Love Child: A Memoir of Family Lost and Found

by Allegra Huston

• Inside a legendary American Allegra Huston was the third child of John Huston’s fourth wife, the beautiful ballet dancer Ricki Soma. In this graceful, penetrating memoir, Allegra takes us into the world of a child unmoored by her mother’s sudden death and sent on an odyssey which took her from John Huston’s fabulous estate in Ireland, to the American suburbs, to a hidden paradise in Mexico—and, at the side of her older sister Anjelica, into the hilltop retreats of Jack Nicholson, Ryan O’Neal, and Marlon Brando. Allegra paints a vivid, caring, and affecting portrait of her parents and the luminous circle of friends, acquaintances, lovers, and artists who were a part of family life. .

• A revelatory twist and family At the age of twelve Allegra Huston discovered her biological father to be the British aristocrat and historian John Julius Norwich. Suffused with a quiet intensity of emotion, Love Child explores family secrets and family bonds, and the unreliable certainties of memory—and ends with an unexpected triumph..

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, British Literature, Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[fleegan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to love this book. I wanted to love it because:

1. It was written by one of the daughters of film director John Huston.

2. She’s Anjelica Huston’s little sister.

3. The jacket flap made it sound like she’d be the normal one, compared to the rest of her family.

4. I thought it would be dignified and dishy at the same time. It was neither. It was boring.

Look, I’m not saying it’s bad, okay? A person’s story is their story, right? And sure, parts of everyone’s story are going to be sad, inconvenient, weird, boring etc. to everyone except that person and their friends and family. My story would be like that. Perhaps your story would too. And that’s why you or I would not bother with publishing our stories.

Ms. Huston probably has a really interesting story, but you’d not really know it because she presents herself as one of the dullest, uninteresting beings I’ve ever read about. And what’s worse? Her dull and uninteresting self is constantly comparing herself to all of the more famous, artistic, people in her family as well as the maids/nannies/secretaries/houseservants/whathaveyou and she comes off as a judgemental dweeb.

And it’s like this for the whole book.

She spends most of the book talking about her childhood (and it’s the same redundant thing over and over, and while I get that that’s how it went down, that still doesn’t make it interesting to read.), breezes through the teen years, barely glances at her twenties, and then it’s all, “oh, by the way I have a family of my own now. Would you like to meet them? Too bad, the book’s over.”

It’s a sad story, her mom dies when she’s 4, she has to go live with her father, John Huston, who, when it comes to his family, is basically, an asshole. She doesn’t grow up in an abusive place or anything, but there’s not a lot of emotion going on in this family. She gets moved around a lot. Her dad is always across the world shooting movies, her brother and sister are much older and have their own lives/careers. There’s a new step-mom every couple of years. Then she finds out Huston is her adopted dad and that her real dad is this guy in England and blah, blah, blah. All very dramatic, right?

Well, not the way she writes it. It’s very detached. And maybe that’s what she was going for? But it’s just this constant remoteness that begs the question, why even write it at all?

I kept thinking that eventually, towards the end, there would be this breakthrough where she would come into her own, find herself, get a hobby she enjoyed, SOMETHING. But there was nothing. It’s just one flatline after another.

And what’s sad is that I’m sure she’s a great writer. In fact, the last three or four pages, where she actually talks about her own family (husband and son), were written with a warmth and love that you could feel. She’s proud of her family. It’s great. It’s just a shame it’s only four or five pages.

Plus the ending felt rushed and vague. Like she wants you to know that she has a loving family now, she’s a mom, her husband is great etc. but she doesn’t really want to talk about them, you know? Like she wants to keep their life together private. Which, again, is fine, but still begs the question, why write/publish it in the first place?

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After xmas exchange with friend reading her sister Anjelica Huston's book I wanted the rest of the story...this book is far more interesting.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allegra Huston was the youngest daughter of the film director John Huston, but she only saw him intermittently growing up--her mother died when she was very young, and she was shuffled among caretakers, including a period in the '70s when she was hanging out with her older sister Anjelica. On the verge of adolescence, she was informed that her real father was actually British historian and nobleman John Julius Norwich; their first encounters were awkward, but eventually they settle into a true familial relationship.

