Helpful Score: 8
I absolutely loved Marley & Me so I jumped at the chance to read this book and I wasn't disappointed. John Grogan is an incredible writer with the gift of pulling the heartstrings. While reading this memoir it seemed as if I was constantly laughing, cringing with embarrassment for John or tearing up. I highly recommend this book to all readers of both fiction and non-fiction and its a must for anyone who read Marley & Me.
John shared a part of his life in "Marley and Me" - his relationship with his dog. This book is about his relationship with his family, mostly his father. John grew up in Michigan and tells stories of how his family related with each other and the world. It's as well written as "Marley and Me", and enjoyable to read. It really is a memoir, and you feel like you are one of John's friends by the time you are part-way into the book.
Marley gets less than a page in this book, and that's how it should be. John concentrates on his family. His father calls to say he is dying at the beginning of the book. John reflects on how they got to be where they are in their lives by starting back at the beginning and taking you up to the present.
I laughed and cried. John was very open and honest in this memoir.
Marley gets less than a page in this book, and that's how it should be. John concentrates on his family. His father calls to say he is dying at the beginning of the book. John reflects on how they got to be where they are in their lives by starting back at the beginning and taking you up to the present.
I laughed and cried. John was very open and honest in this memoir.
Helpful Score: 2
If you enjoy John Grogan's writing style, you will enjoy this book. If you enjoy reading about how someone grew up and their relationship with their parents, you will enjoy this book.
If you only liked Marley and Me because of the dog aspect, you won't care for this book. Marley is literally mentioned in one sentence.
If you are Catholic, you will either love, hate or have some other strong reaction.
All those points aside, Grogan writes an excellent memoir that takes you through his boyhood and into manhood, dealing with the struggle over his faith, or lack there of.
All in all, a good book and I would recommend it.
If you only liked Marley and Me because of the dog aspect, you won't care for this book. Marley is literally mentioned in one sentence.
If you are Catholic, you will either love, hate or have some other strong reaction.
All those points aside, Grogan writes an excellent memoir that takes you through his boyhood and into manhood, dealing with the struggle over his faith, or lack there of.
All in all, a good book and I would recommend it.
Sadly this was not a great read for me. I was hoping it would be as compelling as Marley, but alas I could not get into it. It was boring and dry in my opinion.
book is easy reading an very fun okk to read
I bought the book along with Marley and Me. A very different read but Grogan is an excellent story teller. He calls it a memoir, I call it a good read about a family.
I laughed, cried and laughed. I recommend this book.
I laughed, cried and laughed. I recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book. Especially if you are a Catholic but not devout.
Pretty much a dud, unless you like Catholic bashing.
What a disappointment this book was for me. Or maybe more to the point, what a disappointment Grogan is to the memory of his parents who remained devout Catholics their entire lives!!
Maybe it is just me, but I don't find the humor in reading about Grogan who as an adult (by age, not actions) stood at his fathers sickbed along with his brother and couldn't remember the words to the Our Father and just started saying blah, blah, blah.....
His parents gave him every opportunity in life and that is the best he can do?
Maybe it is just me, but I don't find the humor in reading about Grogan who as an adult (by age, not actions) stood at his fathers sickbed along with his brother and couldn't remember the words to the Our Father and just started saying blah, blah, blah.....
His parents gave him every opportunity in life and that is the best he can do?
Entertaining boyhood story by the author of Marley and Me.
