I would divide this book into 3rds. The first part was just hilarious with stories about a kid growing up with ultra-Catholic parents. Typical elementary school-kid-meets-the-holy-nuns stuff. The middle part describes his (mis?)- adventures in high school and college and as a beginning adult and is a bit darker in tone. That is also where most of the religious conflicts between the kid and parents get described. The final part describes his fathers last illness and death and includes some real tear-jerker moments. I enjoyed the book but it didn't really supply me with any answers about how kids can "forge an identity at odds with their parents" or how "parents can understand the values of their children." ( )

Memoir about John Grogan being raised outside of Detroit in a very Catholic household and how he got into trouble, didn't practice his faith, and then relied on it later in life. OK book, in my opinion, not great. ( )

John writes about growing up in Michigan with 2 brothers and a sister to devout Catholic parents. It is a very endearing story and I could identify with John being we were born the same year. Another wonderful, wonderful book by Grogan! ( )

I loved Marley and Me and this was an equally touching, charming, and vivid story. This time the focus is on John Grogan's family and especially his parents, his coming of age and beyond. (Incidentally, there are certainly amusing anecdotes and adventures, but there are no crazy puppy clowns.) Throughout, Grogan writes about his parents' extreme devotion to Catholicism and his own reactions to religion. As in Marley and Me, Grogan invites us to think, feel, and reflect on our own lives and families. ( )

Dear Mr. Grogan,

We regret to inform you that your life simply is not interesting enough to necessitate a memoir. Your story is basically about insignificant family issues known only to the privileged and ungracious. Your Catholic parents never did anything to you. You committed crimes and got away with it because of your family's stature in the community. And your friends did not.

You had no real conflicts, the worst being your feeble attempt at growing a marijuana plant. Meanwhile, other children are being beaten, jumped into gangs, and raped (re: Precious). Please forward your book onto someone whose life is so much more amazing then yours that he or she will provide sympathy for your plight, because we cannot provide any at this time.

The theme of this book is Grogan growing up in an traditionalist Catholic family. Then becoming a hippie and rejecting those things (for which he receives no consequences, except sad faces). Then becoming an adult, and finding a happy medium. Nothing happens, and when things should be coming to a head, we are disappointed. There's nothing at stake, just a lot of passive-aggressiveness. I think Grogan needed something to follow up Marley & Me and had nothing. So he wrote everything else that happened in life that wasn't in Marley & Me. ( )