The fact that a book about an oversized, unruly Labrador retriever and the family who loved him could earn the fame of ‘international best-seller’ highlights the universal appeal of animals. This beautifully written book is witty and poignant by turns, tracing the crazy capers of Marley the Dog against the changing background of the Grogan family. The author invites the reader into the everyday lives of an ordinary family, to learn the life-lessons taught by this unstoppable ‘Labrador evader’. Although Marley steals, eats and breaks almost everything, his zest for life, devotion to loved ones, and courage in the face of painful old age is inspiring. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it led me through a whole range of human emotions, from amusement and frustration in Marley’s puppyhood to sweet sadness and affection as the tale of his life wound to a close. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a well written, heart-warming read, and especially to those who have shared their lives with memorable pets of their own.

Leonie Smith

This entry was posted on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 10:12 am by Paula Marais and is filed under Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.