Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!
Review: ...I'm a tennis fan who was curious about the author's insights on Martina Navratilova. What I ended up with was a tremendously interesting and engaging book. Rita Mae Brown has perspectives and experiences unlike my own and I could not put the book down. I liked the parts about her family also. Certainly there are political messages here, but they are based on her own experiences and are not "preachy" or coming from someone who lives in theories only. If you are a fan of her books, this will be a big treat for you. If you don't know her, read this book for a different life perspective, particuarly about women's issues, including lesbian issues. If these issues offend you, or you don't like reading about them, then this book is probably not for you. It's not an integral part of the book, but it is there. The book is about a person. The book reads like you are talking to her, and she is very interesting. Also, I always suspected Billie Jean King was wretched personally, so I really liked the parts where my opinion is all but supported by someone in the know!
This is an autobiography. Of course the book is about her. Dah! There are a few instances where she comes off a little haughty in my opinion, but I haven't published books or earned the money to have a farm in Virginia, and I didn't struggle through poverty for years to get there either, so I think she's entitled to a little license, folks. The only part I didn't like was when she discussed Fannie Flagg's former lover and only gave her a pseudonym with a vague but "see if you can guess" description. I'm a born gossip and love stuff like that! I think I figured out her hints, but I hate having to do that. It's such a silly exercise. Maybe that was the point in doing that, who knows. Anyone in the closet ought to read this regarding her depiction of Jerry Pfeiffer. I think the silliness of that lifestyle is well exposed simply by recounting the facts. Anyway, very good read!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: After reading R.M. Brown's "Sudden death" and "Rubyfruit jungle", I simply had to know what is fiction and what is true in these books full of entertaining stories, I wanted to know more about the author. So I read her autobiography, which definitely made me become fond of her. Her books really deserve to be known by a wider public than only by fans of women's tennis!
These funny, vividly told memoires and tricks of her childhood and youth, reminded me to my own life. They are written so hilariously and relaxed, it's a pure pleasure to read them. Often, my wife asked me why I was laughing, and I had to reread the scenes aloud. It's so interesting to learn about the life and customs of the simple people and the country in the southern states, and I like the morals behind the stories and the author's warm, earthy, lusty language.
Rating: 
Summary: In spite of its narcissistic tone I enjoyed this book.
Review: Anyone who has read Rita Mae Brown's earlier works or heard her as a public speaker would agree that she's one of the smartest, quick witted and entertaining female writers on the scene today. Her Autobiography is another example of her strong intellect, courage and humor while sometimes sounding a bit self-indulgent and egotistical. In spite of its narcissistic tone I really enjoyed this book. Rita Mae's vast knowledge of historical, social and political issues was incredibly impressive and her own transcendance from a farm girl to a social icon for Lesbianism places her among some of the most significant writers in American Women's History. She's a smart lady with an honest heart who knows what she believes and is unafraid to stand up and be counted irregardless of the cost. As a younger woman, I feel eternally grateful to have her as a dependable advocate for womens' and minorities' issues. RITA WILL not only gives the reader a surprising view of the authors life story but also a slice of Women's History from the perspective of an active participant.
Rating: 
Summary: Stick with Rubyfruit.
Review: As a proud vet of the Feminist frontlines 1968-1976, I could hardly wait to read her newest book. Her classic book Rubyfruit Jungle was a gem. As THE "coming out" book of it's time I share the sentiment of millions who feel it will always be sacred. However,I was shocked and totally disappointed with Rita Mae Brown's attempt at writing her own story. The person she reveals to us in Rita Will is beyond ego strong. She is ruthlessly self-absorbed and many times cruel. Everyone (else) is wrong, or less than, or not as smart or not as significant as Rita according to Rita (with the one exception-- her cat.) The book Rita Will reveals Rita as a sad and shallow person, with high marks only for narcissism. Best to avoid this book and re-read Rubyfruit Jungle instead. You'll continue to have a positive impression of Ms. Brown if you do.
