Customer Reviews

Marley: A Dog Like No Other: A Special Adaptation for Young Readers

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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

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.

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, also displays a warmth that transcends from the pages of the book to the reader, making her a mother-like figure from start to finish. While the children - Colleen, Conor, and Patrick - make very small appearances, their personalities and loving ways shine through, giving the reader the chance to observe their gentle, loving ways with Marley, even as he reaches old age. However, while all of the human characters add a sense of depth to the tale, it is Marley who still captures the show, bringing his irresistible, yet oh-so-wacky personality to the forefront. Marley is a dog that can't be ignored. His constant slobbering, incidents with various screen doors, and inability to control his bowel movements only work to make him more lovable; while his fascination with everything around him - from leaves to chipmunks, and everything in-between - truly go to make him an inquisitive, canine Casanova. While it is difficult for the reader to view Marley go from a playful, exuberant pup, to a full-grown dog in old age - as his hearing and sight begin to fail - knowing that Marley had such a wonderful life makes his demise more bearable, and instills a sense of calm and peace within those who delve into the pages of MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER. Two paws up!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

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.

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.

John Grogan has revised his bestselling memoir, MARLEY & ME, for young readers. Though perhaps less intense than the original, it is still personable and filled with the antics of a rambunctious, energetic and irresistible Labrador retriever.

Marley enters the home of Jenny and John Grogan when they realize it's time to adopt a puppy. As their family grows, the dog provides the same kind of experiences that John had growing up with his own beloved pooch. But Marley comes with an unexpected personality. He presents some challenges, although unintentionally, and might seem to be misinterpreting his owner's requests. For example, after working on response training, John calls Marley, who charges full speed --- doggie drool flying everywhere --- and stops only after crashing on top of John. At the dog beach one must adhere to a number of strict rules, one of which is that pooping is not allowed in the water. Unfortunately, Marley is unable to comply with this one after drinking all the salt water.

When MARLEY & ME was first released, I devoured it --- being owned by two Labradors myself, the book was mandatory. It was so enjoyable (and so full of valuable insight and warnings) that I gave copies to multiple friends and family members. One was a 12-year-old boy who simply adored it. Likewise, young readers will enjoy the in-your-face, not-to-be-ignored, thoughtful Marley as presented in this most recent edition. At 196 pages it reads fast, and each chapter (there are 24 total) is short and fun. Through Grogan's storytelling we understand more about the realities of pet ownership --- the joys as well as the challenges.

MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER allows a somewhat different glimpse into the lives of Marley, Jenny and John Grogan, and their three children. People of all ages will laugh and cry while reading this humorous, heartwarming and tender tale. Marley's sloppy, wet kisses, drool-flinging and food-sneaking will steal your heart. The ending is emotional, and you will ache right along with the Grogan family.

If you have a dog of your own, I recommend curling up together to read the final chapters. This book is every bit as unforgettable as MARLEY & ME.

--- Reviewed by Patsy Side

Marley is a great book about a dog. He is crazy but still very cute. He is not obedient at all and when he's in public he is very naughty. This book goes from the beginning of Marley's life to when he gets really old. Marley is a golden retriever. He is so big that everyone is scared of him. When anyone walks into the house Marley dashes up to them and jumps up on them. This book is so good I couldn't put it down. These are some of the reasons I liked the book:

1. The book has to do with animals being treated fairly and I like that.
2. It taught me how much a dog can connect with its owner. It was touching.
3. The book was thick but I couldn't get enough!

There is just one thing that made me sad. I won't tell you what it was but I will say that it was so sad I actually cried. I hope this review helps you decide if this book is for you or not.

(Review written by Tysha)

I purcased the audio book in preparation for a long family road trip this summer. It was a great buy! We all loved the story, especially my 10 year old son who would not let us turn the car off until a chapter was completed. I highly recommend this audio book. Dog lovers will truly appreciate it. The narration was wonderful!

Marley: A Dog Like No Other is a great book for all ages. It is about the struggling times of a dog and his owner. Through out the book you learn how hard it really is to raise a dog. Marley was brought into a whole new environment. He came from a cage with a mom and a bunch of puppies to a house with no other dogs. He tore everything apart including sofas and walls. This book is filled with moments of laughter and moments of sorrow. It teaches you that even if you don't want to, you have to let go of something eventually. For anyone that has had to deal with loosing a family member this is a great book to read. The author of this book John Grogan is actually the owner of the dog so you get the full picture of all the memories they shared together. When Marley was a puppy he was never really known as a "great dog" he was the dog that got kicked out of training class and the one that jumped on every one who walked in the door. Even though he did all those bad things, his family always saw something good in him that they didn't see in other dogs. Through all the stories that John shares with the reader you feel as if you were really there with Marley. His detailed writing really pulls you in and you will not want to put the book down.

I listened to the audio book, which was read by the author. I wasn't crazy about the narration itself but the story was good. I haven't seen the movie but I was able to visualize Marley's antics through the author's depictions, so that was well done. The style was simplistic and it wasn't earth-shattering but for what it was, it was entertaining and sentimental. In the end, I liked it. I would recommend it for any dog lover or pet lover.