Perspective

John Grogan writes as though he is writing in the moment rather than from the perspective of memory. Marley has clearly touched the Grogan's life in a huge way, so that his presence is felt long after he is gone. Marley comes into John and Jenny's life while they are a young couple just learning how to navigate life together and contemplating their future. The maturation of the couple's relationship is reflected in Marley's growth. The change is subtle. John does not realize that his impression of Marley has changed until Marley is twelve years old. The reader, too, is unaware of the change in perspective until John mentions it. John writes with the same force of life that Marley outwardly exhibits.

The reader initially assumes that John chose to write about Marley to showcase the worst dog ever. However, after reading the entire book it is obvious...