Marley & Me

[JenBayles]

I just finished the book Marley & Me a few day ago. It's a must-read non-fiction book for anyone who is a dog lover, or just a critter lover. Warning: keep the kleenex handy for the last 3 or 4 chapters! A male neighbor or ours borrowed it and even admitted he got teary-eyed and snot nosed at the end. Has anyone else read it yet?

[TexasStooge]

Not yet, but it's a great book from what I heard.

[streetsoldier]

Jen,

Take another look at your front door next time you want to go inside...

"...not a knocker, but Marley's face!"

[Stephanie]

I saw it but haven't bought it yet. It's written by a writter for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

It looks like it would be a good book, but I don't know about the last 3 chapters.

[Miss Mary]

I'm about 1/3 the way thru. They've had one baby and the wife's going into premature labor with baby #2 at this point.

Yes, folks it's about a dog.....but a young family too!

Jen, I've laughed outloud so many times, b/c Marley's training sessions were exactly like Hope's. She flunked, we didn't even go back. I'd see so many dogs sitting calmly by their owners sides. Waiting for the next command. And Hope would be a wiggling, peeing mess, b/c she couldn't get to the other owners. She liked the dogs, okay, but she wanted the people mostly.

Meanwhile the instructor was sending me looks like Marley's instructor did.

I was less than 1 year post-op myself at that point and a mess myself. Running to the bathroom as it was and I had to corral this huge dog and make her sit still.

The instructor told us to take some time off and try again. LOL!!!

Hope remains hyper, she's almost 6 now and the Vet says she'll be this way until the day she dies.

I will be crying for the last 3 or 4 chapters, now you've got me worried to read them.

Finally, as I'm reading this book, I'm thinking, now why didn't ~I~ write a book like this? I could have ya know...., "Hope & Me!".....or as I used to announce to anyone who'd listen back then - "Ad in the Paper! Ad in the Paper!"........threatening to sell her. Of course I take back every mean word I said about Hope....

I'll post again when I finish.

Mary

[Skywatch_NC]

May read Marley & Me sometime...currently reading "Isaac's Storm".

Eric

[Stephanie]

May read Marley & Me sometime...currently reading "Isaac's Storm".

Eric

Isaac's Storm is another one I want to read.

I asked for and received for Christmas "The Great New Jersey Shore" storms. It's pretty cool and frightening at the same time.

Maybe I will pickup "Marley & Me". I'll suck it up for the last 3 or 4 chapters.

[weathermom]

From the sound of it now would not be a good time for me to read this book. I think I will need to put a little distance between this week and reading it.

[DaylilyDawn]

I am currently reading the third book of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, The Drums of Autumn. I wish I could find the book Marley &Me around my area. It sounds like a good one to read from your descriptions of it.

[JenBayles]

From the sound of it now would not be a good time for me to read this book. I think I will need to put a little distance between this week and reading it.

You are 100% correct. Give it a good year, and then you'll be laughing through the tears. {{{{{{}}}}}

[JenBayles]

For everyone who enjoyed Isaac's Storm, you'll want to put an eye on The Children's Blizzard by David Lakin as well.

[JenBayles]

I am currently reading the third book of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, The Drums of Autumn. I wish I could find the book Marley &Me around my area. It sounds like a good one to read from your descriptions of it.

My Mom got me started on the Outlander series this summer while waiting for surgery. I finished all of them just in time to get the new (and final? I hope not) book of the series. Those books are a great read, and head and shoulders above the usual garbage in the romance genre. I noticed our local Barnes & Noble had Gabaldon's books in the romance section of the store until the latest book came out. Next thing you know, they were moved to Fiction and Literature.

[JenBayles]

Mary - I'm laughing at your post. The things we went through (and still do!) with Chica are right up there with Marley and Hope. My copy has made the rounds to several of my friends already, and they just loved it - tears, snot and all. I had the same thought as you, "Why didn't I write that book?!"

[Miss Mary]

Jen - we could have been cowriters for a book like this!!! LOL

Another hilarious outing we had was my bright idea of visiting a newer dog park in the Cincinnati area. We chose a Sunday, after church and we were all cleaned up, naturally. We were smart enough to take my car though - the hair mobile, as I call it. Cloth seats that just never want to give up all of Hope's hair......these seats are quite attached to her fur....he he..... We begin the long, 30 minute drive, her heart is racing, thinking oh no I'm going to that K place again....we ~never~ say the word Kennel around here. Now we visit monthly for nail trims, so she never knows if it's a 5 minute or 5 day stay, or longer.

