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As a number of other Amazon reviewers have pointed out this is not a real autobiography. Groucho is not interested in telling the reader about his inner life and self, or about the character of his relations with others. What he does do is be Groucho, and tell in his own inimitable tone a lot of stories and anecdotes which continually crack up the reader. I remember as a child watching Groucho on ' This is Your Life' and I could not understand why he was making the same joke over and over again and laughing at George Fenniman, his announcer, and stooge. That is Groucho like Don Rickles later and maybe like comedians in general did a lot of insulting of others, low, cheap humor, getting a laugh at the expense of the 'fall guy'. This was of course very much a game and part of the show but it is something which personally has always made me a bit reserved about not only Groucho but about that particular kind of humor. On all accounts Groucho was as a ' real person' quite a grouch, a pretty miserable fellow to a lot of people including his three wives, and at some point also to two of his children. But he was also filled with life and energy, tremendously quick- minded, funny as hell, zany and crazy , a tremendous joy to watch or hear, and at times here, even read. He left the English language a whole group of ' remarks 'or 'wisecracks ' which promise to be with us for a long time to come'Even his cruelty in word seemed to have a playfulness about it as if he were a naughty little kid knowing always just how much he could get away with. Reading his autobiography one laughs and at the same time feels a certain sadness and empty. Joke after joke, wisecrack after wisecrack leads eventually to a kind of exhaustion and wondering if there is not more than this. Groucho is funny, one of the funniest but one wonders if that is enough in life except for a great comedian.
2 Better At Ad Libs Than Facing A Typewriter Or A Stenographer
First, it's a privilege to comment publicly on the wonderful Groucho Marx.
Second, Groucho and Me does not exactly stink, but if you wander into the alley behind Nate and Al's in Beverly, you'll get a general sense of the substance of the writing.
Groucho gave it his all...I will grant him that. But, between Sheekman's ghost writing and Groucho's indeterminable passion for going off-track, this book isn't so much an autobiography as it is a hat so full of familiar tricks that the brim is hanging by mere threads.
Groucho, god bless him, was possibly the funniest man of the twentieth century...or, as a professorial contestant once described him to his face on the quiz show, "perhaps the leading wit in the English speaking world" (to which Julius added: "If you don't win any money here tonight, it won't be my fault.") -- but this book fails to mirror it.
But worth a read.
Not surprisingly, another book, The Groucho Letters, reflects Groucho's rapier wit much more successfully than Groucho, a frustrated writer to be certain, could, upon encountering a blank sheet of paper.
But -- he is still The Man.
Jay Hopkins
3 Groucho's own voice
This "autobiography" is largely anecdotal and is far from a scholarly study of the Marx bros. and their contribution to American cultural history. That said it is a rare opportunity to "hear" Groucho tell some hysterically funny stories and voice his opinions on a variety of subjects in the process. It is valuable as a document regarding the vaudeville years and the early days of Hollywood. So if spending a few evenings reading Groucho's musings isn't enough incentive there is something to be learned here as well. Groucho's writing style is very much like his public personna and he always goes for the laugh in every circumstance. After reading this I visited my local video store to rent some Marx Bros. films. The young lady behind the counter didn't know who the MArx Bros. were !! Either I'm getting really old or she should find a different line of work.
4 They held a gun to his head
I am sure Groucho regretted agreeing to writing the book as soon as he got his first advance and his editor kept asking for some proofs and chapters. This was obvious throughout. But he managed to provide some entertainment, and did regale us with tales of woe and hilarity, spiced with insight. His failed investments after the Depression, the funeral of Harpo, stupidity at customs, insomnia, and the utter ridiculousness of him trying to write this memoir actually wound up making for a good read, made less painful because of its brevity. I've always been a Groucho fan because of his irreverance- a trait I "inherited" from him, much to the chagrin of my employers.
5 Ersatz Groucho is just as funny
GROUCHO AND ME is the autobiography of Groucho Marx -- sort of. The book is certainly written by Groucho, contains his inimitable style and sense of humor, and does tell a few stories about his life. But anyone looking for any sort of detail surrounding Groucho's life would be well advised to try someplace else.
