthralled in the wonderful story of Marley and the beautiful relationship the two of you shared. You truly have a gift with words for I can't remember ever laughing out loud while reading a book or crying for days after finishing one as I did with Marley. Our dog, Livi, a pound puppy from the shelter (described as a "Sheltie mix") is now boring since the puppy days are finally over. My expensive Chinese silk dining room rug was our most expensive casualty. But I truly enjoy her company and your book made me realize how much I love her.
John,
When my neighbor told me that I had to read your book, that I would be unable to put it down, I saw her a few days later (having just started it). I told her I wasn't hooked yet and she said to keep reading. Soon I was enthralled in the wonderful story of Marley and the beautiful relationship the two of you shared. You truly have a gift with words for I can't remember ever laughing out loud while reading a book or crying for days after finishing one as I did with Marley. Our dog, Livi, a pound puppy from the shelter (described as a "Sheltie mix") is now boring since the puppy days are finally over. My expensive Chinese silk dining room rug was our most expensive casualty. But I truly enjoy her company and your book made me realize how much I love her.