Review of "The Black Widow"

Hard to believe that after nearly 12 years of writing book reviews, this one is the first one I have done on pool or billiards. It was a good choice to be the first one - this was an excellent memoir by the "Black Widow" of pool, Jeanette Lee. 

Title/Author: “The Black Widow: My Story” by Jeannette Lee with Dana Benbow

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:  In the early 1990’s, Jeannette Lee was a massive celebrity who participated in a sport that many may play but few had actually followed closely, pool.  Thanks to a popular movie (The Color of Money) and a new all-sports network (ESPN launched ESPN2 during this time) more people became aware of the sport, but the “Black Widow” of the game.  In this candid memoir, the person behind the Black Widow persona, Jeanette Lee, shares her life and career memories.

It should be noted early that this memoir will not follow the traditional time line and strictly move from early years to the present.  While there is much information about Lee’s childhood and family early in the book, there are parts early about how she got interested in the game and about her cancer diagnosis.  While that may be confusing at first, it makes sense as the reader continues and puts Lee’s entire story together.

And what a story it is!  It is part sad, part inspiring but completely interesting as I had a hard time putting this book down.  Her story of hanging out at Chelsea Billiards and learning the game is quite amazing.  She had no training, no coaching, or any previous experience.  She just started watching players, learning their shots and the geometry of the game and started playing.  Of course, she had many mentors along the way and when she won a prestigious tourney at age 19, she was on her way.  It should also be noted that the “Black Widow” was not her idea at first, but she fully on board with it after her agent and marketing experts informed her of the potential.

The book is about equal parts her career in pool and her personal life as the latter also has many twists and turns.  From her parents’ divorce to her sometimes-unsteady relationship with them and her sister to her 20-year marriage and later her cancer diagnosis, Lee reveals many secrets that she has kept for years.  Although the best of them in my opinion was one in which she hustled a well-known male player in order to provide Rick Riley a great Sports Illustrated column. 

If a reader remembers the height of the popularity of the “Black Widow” or just wants to read an excellent sports memoir, this is one to get.  It had everything that I enjoy when reading this genre of books.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Widow-Memoir-Jeanette-Lee/dp/1637273991/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0