Huston's writing is graceful, skillfully integrating her memories with research into the facts of her mother's life. If you're looking for Hollywood dirt, you can probably move on (although Ryan O'Neal probably isn't thrilled with how he comes off).

[AuthorsOnTourLive! · Rating 5 out of 5]

We met Allegra Huston when she visited the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. You can listen to her talk about "Love Child: A Memoir of Family Lost and Found" here: http://www.authorsontourlive.com/?p=249

About this podcast:
Allegra Huston reads from and discusses her fascinating memoir "Love Child: A Memoir of Family Lost and Found." When Allegra Huston was four years old, her mother was killed in a car crash. Soon after, she was introduced to her father, the legendary film director John Huston. Then, at the age of twelve, she was, once more, introduced to her father—her real one this time, the British aristocrat and historian John Julius Norwich.

[Sally Wessely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allegra is surprisingly stable given the life that she was handed. The product of a love affair between the wife of John Huston, and an English count, she was shuffled around from one living environment to another after her mother died when she was four years old. She thought she was the daughter of John Huston, who raised her by employing a nurse and others to look after her. During her early teenage years, she learned who her birth father was and in time found herself a part of his family as well as the complicated Huston family.

I enjoyed reading about her, her famous family, and her life experiences. She is remarkably resilient, forgiving and adaptable.

[Aly Baiter · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the random books picked up w/ Borders closing.
Such an interesting mix of people. Allegra Huston seems to have been cast off- loved, perhaps; but, more shuttled back & forth w/o concrete ties, love or concern for her well being.
I enjoyed it- good summer read (w/o typical beach fluff). There seems to be a vacancy to her- understanding the environments in which she grew up it makes sense. Despite money & fame it is not the childhood you would long for. There's a stop towards the end, w/ a rush to tidy up to present day & a huge disconnect w/ key pieces left out.
Worth a read, just b/c it's a different life seen w/ the curtains drawn.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because of the parts about Anjelica Huston. I'm not the least bit interested in celebrities for celebrity's sake, but I find her fascinating and wanted to know more about her life. Allegra certainly had an atypical childhood, and she provides an insightful interpretation of her family and her experiences. It wasn't badly written, but for someone describing personal experiences and feelings it was remarkably dry.

[Karen Henke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happen to know Allegra, if only sort of second hand (her son is about Max's age, used to go to the same preschool and school). I had heard about her story from a few people and it was interesting to get a firsthand account of her amazing life.

The book was beautifully written and a lot of fun to read.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Huston sets herself so apart, and seems to care so little for herself as a child it's hard to have any feelings for the author other than pity. I felt I wanted to know more about her famous family members and the other eccentrics who surrounded her than the author herself.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a glimpse into other cultures and lifestyles that most people won't ever experience, so it was very interesting. I liked the author too; I appreciated her humbleness and respect her for what she had to deal with.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely read, very evocative at times, but I can't help but compare it to her sister Anjelica Huston's book which I found to be the more interesting read.
I was glad to read she found a sense of peace at the end and I must say I admire John Huston for raising her as his daughter.

[Tracy Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blah. I kept waiting to see why I should care. Never figured it out.

[LK · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although her childhood circumstances were not ideal, it does not mean that a memoir is worthy.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

ab absolutely lackluster 1.5 stars

[Suze Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

don't bother , it makes you cross.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2015, I read the memoir of Allegra's older sister, Anjelica Huston, and wrote that Anjelica's childhood was both magical and horrible. Allegra's is more horrible than magical, though she too had a childhood that was in some ways extremely privileged. Their father, John Huston, could be enormously engaging and both of his daughters adored him. He was also extremely narcissistic and self-centered. Their lives were spent trying to gain his approval and to live up to what they thought he wanted them to be. Anjelica was fortunate in being tall and gorgeous, like their mother, Enrica Soma, an American model and ballerina. Allegra not so much. She felt ugly, untalented, and perhaps worst of all ordinary. When she was four, her mother, was killed in a car crash. She has few memories of her mother and the ones she has are not great. Still, she feels an enormous connection to her missing mother and tries to construct a relationship with her, out of very little.

