Customer Reviews

Son of Harpo Speaks!

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I bought this book and ironically read it the week of Father's Day. Having read and reread Harpo Speaks I couldn't wait to hear what Son had to say about Dad. I say....Bill(Willie Mays) Marx, the accomplished music producer hits a walk off grand slam on what is,I think, his first book... His good friends gave him great advice....."people are interested in someone you are the world's leading authority on... the one ... the only.... Harpo Marrix!" If you ever had a father or laughed... this is the book for you.

p.s. Bill uses a rarely used literary technique of having present day conversations with the "spirit of Dad" throughout the book. The chats are short and sweet.. almost like talking to an angel.You'll love it.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I have read several other books about the Marx Brothers down through the years. I appreciated the fact that Mr. Marx is a former adoptee like me. He wrote about this aspect of his life and said some wonderful things about his family & friends. I appreciated reading what he had to say about growing up with his "real parents" (Harpo & Susan/the ones who were there for him). I also appreciated reading about the understanding of his parents as he learned about his biological family in this book entitled--Son of Harpo Speaks!: A Family Portrait My favorite quote in the book is one said by his sister, Minnie, when asked what she felt like being adopted to which she replied, "What does it feel like not to be adopted"? I am now interested in learning how to work with teen adoptees to help them understand their feelings and help adoptive-parents understand their kids better. Thank you, Mr. Marx, for writing a wonderful book full of surprises!

Authored by the eldest son of many people's favorite Marx brother, it gives us the inside story of not only Harpo's relationship with his son, but also the behind-the-scenes happenings in both men's lives and careers. Bill Marx writes his book with candor and humor, which makes the book a page turner from its opening words to the credits at the end. Illustrating the text are over 150 photos, ranging from the Marx Brothers' performances spanning many decades to family pictures never before seen by the public. Harpo, we learn, had a brilliant and zany wit that permeated every aspect of his life. If you didn't love him before reading this book, you will afterward.

Super duper. I loved this book, all the unpublished (previously) pix of the marx family and the tales of Bill Marx's life. There is also the amazing revelation of a guest who appears in the pages with great panache. i won't tell you who,but you can guess -- and the whole shebang is a wonderful romp. It is truth, wit, storytelling supreme and a tear for the ages. I agree with lots of it, and the crazy marx sense is in full swing. If you've read his Dad's book, then this is a MUST. Don't hesitate as i did, or didn't. I didn't learn of this book until 3 years after it was published. Those were three years i could have spent rereading it...now there's an audio book...Hurrah! All Hail the great Marx family and son Bill's wonderful autobiography.

Harpo Marx once wrote an autobiography called HARPO SPEAKS so it seems prudent that after all these years, one of his adopted children write a book titled SON OF HARPO SPEAKS. Now, I love the Marx Bros. comedies. They are hilrious. They shaped the way comedy was done on celluloid for years to come. Stories are great, heartwarming and truly gives the reader the opportunity to understand the Marx Bros (especially Harpo) as a human being and not as a celebrity.

The book is loaded with photographs from family albums. And I do mean loaded! A photo of Harpo without the disguise posing with Hollywood monsters is cool. While the Son of Harpo speaks, the book reveals so much that you'll want to re-read certain passages again because they are so good. Moral of the book? From Harpo himself, "Silence is Golden."

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bill Marx's life story. I can't wait for the sequel."

(Irving Brecher, Marx Brothers screenwriter)

"A charming memoir. I enjoyed it thoroughly."

(Kitty Carlisle Hart)

"This book by the son of Harpo Marx gave me pleasure. (Or, as Groucho might have put it, this book pleasured me.) It's a journey of self-discovery, and Bill's book is a useful primer for youngsters who hope to make a living in the arts."

(David J. Hogan, Filmfax)

I am wondering why this book is so expensive? Surely there are alot more out there. One store is wanting over $300. for a copy.