Harpo Speaks! by Harpo Marx, Rowland Barber Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $12.65 You Save: $9.35 (42%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.49 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Harpo Speaks!
Book Review: BRILLIANT!!!!! A TRULY INSPIRATIONAL LIFE!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I cannot imagine having so wonderful a life as Harpo Marx had, one should be so lucky to share in the life of any one of the multitude of brilliant minds that gravitated to Harpo's world. But why wouldn't they find their way to one who was no less a genius than any who frequented the Algonquin Round Table. Harpo said it best, he was a great listener in a world of great talkers and what he garnered from all that listening is the stuff to captivate you through every page of HARPO SPEAKS. You will read this book more than once!!!Book Review: Best book I've read in years.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is an unmitigated delight. What a pleasure! Reading it is like spending time with a dear old friend. Harpo wisely steers clear of recounting anything about his movies and sticks to a hilarious recounting of his childhood, and an affectionate cataloging of his many wonderful and famous friends. Warm, witty, and full of heart, like the man himself.Book Review: EXCELLENT- A MUST READ!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far one of the best books I've read! It totally engrosses you and leaves you wanting to know more about the brothers. I was sadden when I came to the end of the book, because for one, I wanted more and two, that there is just no one out there, that would compare to a rare gem of a human being like Harpo. Awesome book! Seriously, buy it!!!!Book Review: Easily one of the best books ever!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Harpo Marx is not as popular with today's youth as he was with the WWII generation. As a 22 year old, who was brought up with a sense of history and "life before me," I was always aware and informed about the great minds of entertainment history.
For the first 10 years of my life, the Marx Brother's "A Night at the Opera" was playing on my VCR at least once a week. Then I went on with my life for 12 more years not thinking much of the comedy geniuses.
When I read Groucho's Auto-Bio I couldn't help but want to know more about their family and of course, Harpo was my next man to learn about.
His book is incredibly facinating in that he was your regular kid growing up in the average town. He consistently describes himself as being an outsider to his friends simply because he was not as educated as them, when in reality he was more accepted than anyone that has ever come into their group. Throughout his life he would have connections with anyone whom he thought he could trust, but in the end he just wanted a TRUE friend.
As I read his little stories about the different life experiences he had, I got a sense of his immortality. Although he is not physically here, his character in reality and in entertainment seems to still exist and I was convinced that if I turned on the TV, his name would be brought up on any channel every 5 minutes.
"Harpo Speaks" covers every aspect of his life that he felt was necessary to talk about. Every chapter kept me wanting to read more. Since I am not too fast of a reader, there were nights during this summer in which I started reading at 10pm and didn't stop until 6am (of course that means I would cover no more than 100 pages). Even then I didn't want to stop but my eyes insisted on staying shut.
Since I finished the book I suggested it to my best friend who did not know much of the Marx's and became truly inspired by Harpo. The day we finished the book we set out to buy as many DVD's of their movies and soon enough we were always doing Marx-like-gags with eachother. Whether it was having someone hold our leg for no reason or having snappy comebacks, we were hooked, and still are today.
If you are looking for a friend from the past, reading this book will not disappoint you.
I think of him everyday and wish that in the future, someone will step into his shoes and pick up where he left off...HONK HONK!
Book Review: Enjoyable Book by a Nice and Honest Man
Summary: 4 Stars
Harpo Marx and Rowland Barber do a very nice job of narrating Harpo's life, from his departure from school in the second grade, to his eventual marriage at age forty-three and his later family life. In between, we learn about the nicer side of Alexander Woollcott, the larcenous side of Chico Marx, and Harpo's experience as somewhat of a secret agent, among other things.
It isn't always great - I found the section about Harpo's married life to be rather dull - but it's a pretty good book, in which Harpo's basic optimism and ability to laugh at himself both shine through on nearly every page.