We arrive to see many owners and families, sitting at picnic tables reading the Sunday paper, sipping coffee from a thermos. Their dogs milling about, owners are able to actually read newspaper articles. We get inside the gate and unhook her leash. We look for a table - silly thought, when in a million years would we be able to sit and read? LOL By this time, she's running up to owners, paws on seats, trying to get their attention, of course these people want their dogs to socialize, they're not in the mood to pet another dog! On and on it goes. We had to put the leash back on, b/c she wouldn't leave people alone. She glanced at the other dogs and a few were after her you know what. Sniffing like crazy. A little bull dog took to my ever so nicely groomed oldest daughter, makeup, hairclips, hair perfectly pieced as if she's going to a dance. This little bull dog wanted to jump up on Nina, but fell into a hole - warning, holes are everywhere at dog parks. Nina felt sorry for this little dog, so she bent down to try and get the dog out of the hole. And you guessed it, fell in. And barefoot wearing flip flops. A flip flop got stuck, the dog had 2 feet out of the hole, 2 in. Trying to drag itself out. Bottom 2 inches of hole (2 foot by 2 foot about) had wet muck. Nina fell I think, carpis all a mess. Finally, we get the little dog out - owner nowhere to be seen, probably at the mall - pry Nina's flip flop loose, by this time we all had just about it except for Hope. She wanted to stay all day. Let me back up a bit, we began to hear a hush going around - pit bull on the loose. Sorry Ed, but that did worry me. We were all so ready to pack it up so somehow we got Hope to the gate, got her to my car, filling up a bowl of water, she wanted no part of that water, just back inside the dog park. Jim just announced - let's get the heck out of here! Fast!

As we got back on the road, I turn around to see dog hair flying thru the air, my oldest a muddy mess and all of our patience levels sorely tested. Great idea Mom/Mar I kept hearing. I'm sure the other dog owners were relieved to see us leave too! The only one who was thoroughly happy was Hope! She took a long, long nap when we got home, after a long drink.

And yes our hot water tank was drained that day - we all had showers.

My car was next, you would open the door and gag!

We've never been back to a dog park since!

Mary

[JenBayles]

Oh Mary! That's too funny! Sounds like every trip we've ever taken to the beach with our dogs. Each time, Travis had to dig a nice big hole, then troll the area for every dead fish he could find - the older and smellier the better. All we had to do was look away for one second and that little butt would have a roll-fest in said hole with said fish. The 2.5 hour drive home always featured open windows.

[Miss Mary]

Oh Jen, now I'm laughing! Dogs love to be dirty and smelly. All we have to do is merely mention that dog park outing to Nina and she goes on and on, yeah that was a fun day Mom, not! Then of course how muddy she got. And she's not a prissy girl either. I guess I just can't imagine a visit to a dog park being so calm and relaxful, being able to read the paper, sip coffee while your dog just plays with other dogs, making new friends. I'd have to actually witness that scene to believe it.

I never did see where these calm, relaxed dog owners' dogs were either!!!

Hey, maybe they were park board employees? LOL

Mary

[Stephanie]

I was going to say about the doggie parks. I think that I'd have both of my eyes on my dog at all times - just like kids!

What funny stories you have been tellin!

[CajunMama]

I picked up Marley & Me the other day. I normally laugh quietly while reading but Marley's antics have me chuckling outloud.

[Stephanie]

I picked up the book but I still haven't read it yet.

[Miss Mary]

Get this - I'm 3/4th thru it and got sidetracked. I'm reluctant to read further b/c I know it's very sad. I'm afraid of what's coming (old age for Marley). Isn't that silly? I'm also just busier than when I was given this book at xmas.

But Marley's antic have had me laughing outloud. Imagine hearing someone laughing while on the throne - yeah, that's where I've read it at times. Or I've read it while taking a bath. My family keep asking - what was so funny in there? LOL Sorry for that detail but I then come out and pat our dog's head. Thinking - that book should have been about YOU, Hope! LOL

It is a good book. I highly recommend it and I will finish it. I've just taken a long break from it. When his wife wanted to get rid of Marley, I almost couldn't turn the page. Who else would have taken THAT dog? But that blew over.

Mary