Marley & Me

Last updated

Marley & Me
Marley & Me book cover.jpg
Author John Grogan
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Autobiographical novel
Publisher HarperCollins (US), Hodder & Stoughton (UK)
Publication date
October 18, 2005
Media typePrint (hardcover), audiobook,
e-book
Pages304 pp
ISBN 0-06-081708-9
OCLC 58431841
636.752/7/092 B 22
LC Class SF429.L3 G76 2005

Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog is an autobiographical book by journalist John Grogan, published in 2005, about the 13 years he and his family spent with their yellow Labrador Retriever, Marley. The dog is poorly behaved and destructive, and the book covers the issues this causes in the family as they learn to accept him in addition to their grief following Marley's death. It was subsequently adapted by the author into three separate books, as well as into a comedy-drama film released in 2008.

Contents

Story

Told in first-person narrative, the book portrays Grogan and his family's life during the 13 years that they lived with their dog Marley, and the relationships and lessons from this period. Marley, a yellow Labrador Retriever, is described as a high-strung, boisterous, and somewhat uncontrolled dog. He is strong, powerful, endlessly hungry, eager to be active, and often destructive of their property (but completely without malice). Marley routinely fails to "get the idea" of what humans expect of him; at one point, mental illness is suggested as a plausible explanation for his behavior. His acts and behaviors are forgiven, however, since it is clear that he has a heart of gold and is merely living within his nature.

Marley was filmed for a two-minute credited appearance in the 1996 movie The Last Home Run .

The strong contrast between the problems and tensions caused by his neuroses and behavior, and the undying devotion, love and trust shown towards the human family as they themselves have children and grow up to accept him for what he is, and their grief when he finally dies from gastric dilatation volvulus (a stomach torsion condition) in old age, form the backdrop for the biographical material of the story.

In the autobiography, Grogan states that the eulogy he wrote in his newspaper following the death of his dog received more responses than any other column he had written in his professional life up until that point. [1] In a discussion on his website devoted to the book, he looks back on his family's time with Marley, and the lessons learned, and concludes that: "[C]ommitment matters. That 'in good times and bad, in sickness and in health' really means something. We didn't give up on Marley when it would have been easy to, and in the end he came through and proved himself a great and memorable pet." [2]

Adaptations

Marley & Me has been rewritten into three different books:

In 2008, the novel was adapted into a family comedy-drama motion picture, also titled Marley & Me . Released on December 25, 2008, the film stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston and is directed by David Frankel. A direct-to-video prequel followed in 2011, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labrador Retriever</span> British breed of dog

The Labrador Retriever, or simply Labrador, is a British breed of retriever gun dog. It was developed in the United Kingdom from fishing dogs imported from the colony of Newfoundland, and was named after the Labrador region of that colony. It is among the most commonly kept dogs in several countries, particularly in the European world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Hanson</span> American filmmaker (1945–2016)

Curtis Lee Hanson was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. Born in Reno, Nevada, Hanson grew up in Los Angeles. After dropping out of high school, Hanson worked as photographer and editor for Cinema magazine. In the 1970s, Hanson got involved in filmmaking starting with participating to the writing Daniel Haller's The Dunwich Horror (1970) and his directorial debut Sweet Kill (1973), where he lacked creative control to fulfill his vision. While Hanson continued directing, he rose to prominence by being involved in the writing of critically acclaimed films. This includes Daryl Duke's The Silent Partner (1978), Samuel Fuller's White Dog and Carroll Ballard's Never Cry Wolf (1983).

<i>Old Yeller</i> 1956 novel by Fred Gipson

Old Yeller is a 1956 children's novel written by Fred Gipson and illustrated by Carl Burger. It received a Newbery Honor in 1957. The title is taken from the name of the yellow dog who is the center of the book's story. In 1957, Walt Disney released a film adaptation starring Tommy Kirk, Fess Parker, Dorothy McGuire, Kevin Corcoran, Jeff York, and Beverly Washburn.

<i>Quill</i> (film) 2004 Japanese film

Quill is a 2004 Japanese drama film about a guide dog, first released in Japan on 13 March 2004 and on DVD on 25 September 2004. It was also shown at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on 17 September 2004.

