A Story Lately Told: Coming of Age in Ireland, London, and New York

Anjelica Huston gives us the story of the first half of her life in this book. The title comes from a nursery tale about magpies.'One for sorrowTwo for joyThree for a weddingFour for a boyFive for silverSix for goldSeven for a story lately told'It seems her life contains all seven. She was born in Los Angeles, and her father,the actor/director John Huston was across the world in Africa making a film 'The African Queen'. Her mother, Enrica Soma, 23 years younger than her husband, gave up her life as a ballerina for the love of John. However, Enrica was John's fourth wife, and he was known as a womanizer. The love of women, drink, adventure and his profession kept him separated from his family most of their lives.Anjelica tells us of her home, St. Cleans in Ireland, where her father lived in the big house when he was home, and the family lived in the little house, all the time. She and her brother, Tony, had many wonderful times, most of them lonely. They lived in the country, had a nanny or a tutor, and depended upon visits from friends of the family. They did have glorious times with their father when he returned, but he was a stickler for good behavior and manners. He believed in taking chances and competition. Many stories of horse racing and chances taken. Much was expected of Tony and Anjelica, and to live up to their father's needs and wants took a great deal of strength. At some point, Enrica and John separated, but no one told the children. Anjelica and Tony moved to London with Enrica. They entered private school where Anjelica was very unhappy. Soon, Enrica was pregnant with another man's child. He did not want the child, and when Allegra was born she became part of the Huston family. At another time, Anjelica and Tony were introduced to a new brother. John, their father had a son with a woman named Zoe. Danny Huston became a very dear brother to Anjelica, but they did not live together.The family was disjointed and issues were never discussed, it was thought the children would just accept things as they were. Anjelica's story becomes more alive after the move to London. There were parties, make-up, music, the Beatles, the clothes, and the 60's were part of Anjelica's life. Her teen years are rather muddled and glossed over. She appeared in one of her father's films and received horrible reviews. A tragedy comes upon the family which changed Anjelica's life. She moves to New York, enters life in the fast lane and makes unfortunate love choices.This book started out with a bang, but became plodding. A young life told by a child. Descriptions of homes, clothes and food are interesting but not telling. The teen years and Abbey Road pick up the story, but there is something missing. To live in a home with a father who comes and goes, with many mistresses, a mother who did the same, must have rendered some form of need, other than picking older lovers, we are left wondering.This is the first part of Angelica's life, let's hope she becomes more introspective in the second half of her life. The writing is at times exquisite and full of life, but like the cool grey that covers the Irish countryside, it fails at times and becomes without much life. All in all, a fascinating look at half a life.Recommended. prisrob 11-21-13

With so many connections - same age, shared-friends, some work, some play - and, of course - many of the same cultural references, for me - the emotional link withe Anjelica Huston has always been there. And I was eager to learn more about this girl who'd caught my attention from childhood.But the reader who suggests surprise at a lack of insight is, I think, on the money. The memories, however, are there - intact; and we are left to make of them what we will. Disassociated parents - children left on their own for the most part, in a world that offered them the strangest mix of sophistication and an innocence, willful and gauche. Licentious adults leave children in the hands of Irish Catholic caretakers in a country that has, by law, one point of view. How would you imagine that might foster personal insight?So - if memories are not served up with the kind of depth Huston's apparent intelligence might be expected to reveal, I'm going to give her a pass. She opens enough of the kimono to allow us to create our own insights. And my heart breaks for her too often in this book for me to deliver blame.Hers is also a chronicle of change in the world. Her ability to sail along the top of that wave, even if she remains unaware of all that's going on in the water below, should interest anyone who cares about that moment between the Fifties and the Seventies - when so many barriers of authority, stability and privilege came tumbling down. In this story, they land on one young girl. -- And I so look forward to the next volume.

This book is beautifully written and very evocative of a life few have lived among the wealthy, artistic, and famous. As a child living in Ireland, the author rarely saw her dad except when he came home for holidays. The rest of the time she and her mother and brother lived with the staff at their quite wonderful house in Ireland until her mother Rikki separated from John and relocated to London, where Anjelica experienced her teenage years at the height of Carnaby Street and the 60's scene.To me, it is hard to write about that time period b/c it is so remote from the present one--as an example, I was nonplused at all the attention paid to the fox hunts, the people who attended them, what they wore, and so on. And yet there was no mention of the fact that having a pack of dogs chase a fox to exhaustion and then rip it to pieces is no longer considered a good thing--and the 'sport' is now banned as a cruel blood sport today. It is this kind of reflection on what was done in her youth that is missing from the autobiography--the fact that the Anjelica of today seems pretty absent from the pages describing her past.I suppose that was a deliberate choice and yet it makes for a rather uncomplicated life story that focuses on external details rather than internal responses. The exception is at the end when she finally leaves her 4 year relationship with a very abusive man. Her description of her encounter on the beach with a total stranger and how it empowered this decision is fantastic and moving. I wish there had been more of her inner life in this book.

I really loved it. It is beautifully written, honest with vivid descriptions and interesting insights. Sure, there is a lot of famous names dropping but in my opinion it really help to convey the kind of extraordinary childhood Anjelica Huston, people who surrounded and inspired her.A must read for a fan of Anjelica Huston.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. She is a great writer and her descriptions of places is excellent as is her memory. I found myself saying I will just read one more chapter but that proved impossible so I just kept reading. When she wrote about her mother’s death is was heartbreaking in it’s honesty. I am looking forward to the continuation of her story.

What a life Angelica has led and not all good. There was a bit of behign neglect I would say although her parents sound like real characters. This is a book you pick up and won't put it down until you finish it (and it won't take long).

I really only picked this up because it had had a good review in my copy of The Week but I have to say it was thoroughly engrossing and I look forward to reading her next biography (this one only covers her earl life).

Good book bringing her childhood to life full characters and tragedy equally