You might remember the closing scene of You’ve Got Mail, when Tom Hanks’ Joe Fox’s dog playfully tugs at him as he finally kisses Meg Ryan’s character. Go beyond courtship and you might find that a blissful marriage is virtually impossible, as newlywed Jenny and John Grogan realise, with a 97-pound [44.0kg] yellow Labrador under the same roof. Add the fact that the dog also suffers from neurotic tendencies like stealing women’s undergarments and separation anxiety, and you have a recipe for disaster.

This witty and entertaining read from John’s point of view, leads you to experience the couple’s tumultuous rollercoaster ride as the parents of 2 boys, 1 girl and a trying dog.

Marley, affectionately named after renowned reggae musician, Bob Marley, is nothing like his laid-back namesake. Picked for his exuberance from a litter of 9 adorable puppies, Marley doesn’t get any less hyperactive even after outgrowing the ‘puppy’ stage, to the Grogans’ shock.

While many might be apprehensive about bringing such a rambunctious dog into the house, John and Jenny managed to see qualities of Marley that no one else paid attention to. Marley’s protective and loyal traits soon surfaced when the gigantic dog gamely took on the role of brother/babysitter/official bodyguard of their first newborn.

Despite his well-meaning demeanour, Marley didn’t take to Obedience School very well and didn’t graduate, unlike most of his breed. You could say he was definitely not a ‘teacher’s pet’.

The book is incredibly well written and you can’t help but laugh out loud at the stunts the loopy Marley pulls. Tales of barging through screen doors, digging holes in concrete walls and gobbling up almost anything– whether edible or not, makes you wonder how Man’s Best Friend could be so nutty.

Marley & Me may be John Grogan’s debut into the publishing scene, but he’s a highly skilled writer having spent years in the journalism field– even helming his own column in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel at the time he brought Marley home. His cynicism and sarcasm is evident in his writing. Such as the part where the writer meets Marley for the first time, he thought “it [referring to Marley] was as though this animal had just seen a ghost—and couldn’t possibly be more tickled about it” allowing readers to paint a hilarious picture in their minds about how Marley really is. So effective is the writing that you feel like you’ve become part of the 6-member, including canine, Grogan clan.

No wonder the deterioration of Marley’s health towards the end of his life combined with his ‘never-say-die’ wacky attitude make you laugh and cry at the same time. All in all, despite his shortcomings, the Labrador’s constant loyalty and commitment to the family sees him through a memorable life ending at the ripe age of 13 (91 in dog years).

Marley & Me is a worthwhile read for anyone looking for a pet or who already has one. While Quill, the Japanese documentary was about a guide dog who was also about a Labrador Retriever, it had the usual storyline whereby human and dog share an almost perfect relationship, just like My Dog Skip, written by Willie Morris. Marley and Me, however, presents a different twist on the relationship between man and dog. It shows how even plant-killers can become the best owners and how the worst dog can turn out to truly be Man’s Best Friend. This certainly takes the cake in showing how much animal lovers are willing to compromise for their beloved pets. Who knows? There might be a Marley out there waiting to inspire you as well.

UrbanWire gives Marley & Me 4 out of 5 stars.