Marley and Me Gift Set

Are you looking for a great gift idea for the adult dog lover in your life? Or maybe you are searching for book or movie recommendation for someone who owns a Labrador retriever? Consider this gift set combination ~~ a copy of the best-selling book Marley and Me, by John Grogan and a copy of the 2008 movie of the same name on DVD or blu-ray.

Marley and Me is a book that I read with my book club when we were looking for a lighter book than our usual choices. We liked the idea that this one was also a book and a movie combo, meaning that we could watch the movie afterward, too.

When you view a movie based on a book, you rarely expect that it will live up to the book. Marley and Me, however, is a case where I liked both the book and the movie equally. The book, naturally, did a better job of developing character and setting. However, I think that the movie did a better job of catching Marley's ah, busy, personality.

On this page, you'll find a short review of both the book and the movie, age recommendations for both, the official movie trailer and additional gift recommendations. Make sure you read the rating information, especially if you are looking for a book and movie combination for a child. Despite popular belief, this book was written for adults and not for children.

A copy of Marley & Me the book and the movie, would make a top-rated gift choice for any dog-loving adult on your shopping list.

Click here to order your copy of Marley & Me on blu-ray or DVD from Amazon.

Take one couple, starting out in life together. Young and in love, they find a lovely little home and settle down without a care in the world. Enter Marley. A bouncing yellow fur ball. A puppy. Life was about to change.

Marley was a Labrador retriever and he soon ceased being a cute little puppy. As a matter of fact, he became a crashing, careening, ninety-seven-pound 'elephant' going through screen doors, scraping through drywall, eating jewelery. And Marley was untrainable and failed obedience school.

Marley refushed to be limited in his activities. But he had unlimited love and loyalty for his family. Love, it turns out, comes in many forms..."give a dog your heart, and he'll give you his."

Is the Marley and Me book appropriate for children?

Written with adults in mind and possibly, teenagers, the book features adult content and mature themes. Despite this fact, children have really been drawn to it. Maybe because their parents were under the mistaken assumption that it was a child-friendly book and movie or maybe simply because Marley is so much fun.

If you are shopping for children, you should be aware that this book is NOT appropriate for children. Some families are reading it aloud and skipping over the more mature areas but the author has responded to the popularity of this story with children by writing a series of books that are appropriate for children. I suggest you check out one of those versions of the book if you are shopping for children.

There is an adapted version of the novel (shown below with the green cover, the movie-tie in version) as well as a beautiful picture book and a couple of learn-to-read books. Any one of those would be an age-appropriate gift for children.

This is the adapted version of the novel suitable for children eight years old and up.

The auther, John Grogan, has tamed down his best-selling novel to make it appropriate for a younger audience by removing some mature subject matter with regard to marriage, miscarriages, sex and crime. This version of the book is recommended for children eight years old and up. Young readers will enjoy and recognize the unconditional love Marley had for his owners.

Marley & Me is rated PG.

Once a dog has wormed his way into your heart, you will never be the same. Marley, the dog and the movie, will both work themselves into yours. Marley was adopted because Marley's female owner has "never seen anything more adorable in my life." A tale of love between master and dog, it works very well because of the excellent comedy provided by Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson who manage to actually seem like the owners of the irresistible but devilish Marley. You'll fall in love with Marley, too. You'll laugh and you'll cry, too.

Marley and Me is rated PG (parental guidance) and perhaps appropriate for children in middle school. It does contain sexual references, discussions related to pregnancy as well as some very sad situations. Remember that this story was originally written for adults.

And a plush toy to make a complete gift set with the book and movie make an amazing movie gift set.