Allegra is a good writer who can be very funny. Describing her first encounter with a hamburger bun, she writes, "The bun was cottony and cardboardy at the same time, how a box of Q-tips would taste if it had been ground up and baked. I could barely swallow it." Pretty accurate!

After her mother died, Allegra was sent to live with her father. "Live with" is a pretty loose term. She was mostly cared for by Nurse and rarely saw Huston. She was sent from place to place, depending on who Huston was with, and if she wanted to have Allegra around. Probably the saddest line in the book is "I was supposed to be no trouble."

[Terry Varner-Benge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it felt like an honest portrayal of how it is, when searching memory, and coming up with pieces of puzzles, and trying to put it together in ways that make sense. I think she has successfully relayed the way that it feels to look back over a long life and try to remember things from the past. It’s just impossible to remember everything.

I like the way that she describes certain scenes to make them crystal clear to the reader. Not being a person who’s been enamored with celebrity, I did find myself struggling in some places to figure out who the people were that she was writing about. Sometimes I had to go back and reread sections to figure out who the people were and how they were all connected.

But overall I enjoyed the narrative and the scenes that were so well described - the era of the 1970s for example. The descriptions of the places where they lived and the clothing that they wore seemed true to my memory from that decade. If the story feels unfinished at the end, I think it’s because the story isn’t finished; the author is still in midlife. I had a sense that it’s possible that many of the things that she wanted to write about could not be revealed out of respect for the people involved.

I think there’s enough here, though, to help the reader understand how it would feel to be someone in her position, and I admire her for having come through it with strength and not a trace of bitterness, and for having the courage to write about intensely personal experiences, with tenderness and clarity.

[Justina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elated that I could relate with Allegra's childhood dilemma though in my case it was basically most part of my teenage-hood - just constantly moving from one place to the other. As much as I crave positive growth in my 30s now, I crave stability even more.

I remembered a chapter where Anjelica and their father wanted Allegra to move to L.A and she became so sullen, I felt that!

Loved the relationship between Allegra and her stepfather Mr Huston; though he already had two children and then Danny; he didn't turn his back against the love child his wife bore with another man. It was okay for him to have divorced her but disappointing that he too was promiscuous - getting married and divorced several times.
So disgusted he blamed seven year old Marisol for being defiled by a pedophile rather than accusing the culprit and handing him off to the authorities.

Likes - Liked that it made giggle here and there. Also loved Allegra’s description of people, things and places.

Dislikes- Too many characters, too many places.

This may not be one of favorite of books but I was touched that despite having her biological father alive, she became an orphan quite too young. So sad she lost the only one ever so close to a parent after loosing her mum.

It was a good read.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was written honestly with great insight into parental relationships.
There was a lack of self pity for what was, in some ways, a difficult childhood and a lack of gloating over the privileged nature of Allegra's life.
She was a very sympathetic subject. All the characters were well described.
The book was easy to read and kept me interested. Allegra Huston has a good style and a good level of awareness.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty intruiging memoir. Allegra does a very good job painting the picture of an anchorless child adrift in the world of a lot of odd adults. I enjoyed reading the book and found myself feeling sad for this very lonely little girl.

I'm not sure if I could really recommend it as something anyone should run out and read OMG NOW but if it's something you should happen across and you like memoirs and/or odd famous families it's a decent read.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit scattered and lost in the details but now I must read Anjelica Huston's memoirs.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving story of a kid who really is all alone in the world as she finds her place and her self. Really really good.

[Falene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would like more. I thought would have more history about John Huston or even Anjelica

[Daniela Sorgente · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading autobiographical books of famous people. Even this book did not disappoint me, and it tells a rather intricate story: in fact Allegra Huston has one brother and one sister (the actress Anjelica) on her mother's side, one brother and one sister on her father's side (an English viscount), plus a half-brother, son of John Huston. She has been believing John Huston to be her father for the first twelve years of her life, while he was only her mother's husband when she was born. During her childhood, and especially her adolescence, she was tossed around from one family to another, sometimes with distant kinship ties. The most unruly periods are those spent with her sister Anjelica and her companions, Jack Nicholson and an angry and violent Ryan O'Neal. I found this book both interesting and moving.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the memoir of Allegra Huston whose mother, Enrica Soma, was unhappily married to Movie Director John Huston. Allegra's mother died when she was 4 years old and she was sent to live with John Huston, who was mostly absent.

