A review by anjumstar
Marley and Me by John Grogan

funny hopeful reflective

4.5

This book became known as "another one of those dead dog books", but really, I found that part of the book to be really well done. We were walked into it, and the author didn't twist the knife. It's sad, but it's appropriate. And before that, the book was was good as it was made out to be 15 years ago. A really easy pleasant read. The couple at the center of it are so pleasant to read about. They're not perfect, but they're so loving that the antics that could grate me as even just a reader come across as lighthearted. Plus, it was really something--especially for a book written in 2005, when usually heterosexual dynamics were written in pretty sexist ways--to read about a regular guy who loved his wife and kids so much and seemed such an authentic family man. I'm not sure if he made himself sound better in memoir than he actually was irl, but I actually found him an encouraging character. A wife guy before "wife guys", but with a more diverse identity between his job and dog as well.

I was nervous to pick this book up because of the reputation, but I found it enjoyable top to bottom. No wonder it was so popular.