Rating:
Summary: Stick with Rubyfruit.
Review: As a proud vet of the Feminist frontlines 1968-1976, I could hardly wait to read her newest book. Her classic book Rubyfruit Jungle was a gem. As THE "coming out" book of it's time I share the sentiment of millions who feel it will always be sacred. However,I was shocked and totally disappointed with Rita Mae Brown's attempt at writing her own story. The person she reveals to us in Rita Will is beyond ego strong. She is ruthlessly self-absorbed and many times cruel. Everyone (else) is wrong, or less than, or not as smart or not as significant as Rita according to Rita (with the one exception-- her cat.) The book Rita Will reveals Rita as a sad and shallow person, with high marks only for narcissism. Best to avoid this book and re-read Rubyfruit Jungle instead. You'll continue to have a positive impression of Ms. Brown if you do.
Rating:
Summary: How can an autobiography NOT be self-involved?
Review: I came across this book completely unaware of who the personna of Rita Mae Brown was. I have to admit her attitude came across as soon as I opened the first pages. As I pounded through the unfamiliar territory things kinda started making some sense although not completely to my liking. I had to research on her previous novels just to aid in my reading since she does quite a mouthful of occurrences that are "funny" but to a stranger don't really convey that sense. I would have to interview the author in order to get the incompleted suggestions of ideas throughout the book, it is rather a string of facts and impressions and many times also raw preaching (some of it is good thinking, yet I am afraid I don't like the attitude). This book may have some value, as a complement of other of her books and in entertainment as I actually understood some of the jokes and the laughable descriptions and she reflects the somewhat bland reality of the average person.
Rating: 
Summary: Few surprises, her novels are just as autobiographical
Review: If you, too, are a fan Rita's, you will find few surprises in Rita Will. Much of what I read was fictionalized already in Rubyfruit Jungle and Rita's three Juts and Wheezy novels (characters based on Rita's dueling mother and maternal aunt). There is little, if any, information on Rita the writer and numerous pages of Rita the Daughter and Niece, Rita the Girlfriend (featuring details on relationships with Martina Navritalova and--surprise here--Fannie Flagg), and Rita the Animal Lover. At best, it is a fast-paced read, but I prefer her fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Rabble Rousing Genius!
Review: One of the greatest gifts a popular author can give their fans next to a "How To" on writing and style is an Autobiography. In her Memoir Ms. Brown pulls out all stops and allows the reader a unique window into her life allowing one to see what motivates her writing. It is no big surprise that some of her best books are snippets of the author's own life. Having read these works long before this creation my attention was pleasantly held in reserve as the pages leaped by me in high-volume page turning style. Others may have found this as a "re-read" of her past novels but I disagree and rather call it as a wonderful enhancement to the stories of her life as well as an humorous inspiration to me. No Rita Mae fan should be without this book on their shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Rabble Rousing Genius!
Review: One of the greatest gifts a popular author can give their fans next to a "How To" on writing and style is an Autobiography. In her Memoir Ms. Brown pulls out all stops and allows the reader a unique window into her life allowing one to see what motivates her writing. It is no big surprise that some of her best books are snippets of the author's own life. Having read these works long before this creation my attention was pleasantly held in reserve as the pages leaped by me in high-volume page turning style. Others may have found this as a "re-read" of her past novels but I disagree and rather call it as a wonderful enhancement to the stories of her life as well as an humorous inspiration to me. No Rita Mae fan should be without this book on their shelf.
Rating:
Summary: a master of understatement
Review: Rita Mae Brown is like another well-known Southern aristocrat, Florence King, in both her rapier wit and sexual proclivities. In this nicely put-together memoir, Brown just tears them down. Born feisty and illegitimate, she describes the flowering of her writing and the half-insane family who raised her. She has a way with understatement and surprise, surprise, sex is very rarely mentioned. Odd, for a lady who was slapped with the lesbian label very early in her writing career. Shows a great strength of character and a snubbing of the nose. She is funny and poignant. This is a really good read!
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