I've just read a fantastic book called 'Marley and Me' . It is the true story of a family's life with a destructive, hyperactive American Labrador. It's so funny, but the last few chapters are heartbreaking. It finishes on a funny chapter when the writer John Groghan -the dog's owner- writes about he and his family's memories of the naughty tricks the dog pulled.
I was in floods of tears and absolutey sobbing when I read the last few chapters last night. At the end I was laughing at the tricks the dog had pulled!
The book has been made into a film and is coming out in the cinema soon. If you type in 'Marley and Me' on the search engine you'll see snippets of it.

With Jennifer Aniston? I might buy the book. Sounds good.

YES, the film looks good. The book is brill.

Yes. I got the book for Christmas a couple of years ago. It is a lovely book set in the states. They basically take on a labrador who is a little distructive but ultimately a loveable dog. Wonderful, and quite sad (beware)

It's a wonderful book. I challenge even the coldest heart not to be moved by it

I haven't read but I know about it.

It sounds like a lovely book but to be honest I'd think I'd find it to depressing and upsetting.

Yep, read it about a year ago on holiday...not a great idea to read it on the beach, but luckily for me read the last part of the book in the apartment (sobbed like a baby !)
Am interested to see how this comes across on film...hope Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson make it as good as the book is.

I just hope the film is not all about the rom/com aspect and forget the doggie bits. I wonder who's playing Marley? The book is great and the real Marley did in fact appear in a film, but I can't remember which one, it had a large family in it though.

I didn't find the book depressing, I thought it was funny, heart warming and just rather sad in parts, especially the end.

read the book when it came out & have just downloaded the audiobook to put on the OH's ipod

I have read it. Lovely story. I did hear somewhere there was a second book out

Hiya,
I haven't read the book but I was watching 'The Dog Whisperer' the other day and the family was on it as they were having problems with their new dog, Gracie. It seemed like it would be a good book, although I can read thrillers, crime fiction, horror etc but I hate anything that has animals which doesn't have a happy ending for them

I would love to read this but I am afraid I am just too sentimental over animals. I am welling up just reading this thread and I don't even know anything about the sad bits.

Marley lives a long and happy life, but not uneventful. The ending is what you would expect with a dog his age, sad but not tragic. It's worth reading, honestly!

It really isn't depressing ! It is an enlightenment after there being so many 'I was abused as a child ' books. It is warm, extremely funny, sad near the end, and then funny again! I sobbed my heart out because I was thinking of my dog, Benji, who died about 14 years ago. If you type in 'Marley and Me' on a search engine you can find out about the author and the book, and his other books. You can also see snips of the film. It isn't just about the funny and naughty things Marley does, it is also about a couple and the ups and downs of starting a family.