<i>The Incredible Journey</i>

The Incredible Journey (1961), by Scottish author Sheila Burnford, is a children's book first published by Hodder & Stoughton, which tells the story of three pets as they travel 300 miles (480 km) through the Canadian wilderness searching for their beloved masters. It depicts the suffering and stress of an arduous journey, together with the unwavering loyalty and courage of the three animals. The story is set in the northwestern part of Ontario, which has many lakes, rivers, and widely dispersed small farms and towns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tweed Water Spaniel</span> Dog breed

The Tweed Water Spaniel, or Tweed Spaniel, is a breed of dog extinct since the 19th century. It is best known for being involved in the early development of the modern Curly Coated Retriever and Golden Retriever breeds of dogs. They were described as generally brown, athletic dogs from the area around Berwick-upon-Tweed near the River Tweed and close to the Scottish Borders. A type of water dog, the breed was not well known outside the local area. This breed may have been created by crossing local water dogs with imported St. John's water dog, another breed which is also now extinct.

<i>A Dog Year</i> 2008 television film

A Dog Year is a 2009 American made-for-television comedy-drama film written and directed by first-time director George LaVoo and starring Jeff Bridges. It was originally broadcast on HBO on September 3, 2009.

John Joseph Grogan is an American journalist and non-fiction writer. His memoir Marley & Me (2005), was a very best selling book, about his family's dog, Marley, in real life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endal</span>

Endal was a male Labrador Retriever in Britain whose abilities as a service dog and as an ambassador for service dog charitable work received worldwide news media coverage.

<i>Marley & Me</i> (film) 2008 film by David Frankel

Marley & Me is a 2008 American comedy-drama film directed by David Frankel from a screenplay by Scott Frank and Don Roos, based on the 2005 memoir of the same name by John Grogan. The film stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston as the owners of Marley, a Labrador retriever. Marley & Me was released in the United States and Canada on December 25, 2008, and set a record for the largest Christmas Day box office ever with $14.75 million in ticket sales. The film was followed by a 2011 direct-to-video prequel, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years.

<i>The Last Dog on Earth</i> 2003 book by Daniel Ehrenhaft

The Last Dog on Earth is a 2003 young adult novel written by Daniel Ehrenhaft. It follows Logan, a lonely 14-year-old boy who adopts a dog from an animal shelter and names her Jack. The pair's relationship is soon threatened by an incurable prion disease spreading across the nation. Infected dogs become unnaturally violent and bloodthirsty, culminating in the deaths of several people. As public fear heightens and the government intervenes to control the outbreak, Logan struggles to reform his life and remain with Jack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Konni (dog)</span> Labrador Retriever owned by Vladimir Putin

Connie Paulgrave, also known as Konni, was a female black Labrador Retriever belonging to Vladimir Putin. She was often at his side, including at meetings between him and various world leaders during their visits to Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Retriever</span> Scottish breed of dog

The Golden Retriever is a Scottish breed of retriever dog of medium size. It is characterised by a gentle and affectionate nature and a striking golden coat. It is commonly kept as a pet and is among the most frequently registered breeds in several Western countries. It is a frequent competitor in dog shows and obedience trials; it is also used as a gundog, and may be trained for use as a guide dog.

The Last Home Run is a 1996 film directed by Bob Gosse.

Often an Orphan is a 1949 cartoon in the Merrie Melodies series. The cartoon was released on August 13, 1949 and stars Charlie Dog and Porky Pig.

The Golden Collar Awards reward the best canine actors. The trophies are delivered during a ceremony, similar to other ceremonies of the cinema industry.

<i>A Dogs Purpose</i> 2010 novel by W. Bruce Cameron

A Dog's Purpose is a 2010 novel written by American author W. Bruce Cameron. It chronicles a dog's journey through four lives via reincarnation and how he looks for his purpose through each.

<i>Marley & Me: The Puppy Years</i> 2011 American film

Marley & Me: The Puppy Years is a 2011 American direct-to-DVD comedy film and prequel to Marley & Me (2008). The film was directed by Michael Damian and written by Damian and his wife Janeen Damian. The film was released on DVD on June 1, 2011. And production started in late 2010 and was announced In Most Of The 20th Century Fox DVD's From 2010.

References

  1. "Marley & Me" ch. 29 p. 281-282: A recorded warning I had never heard before. "Your mailbox is full" [...]. I logged onto my computer and opened my e-mail. Same story. [...] This morning there were hundreds, far more than anything I had received before.
  2. Grogan, John. "Marley & Me Q&A". John Grogan's "Marley & Me" website. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 2009-06-11.