But instead of criticizing the book for what it isn't, I'd rather spend this review talking about what it does well. Groucho is an engaging and hilarious writer. He admits right at the very beginning that most of the stories and anecdotes may not be entirely accurate. To publish a truthful and precise account is something that he says he would not be comfortable doing unless he was dead. Since a live Groucho writes infinitely better than a dead Groucho, we are left with this "pure ersatz Groucho", as he calls it. And to be honest, the lack of detail doesn't particularly hurt the book. Without having to deal with all the messiness that reality brings, Groucho is able to jump into all sorts of hilarious stories and asides. Marx is much more interested in telling a funny story than he is about historical accuracy, and I certainly can't complain, given how amused I was by his hilarious lunacy.
Groucho tells a lot of stories and he tells them well. Telling a linear autobiography is not one of his priorities, as he bounces between decades with as much enthusiasm as Harpo chasing after a particularly beautiful blonde. His stories range from the time that he wrote the book (1959) back to his childhood in New York. The stories are occasionally tender, but most of the time they are just very funny. Groucho tells an anecdote in such a way that not only is the punch line funny, but so are most of the lines leading up to it. His family appears in many of his more memorable stories, not just his famous brothers, but also his young daughter, Melinda. Much of his career is made mention of, from his later success at radio and television to his earlier triumphs in vaudeville.
If you're looking for a fun autobiography, then you could do much worse than reading GROUCHO AND ME. Even if you go into the book expecting a frank and intimate life-story, you'll more than likely be won over by Groucho's hilarious writing style. It's a fun and random journey through a life not totally dissimilar to Groucho's own, and one that more than makes up for in entertainment what it may lack in authenticity.
6 All Groucho via all Groucho
Groucho and Me was not quite what I expected. I wanted a full recap of life with the Marx brothers. Groucho spends 20 pages talking about his brothers, then the rest is just just of him. Well, what do you expect from an autobiography? But it isn't exactly a detailed description of HIS life, either. This is more or less a compilation of random journal entries from Groucho; nothing extremely in-depth. And that's... bad? Well, no it isn't. In fact, I really enjoyed this book. Being a big fan of Groucho from the start, I loved all the hilarious stories, profound ideas, and non-stop witicism in here. It's a book that will make you laugh out loud, and even if it doesn't give us nearly what we wanted to know about this guy, it's the closest you'll ever come. If you're anywhere near a Marx brothers fan, Groucho and Me is a worthy pick-up. A wonderful book, though Groucho himself admits that it's really not about anything at all.
7 Wonderful book!
Although I have seen only two of Groucho's films, I consider myself to be a Marx Brothers fan (and will most definitely purchase more movies). I bought this book hoping for an autobiography full of wit and charm. Well, it had plenty of wit and charm and made me laugh out loud many times, but it is not a typical autobiography. As Groucho's editor pointed out when reading the manuscript, "Look, you've written 80,000 words and your readers still don't know a damned thing about you!" If you are planning on buying this book because you want an account of Groucho's life (i.e. accounts of all his films, information about his personal life) then I don't recommend this book. However, if you want to hear Groucho's recollections of his early days with his brothers and various other funny stories about his life then I recommend this book. Its more just a series of sketches, but though they are all humorous, they do give the reader an insight into how Groucho might have been in real life. You won't be disappointed by his satire and jokes. And so even though I thought it was more a standard autobiography, I was not the least bit disappointed. Its a must for Groucho Marx fans.
8 Wildly entertaining!
The funniest, most wildly entertaining thing I have ever read! Hefty, though very elegantly penned, it never "sounds" ghost-written one bit either. The pieces of folklore Groucho tells of will make 2001 America look like another planet altogether! But anyhow this book should be in every personal library (...or book case) and is indeed a pleasure to re-read as years go by.
9 Groucho makes me laugh hysterically!
This is one of the few books I've ever read more than once. Groucho's recollections are witty, charming and unforgettable. I love his stories about the various cars he owned in the early days of automobiles! "Groucho and Me" never fails to make me laugh out loud. In truth, it's funnier than many of the Marx Brothers' movies, but the exploits of their youth contained in this book give added meaning to the mayhem. For instance, the brothers' musical talents are explored in full, and now we know that Chico is a piano virtuoso. Groucho's childhood, vaudeville, film and television memories make for a riotous read!
