The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir

Before there was a dog named Marley, there was a mischievous boy named John Joseph Grogan, growing up in a devout Catholic home. Despite his parents' best efforts, his attempts to meet their expectations failed spectacularly. And then, one day, a strong-willed young woman named Jenny walked into his life. As their love grew, John began the funny and poignant journey into adulthood - away from his parents' orbit and into a life of his own. It would take a fateful call and the onset of illness to lead him home again. The Longest Trip Home is a book for any son or daughter who has sought to forge an identity at odds with their parents', and for every parent who has struggled to understand the values of their children. It is a book about mortality and grace, spirit and faith, and the powerful love of family. With his trademark blend of humor and pathos, Grogan traces the journey each of us must take to find our place in the world.