Not My Father's Son
A Family Memoir
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4.6 • 76 Ratings
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- £6.99
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
DISCOVER THE NEW MEMOIR FROM ALAN CUMMING. BAGGAGE: TALES FROM A FULLY PACKED LIFE PUBLISHES 28 OCT '21
'One of the most memorable, heart-stopping autobiographies I have ever read' STEPHEN FRY
WINNER OF THE SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
ATTITUDE MAGAZINE'S BOOK OF THE YEAR
A beloved star of stage and screen, Alan Cumming's life and career have been shaped by a complex and dark family past - full of troubled memories, kept buried away. But then an unexpected phone call from his long-estranged father brought the pain of the past hurtling back into the present, and unravelled everything he thought he knew about himself. Not My Father's Son is the story of his journey of discovery, both a memoir of his childhood in Scotland, and an investigation into his family history which would change him forever.
'Equal parts memoir, whodunnit and manual for living . . . beautifully written, honest . . . I was completely sucked in' NEIL GAIMAN
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Scottish actor Cumming struggles to reconcile with his troubled past in this moving, if oddly structured, memoir. Alternating between three time periods "Then," "Now," and a span of several months in 2010 Cumming recounts his life on a rural Scottish estate under the brutal reign of his abusive father, Alex. Equally violent toward Cumming's older brother, Tom, Alex was a defining force in Cumming's life, with the emotional and physical scars of his beatings affecting Cumming long after he left home for drama school at age 17. In a parallel narrative, Cumming recounts his experiences as a participant on Britain's Who Do You Think You Are?, a television program on which celebrities explore their pasts, often going so far as to get genetic tests. Even as issues closer to home involving Cumming's ties, or lack thereof, to his father arise (as the book's title might suggest), Cumming is determined to delve into his family history: and find out what happened to his maternal grandfather, Lieutenant Tommy Darling, who served his country in WWII and ended up suspiciously dead several years later in Malaysia, where he was a member of the police force. While the particulars Cumming learns about Darling are striking and memorable, this really is a case where the journey is more important than the destination.
Customer Reviews
Not my father's son
An honest and touching read that gets under the skin of what it is like to be a frightened powerless child dominated by a tyrant and how the impact of this experience can be felt in later life. This is also a hopeful, uplifting read that shines with humanity for those who have been misunderstood, I'll and who have not been able to reach their potential due to difficult circumstances.
A must read on so many levels
Being a fan of Alans work I wanted to read this book .
The similarities in Alans upbringing to that of my brothers and mine was almost unreal.
I found it upsetting,disturbing yet cathartic reading.
I would love to meet Alan one day and give him a big hug to say thank you as the book has helped me realise and release some hidden issues where my father has been concerned.
A must read that you will not not be able to put down.