21. Marley and Me

21. Marley and Me by John Grogan (7/7/2011 - 7/9/2011)

Anyone reading this can easily tell which books I really enjoyed -- I tend to crank through them in about 2-3 days or less.  And this is so very true with Marley and Me.  It's a popular book (and surprisingly, a decent movie) that's been read by a lot of people, so I won't dwell on it too much, but I do love this book.

Even though I'm not sure I could actually care for a dog at this point in my life, I still like reading about dogs and the craziness they tend to bring to their owners' lives -- which is definitely what happens in Marley and Me.  Author John Grogan isn't working with a plot, per se, but is instead simply chronicling the growth and development in himself and his family throughout their lives with this one insane dog.  Many of the dog's antics are hilarious, such as making a break for it out the window of a moving car to avoid being neutered and a brief role in a movie, while others are heartbreaking, especially Marley's gradual descent into dog old-age.  It's a book that both makes me want to get a dog and avoid getting one at all costs; Grogan spares no details on how awful it is to watch a beloved pet start to die but he also lovingly portrays how much fun that dog can be. 

I would recommend this book to almost anyone -- it's a quick read and many parts are charming.  But I would especially recommend this book to anyone considering getting a dog; I think this book can really help potential owners understand what they'd be getting into by getting a puppy or adult dog.