Haley Lan
Mrs. Poulsen
10A English R
3/23/10
Book Review: Marley and Me
Marley and Me is a wonderful book to read. It is a story about a young married couple, John and Jenny, one day finds out that the wife is pregnant, and decides to adopt a puppy in order to practice how to raise their future baby. The basic conflict is the relationship between Marley, a golden retriever, and its guardians.
All three characters in the book are believable from the reader’s point of view. Jenny works as a reporter for competing newspapers in Florida. The family first starts off perfectly: a husband who loves her and a cute puppy running around in the house. However, while Marley is growing up older and bigger, Jenny gives birth to two babies, bringing her lots of pressure because she has to take care of lots of things at the same time. In our real life, a woman would be frustrated if she has to do the chores, take care of a dog, and keeping a good relationship with her husband.
John is also a believable character in the story because of his love for Marley. Since Marley joined the Grogan family, John is always with his dog twenty four seven. He takes Marley to jog, to swim, to the beach, and even sleeps with him. John can’t doesn’t want to be separated from his puppy: “I was overjoyed at the prospect of having the puppy all to myself for a few days of uninterrupted male bonding” (Grogan, 19). John loves Marley and wants to give him the best of all, as a person would definitely enjoy spending his time with his dog and getting close with him.
Although Marley is a dog, he is a believable character as well. In the book, Marley is a trouble maker Labrador retriever. He crashes through screen doors, jumps into the pool, eats fine jewelry, devours couches…etc. Yet, Marley has a pure heart and always follow John and Jenny’s orders: “Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty” (Grogan, 279). Although dogs can sometimes cause trouble to us, but at the end, they will always be our best friends.
I would recommend this book for everyone because it’s funny and catchy, but especially for those who love dogs and want to understand more about them. Marley and Me fully expresses the love between a human being and an animal, making the book a wonderful story to read!
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"He takes Marley to jog, to swim, to the beach, and even sleeps with him" not parallel. and to sleep.
ReplyDelete"Yet, Marley has a pure heart and always follow John and Jenny’s order" always follows.
"Although dogs can sometimes cause trouble to us, but at the end, they will always be our best friends." Cause trouble for us.
You essay is well-written. It transits soothly from one idea to the next. Although i have already watched the movie, i think i will read this book.
- Allen Yu
1. It is a story about a young married couple, John and Jenny, one day finds out that the wife is pregnant, and decides to adopt a puppy in order to practice how to raise their future baby.
ReplyDeleteAlthough long, this sentence describes a lot of important things in the novel. I think that you need to add a "who" before "one day..".
2. All three characters in the book are believable from the reader’s point of view.
You make your point very clear here, and you dont stray away from it.
3. I would recommend this book for everyone because it’s funny and catchy, but especially for those who love dogs and want to understand more about them.
I like how you put this sentence, as it flows very smoothly and is clear.
Your review doesn't tell the entire plot, but shows the funny and exciting parts of the novel so that I will want to read it.
Overall, this review is great. It makes me want to read the book, even after watching the movie.
1. "Marley and Me is a wonderful book to read". This sentence doesn't seem very catchy to me. it could be more descriptive.
ReplyDelete2."Jenny works as a reporter for competing newspapers in Florida. The family first starts off perfectly: a husband who loves her and a cute puppy running around in the house. However, while Marley is growing up older and bigger, Jenny gives birth to two babies, bringing her lots of pressure because she has to take care of lots of things at the same time. In our real life, a woman would be frustrated if she has to do the chores, take care of a dog, and keeping a good relationship with her husband.
" . I think this is akward to introduce the family after Jenny. Shouldn't it be a little better to switch around.
3. "John can’t doesn’t want to be separated from his puppy". this sentence sound too twisting.try to avoid "can't doesn't"
- clear conflict, good quote introduction. Overall, this review made the book sound appealing.
-Yerry-
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVivi Chuang
ReplyDelete1. Maybe it is better to make the introduction more interesting. "Marley and Me is a wonderful book to read. It is a story about a young married couple...", it is a little bit simple and boring, use a quote to start it :)
2. For this part, "John is also a believable character in the story because of his love for Marley." Because u already mentioned it once in the second paragraph, there is no need to use "also" again, and this might confused the readers. So try this, "John's love for Marley makes him a believable character".
3. Is "can't" a typo? Because this confused me, "John can’t doesn’t want to be separated from his puppy....", do u mean he cant be separated from his puppy or he doesn't want to be separated from his puppy?
4.Its very nice that u tried to avoid using "I or you", and i love this sentence, "Although dogs can sometimes cause trouble to us, but at the end, they will always be our best friends." I think only people who really have a puppy understand it, ppl like me :) I love my puppy~ Overall, this is a nice book, u had persuade me~ I will read it if i have time～