10 The Secret word IS Groucho
Groucho and Me finally gave us a little insight into the thoughts of a true and unique comic talent. Today he is becoming forgotten, but for those of us who remeber or happen upon his work we discover a World of 1st rate comedy. In this book Groucho never seems to be giving much away, but we can read into this his great dependance on comedy as a way of life. For all he ever did was be funny, on the stage, radio, film, TV and in print. He was compleatly clued into humanity and it's absurdity, and it's on clear display here. Rather than bore us with dates and names, he knows the real pleasure in a read comes from the stories, and all his stories have many a good punchline! The dialogue crackles and you hear his voice in every line.
11 Groucho & Me: A Funny Book About A Funny Man
Groucho Marx has to be one of the greatest comedians of the twentith century, and sadly, many people of my generation, (I'm 23,) couldn't even tell you who he was. In 'Groucho & Me,' written at the height of his fame as M.C. of 'You Bet Your Life,' Groucho tells his life story with wit, charm and sometimes, real human tenderness. Whether it's the story of he and Harpo arriving at a wedding shower naked, or how Irving Thalberg saved the Marx Brother's careers, this is a wonderful journey through the life and times of Groucho Marx. If you enjoy this book you might want to read the play 'Groucho: A Life In Revue' by Arthur Marx & Robert Fisher.
12 Extremely fun to read and well written!
This book was really a fun book to read. I loved how Groucho wrote about events that happened and people he knew in a comical and informative way. His refusal to name names, calling those unnamed famous Delaney was hilarious to me. I read the words of this book as if I were hearing his voice, which made it even more funny. Groucho's stories take place decades ago, long before I was born, but I was able to learn a thing or two from his words, like what it took to break into the entertainment industry back then, how to try to stay there, what the stock market was like then, and how most of his life he was called Groucho instead of Julius by not just friends, but family as well. This book speaks of times that have long since passed, but live on in books like this.
13 The book was well-written and humorous.
I first read this book when I was ten years old and have reread it several times since. I have found that it only became more enjoyable as I grew older. Groucho was obviously an extremely intelligent individual who traveled a hard road to success, and the stories he shares are often downright hilarious. It is truly a pleasure to read this book, and I look forward to reading it again.
14 Excellent read for any one who loves the Marx Brothers
This entertaining book will make the avid Marx Brothers fan swoon, and even captivate someone who knows little about the comic brothers. While the book does not detail Groucho's life, it is an interesting look at the mind of a comic legend. Carefully-crafted jokes aimed at the reader which one at first believes to be coincidental are repeated throughout the book. This type of thought-provoking humor makes this a must-read.
15 Great Comedy!
I loved this book. It is indeed the funniest as well as the best written book I have ever read. His insane and eccentric jokes are the greatest ever recorded. This book is a must have for any Groucho Marx fan.
16 one word- hilarious
If you love Groucho Marx's wit, then I highly recommend this book to you. It tells you about his brothers, New York City at the turn of the century, show business those days, and his movies all with his hilarious wit.
17 Groucho And Me
This was an enjoyable read, although I must admit that I'm not an avid Marx brother's fan. I only happened to pick it up for about 75 cents on one of my many bike rides down to the used book store. But, I still found it bery entertaining. Groucho had a wonderful sense of humor. And, from beyond the grave, has still found away to put down his fans. ;-)
18 GROUCHO!!!!!!
"Groucho and Me" is one of the most enjoyable pieces of written work I've ever read. Mr. Marx is undeniably one of the greatest comedians of all time, and his wit, wisdom, and genius come across in this humorous tome of stories from the life of Groucho. We learn about his meager beginnings in upper Manhattan, poverty, tough kids of the streets, and his beginnings in show business. Anybody who is a fan of Groucho will simply HAVE to read this brilliant piece of Marxicana!
19 Delightful autobiography by a great comedian
As an exact tracing of the life and times of Julius Henry Marx, this isn't much of a book. As a series of anecdotes detailing a life in show business during the first half of the 20th century, it's a masterpiece. There was a time in American history when being an actor was still a low-class and suspect profession, paid poorly and with no prestige. Still, it got girls. Marx's trademark irreverence and irascibility are more than present on every page of this book, and reading it all the way through without laughing out loud will be a challenge. Its only real flaw is that towards the end, as it wanders into the fifties, it reenters a world we know of, and seems to almost degenerate into celebrity gossip. Nonetheless, the earlier parts remain a genuine delight