Six of One

Six of One takes place in Runnymede, a fictional Maryland town that sits on the Mason-Dixon line. The story spans multiple decades, from 1908 to 1980, centered around the lives of two sisters, Julia "Juts" and Louise "Wheezie" Hunsenmeir, and their extended family. The narrative alternates between time periods, following the sisters from their childhood squabbles through their seventies. Nicole "Nickel" Smith, Juts' adopted daughter, serves as the narrator, bringing her perspective as both an insider and observer to the sisters' ongoing relationship and the town's social dynamics. The book presents a rich tapestry of female characters navigating life in a border town through significant historical periods including Prohibition and the Great Depression. From aristocrats to servants, each woman faces unique challenges while maintaining deep connections to their community and each other. This novel explores themes of family bonds, small-town life, and the complex intersection of Northern and Southern culture in America. Through its multi-generational story, the book examines how relationships evolve over time while core dynamics remain unchanged.

Readers describe this as a humorous, character-driven story of small-town life in Runnymede. Many note it has a lighter tone compared to Brown's other works. Readers appreciate: - The complex female friendships and family dynamics - Historical details spanning multiple decades - The portrayal of both Black and white communities - The use of local dialect and expressions - Comic timing and witty dialogue Common criticisms: - Large cast of characters can be hard to track - Plot meanders without strong direction - Some find the dialect writing style difficult to follow - Historical events feel like backdrop rather than integrated Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (180+ ratings) Representative review: "The characters are memorable and jump off the page. Brown captures the essence of small-town life, but the story lacks focus and wanders too much." - Goodreads reviewer

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• The town of Runnymede is based on Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where author Rita Mae Brown spent much of her childhood, offering readers an authentic glimpse into life in a border state community. • Rita Mae Brown wrote this novel while living in a converted chicken coop on a farm in Virginia, where she still resides today and continues to write. • The character of Nickel Smith shares several biographical details with Brown, including her bisexuality and career as a writer, making the novel partially autobiographical. • The Mason-Dixon Line, which features prominently in the book, was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 to resolve a border dispute between British colonies and became a symbolic division between free and slave states. • The novel spawned a sequel called "Bingo," which continues the saga of the Hunsenmeir sisters and the town of Runnymede through World War II.