Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog (John Grogan)

My friend Desi, who for some reason known only the the god of over-neatness will NOT keep more than 1 bookcase in her house, gave me this medium-sized hardback last night as I was leaving.  She got it for Christmas, and loved it (but doesn't love it enough to replace one of the books on the only shelf with it.)  "Here, you'll like this, it's funny--like those vet books you bought the kids.  Take it home."  (I gave the kids a boxed set of Herriott last summer.)

"Desi, this is a new book."

"I know, that's why I'm giving it to you.  If I ever want to read it again, I can borrow if from you."

(Desi is one of the 2 people in the world who I lend books to--and she's the only one who gives them back.  I have to smuggle my 'lent' books out of my mother's house by the sackful, usually under cover of darkness.) 

So I brought it home. 

It being a TAR-less Tuesday, I didn't even bother turning on the TV.  I just put on my sleep shirt, got a mug of ice water and a bag of sunflower seeds, smooshed my pillows around, curled up in my flannel sheets and cracked the book.  It was about 9:30.

About 3 pages in I started giggling. 

About 7 pages in, I started to laugh. 

About 15 pages in came the first guffaw. 

At 11:45, a pounding rattled my security door.  It's the neighbor, in his robe, slipperless and mad.  "What the h*ll is going on over here?  I'm trying to sleep!"

"Sorry.  Sorry.  My book is too funny."  This is emphasised by the fact that I am, in fact, still snickering.

"Well, quit reading it if you can't laugh quieter.  I have to be to work at 4:00!"

I couldn't put it down, though; I was too close to the end.  I returned to my flannel sheets and rearranged my pillows to read on my tummy, with a laugh pillow carefully propped under my chin, to muffle the noise. 

At 12:15, I was sobbing helplessly. I went to sleep with a headache from crying;  I still have it.

It's everything everybody who wants a dog needs to be warned about, and everything everyone who has a dog knows and loves about their own.   

You have to read this book. You will laugh for 270 pages, see it coming for 15 pages, and bawl like a baby to the end of the book.  But it's worth the crying headache.   

Yes.  You are not allowed to have all the fun giggling without paying the price of the tears later. 

Plus, the giggle at the end of the book won't be nearly as healing if you aren't sobbing when it arrives. 

GROWLS.....oka y....I'll get it...I'll read it.....I'll giggle.....I'll cry.  GROWL!!! 

.............. .sheesh!!!  I take that it this is our February book?