Rita Moreno: A Memoir

When you’re born in New York City, you’re born with some stuff already preloaded to your hardware that most people born elsewhere don’t already know: delis, good bagels, corner stores, how not to block sidewalks and entrances, how to walk quickly and navigate the City, a handful of words that are Yiddish and you don’t realize aren’t common slang, and Rita Moreno. No one shows you West Side Story as you emerge from the birth canal, but you know that she is a legend, and you respect her because these are facts, and I don’t make them up. Rain is wet. 2 + 2=4. You must revere Rita Moreno. It is much more difficult to figure out the first time that I saw her: maybe Sesame Street or The Electric Company, eventually West Side Story.
When I found out that she wrote a memoir, I responded, “Yes, please,” and immediately requested it from the library. Rita Moreno: A Memoir is a poetic reflection on the notable private and public moments of her life. Law school killed my appreciation of poetry so objectively it is soulfully written, but for my personal tastes, the writing style was more flowery than I would prefer. It is not the great Rita Moreno’s fault that I can’t fully appreciate her writing prowess.
Rita Moreno: A Memoir is more of a psychologically journey of her growth as a healthy person slowly overcoming early trauma and living more fully with each step in her life. If you’re like me, you are shocked to discover that she had self-esteem issues, but then you remember that she is actually a flesh and blood human being whom others look at as a minority and a woman so duh. Moreno is one of the most famous Puerto Ricans in the world, but the idea that it was a stumbling block that landed her with a lot of problematic work is something that she emphasizes and should not have surprised me as much as it did. The issue of age was another obstacle that she had to overcome. There is also a candid look at sexual exploitation of actresses—this book was published before #metoo trended.
Rita Moreno: A Memoir does reveal her most important relationships so while it is not a kiss and tell book, there are glimpses into the love lives of the famous men who crossed her path: Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley and Dennis Hopper. I would recommend that you read this book and Diahann: An Autobiography at the same time. They share a lot of common problems and seem to live similar lives when it comes to receiving accolades, but not respect or work, attracting famous men but how it disrupts their lives and eventually carving their own path of career and personal fulfillment. I wonder if they know each other, and if they are friends. They should be, but they are also alphas.
Rita Moreno: A Memoir is a quick and enjoyable read. I now have an additional reason to want to see certain TV shows that have long rested in my queue. Even if you’re not in showbiz or have never heard of Moreno, it is a great book for people with a lot of issues to show her journey of overcoming harmful cycles and can provide a lot of practical advice.