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Jun 20, 2013 Web Exclusive By Frank Valish

In the late ‘60s, fresh out of high school, Los Angeles teenager Judy Huddleston began an on-again-off-again love affair with The Doors’ Jim Morrison. In Love Him Madly, culled partly from her diaries of the time, Huddleston documents her wild youth with Morrison. Huddleston’s book is engrossing, despite being written in the confused, idealistic love-addled prose of an obsessed teen. The subject matter is not much better, as Huddleston paints a picture of her teen self that seems to justify every negative stereotype. She pants after a Morrison who shows little real affection, for no valid reason that is made known, and despite being mistreated by the singer. When Huddleston describes being raped early on in the text, one is severely tempted to put the book down. Huddleston’s time with Morrison is primarily sexual, although juicy descriptions are largely (and thankfully) withheld. Morrison abuses drugs and alcohol (as does Huddleston), and he is gone for days or months at a time, always calling Huddleston sooner or later, in the middle of the night, for a rendezvous. Huddleston, predictably, jumps at every chance and then wonders why things aren’t working out to her satisfaction. This pattern repeats itself numerous times in the text.

Where Love Him Madly does find some redemption is in its portrayal of Morrison as a silly teenager (perhaps as much so as Huddleston herself). He’s prone to whims. He pontificates. He’s sullen. He takes pictures with fans on the street. Despite all the despicable qualities Huddleston relates, and though neither of the book’s subjects are portrayed in a particularly likeable light, seeing Morrison so child-like (and childish) is interesting to read and contrary to every idealized version of the man. (http://judyhuddleston.com)

Author rating: 4.5/10