If you have ever owned a big dog, if you have ever loved a big dog or if a big dog has ever made you smile - pick up a copy of "Marley & Me" and read it today.

And, you can read it in just a day or two. Just a warning, don't start reading in the bookstore - you won't leave until you've read the entire book.

The book is 289 pages of laughter and tears.

The subtitle is "Life and love with the world's worst dog." It doesn't take long to realize that poor Marley is mischaracterized. This book is truly a love story between the dog and his master, but more accurately between author John Grogan, his family and their incorrigible Labrador retriever.

There is a laugh or a tear on virtually every page. In many instances you laugh so hard you cry, and in others you laugh through the tears.

My wife and I spent several days reading the book to each other.

As the owners of two golden retrievers, we have lived through virtually every scenario lovingly, refreshingly and comically brought to life by Grogan. There were times we had to put the book down because we were laughing too hard to continue. There were other occasions we couldn't see through the tears.

The book is so real - we have been through chewed up furniture, high-energy games of fetch and the unbridled affection doled out by these loving and lovable creatures.

I stumbled onto the book quite by accident.

I had our dogs in the front yard one morning when my neighbor came out to pick up her newspaper.

As is his habit, Jack, who seeks affection with the single-minded purpose of a cruise missile, ran over to say hello.

At that point, my neighbor suggested I read the book, which she just happened to have in her house. I haven't put it down since.

It's a book I could have - and probably should have - written.

He describes every day of my life when he recounts coming home from work, or just a brief trip to the store, to find Marley poking his nose through the blinds in the front window.

Although this will eventually ruin the blinds, a dog peering through the blinds is a good sign.

A dog waiting at the window is a dog that has behaved in your absence. A dog trying to avoid you is a dog who knows he has screwed up.

Grogan aptly paints the feeling of dread experienced when returning home to an empty window. You know what awaits you inside is bad, it's just a matter of degree.

On the other hand, he is also equally eloquent in detailing those special moments that are only experienced by people who own large breeds. The best example comes from a session in which Grogan is teaching Marley to stay.

He describes what happens when he finally commands Marley to "Come."

"And come he did. He was barreling right at me. 'Slow down boy,' I said. He just kept coming. 'Slow down!' He had that vacant, crazed look on his face, and in the instant before impact I realized the pilot had left the wheelhouse."

The collision knocked Grogan off his feet. Grogan's book did the same thing to me.

LES WINKELER is the outdoors writer for The Southern. Contact him at les.winkeler@thesouthern.com, or call (618) 529-5454 ext. 5088.