Published 2008 by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd. (first published October 18th 2005)
ISBN 0340922109 (ISBN13: 9780340922101)
Blurb: "John and Jenny were young and deeply in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into an uncontrollable ninety-seven pound steamroller of a Labrador retriever. Expelled from obedience school, even the tranquillisers prescribed by the vet couldn't stop him.
Yet through the chaos and the hilarity he won hearts and remained a steadfast model of devotion to his family, even when they were at their wits' end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms."
This book is an example of why I both really would love a pet dog and why I'm reluctant to get one. Marley is an absolutely mental but completely loveable dog (nice paradox there). The trouble he causes his family with ruined furniture, walls and eaten food and objects can only be negated by the unconditional love and loyalty which he shows them in his eventful life. He was even chosen to star in a film as a typical family pet - I might watch it someday if it was transferred to DVD format.
This book made me laugh uncontrollably at times and, when it came to the end, shed tears for his loss. This book particularly resonated with me as my family had a mental dog like Marley for a year or so. Millie was completely untrainable, stealing my brother's socks while he was still wearing them and jumping up to open doors, but she was a brilliant dog and very loving, like Marley.
Having seen the film first I thought that it was translated well from the novel, with some artistic license.
An enjoyable book for all dog-lovers.
6 out of 10 :)
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