When John married Cici (wife #5), Allegra went to live with Cici and continued to live with her after Cici & John divorced. Eventually, Allegra moved in with her sister Anjelica. Shortly afterward, Cici arranged for Allegra to meet her biological father Sir John Justin Norwich, who up until their meeting Allegra had no idea existed.

Through Allegra's writing we get a glimpse of life in John & Anjelica Huston's households, not always a pretty picture, and what life was like for a "Child of Love", although John did take legal & financial responsibility for Allegra & his son Danny (who was his son by his mistress Zoe Sallis).

I almost put the book down as the first part of the book is a conglomerate of poorly written disjointed and sketchy memories. After all, how much does a 4 actually remember and how much is conjecture?

The latter part of the memoir is much more interesting than the beginning due to the fact that the memories contained therein are more accurate and written about people I can identify.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Allegra Huston is a gifted writer with a grasp of the English language that few Hollywood autobiographers have. It is beautifully written and so interesting! Her everyday life was filled with Hollywood characters and movie sets from her famous father, the director John Huston , her actress sister, Anjelica Huston and their friends. Every single page has some moving and fascinating story about people you know of!
The author's character gives this book its soul. It is her story, it is about her life. It was not an easy life, as her mother died when she was quite young and she was moved from home to home throughout her childhood and teens. She is objective and forgiving all at once about the people who loved her and tried to parent her, but never quite gave her a solid home.
I give this book five stars, because I could not put it down just one year ago, and know I will read it again soon!

[Rashida · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book more, but I felt she talks way to much about her sister Anjelica Huston and less about herself. She also has a lot of grammatical errors which is surprising since she’s now a professional writer.I also felt like she didn’t go more in depth about her relationship with her real father and other siblings from his part of the family.Like did they become really close? or did they not get along at first? I also wish she talked more about how being a love child effected her life since that is what this memoir is supposed to be about right ? I also hate how she keeps comparing herself to her sibling and father, it comes of across like she wining. I also wish we got to know more about her son and her husband I felt that part was really rushed. In the end I enjoyed bits in pieces of her memoir but it was not fulfilling enough to enjoy completely. The grade is a C+ for me.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads freebie, and I really enjoyed the book and read it in one evening. The first part was a little confusing, but it just got better and better as Allegra Huston talked about her life after the death of her mother. At the age of four, she was introduced to John Huston, the director, as her father---only to learn several years later that her biological father was an English lord--no big surprise when the reader compared pictures of the author with the picture of her biological father John Julius. This story is an amazing, inside look at her sister Anjelica Huston, Ryan O'Neal, and Jack Nicholson. Nothing about the author's childhood was normal, yet the end result seems totally stable. How in the world did that happen?

[Nd · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been so many years since I read John Huston's biography, that I had a vague memory that there is an Allegra Huston. Searching in our library for a recent biography (maybe autobiography) on Anjelica Huston, I came across Allegra's Love Child. The way she presents her recollections is believable and appealing, and doesn't have the feel of so many of today's ghost-written bios which, while interesting, have a bit of a canned feel. Besides the fact that she (and most of her siblings) were moved around like pieces in an ever-changing puzzle of locations and familial arrangements, her love of education and her determination to excel shine through. It's delightful to watch her intellect guide her to her comfort level in the world and with her family.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The primary focus of Allegra's memoir takes place during her childhood after age four when her mother was killed in an auto accident. Allegra is bounced around from home to home and place to place with a variety of guardians. Anjelica Huston, Allegra's much older sister, is heavily featured throughout the book.

I almost gave up on this book several times due to its plodding pace. Had Allegra not been a Huston, her story might not have made it to the page. The book may hold the interest of readers who wish to learn about the personal lives of Anjelica and/or John Huston.