Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "A Story Lately Told (A Memoir): Coming of Age in Ireland, London, and New York

Monday, January 6, 2020

Review of "A Story Lately Told (A Memoir): Coming of Age in Ireland, London, and New York

Anjelica Huston was an American fashion model before she became an actor and director.

Huston won a best actress Oscar for 'Prizzi's Honor' and received Academy Award nominations for 'Enemies, A Love Story' and 'The Grifters.'

In this first book of her autobiography Huston tells tales starting with her childhood in Ireland and England.....up to her young womanhood in New York City. Born in 1951, Huston had colorful parents, the former beautiful ballerina Enrica Soma and the larger than life director John Huston - and met large numbers of the rich and famous.

Enrica Soma, Anjelica Huston's mother

John Huston, Anjelica Huston's father

Little Anjelica Anjelica Huston with her father John Huston

In fact Huston mentions so many people - friends, acquaintances, neighbors, nannies, teachers, crushes, models, photographers, actors, actresses, directors, etc. - that they become blended together in a confusing swirl of names.

The book also seems more like a detailed list of activities - fox hunting, partying, skiving off school, moving, modeling - than a comprehensive life story. We do get a feel for the love Huston's mom bestowed on her children and for the fun and hardships that come with having John Huston - a hard-drinking womanizer and gambler who was often away directing films - for a dad.

Young Anjelica Huston

The story gets more interesting when Anjelica becomes a fashion model in her late teens and hooks up with the mentally ill photographer Bob Richardson for a four year romance.

Bob Richardson, one of Anjelica Huston's boyfriends

I'm hoping the second volume of the biography, when Huston becomes a famous actress and has a long-term romance with Jack Nicholson, is more of a comprehensive biography.

Anjelica Huston with her boyfriend Jack Nicholson

Rating: 3 stars

2 comments:

T L CHAUDHRYJanuary 7, 2020 at 5:58 AM
I brought this book from The Works on sale, but never got around to read it. I usually don't read autobiographies. What did you think of it?
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Barb's Book Reviews

Monday, January 6, 2020

Review of "A Story Lately Told (A Memoir): Coming of Age in Ireland, London, and New York

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