Not My Father's Son Not My Father's Son

Not My Father's Son

A Memoir

    • 4.5 • 389 Ratings
    • $11.99
    • $11.99

Publisher Description

“Equal parts memoir, whodunit, and manual for living . . . a beautifully written, honest look at the forces of blood and bone that make us who we are, and how we make ourselves.”  --Neil Gaiman

In his unique and engaging voice, the acclaimed actor of stage and screen shares the emotional story of his complicated relationship with his father and the deeply buried family secrets that shaped his life and career.

A beloved star of stage, television, and film—“one of the most fun people in show business” (Time magazine)—Alan Cumming is a successful artist whose diversity and fearlessness is unparalleled. His success masks a painful childhood growing up under the heavy rule of an emotionally and physically abusive father—a relationship that tormented him long into adulthood.

When television producers in the UK approached him to appear on a popular celebrity genealogy show in 2010, Alan enthusiastically agreed. He hoped the show would solve a family mystery involving his maternal grandfather, a celebrated WWII hero who disappeared in the Far East. But as the truth of his family ancestors revealed itself, Alan learned far more than he bargained for about himself, his past, and his own father.

With ribald humor, wit, and incredible insight, Alan seamlessly moves back and forth in time, integrating stories from his childhood in Scotland and his experiences today as a film, television, and theater star. At times suspenseful, deeply moving, and wickedly funny, Not My Father’s Son will make readers laugh even as it breaks their hearts.

GENRE
Biographies & Memoirs
RELEASED
2014
October 7
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
304
Pages
PUBLISHER
Dey Street Books
SELLER
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS
SIZE
33.3
MB

Customer Reviews

JLipsett13 ,

Incredible story, incredible life.

Thank you for this poignant book. Alan is an amazing man who has given us all insight to the suffering with his father. I grew up in a family of fourteen children. My father provided for us but never said he loved me or at least I don't remember him saying it to me. We grew estranged as the years went by so I have an idea of what Alan went thru. He is a better man than he father ever was because even after all that he went thru he forgave him. I enjoyed learning that his mother was a good wife and mother, much like my mother was. I love watching him act and I try to catch anything that he is in. I couldn't put the book down. It was a story I wanted to continue reading until the end. Thank You Alan.

Cheats2 ,

Did not

Good book, well written, reads like a mystery.

I do wish however that he had not said in the acknowledgements "I forgive you". Such treatment of a child should never, ever be forgiven....

LoriNYCKennedy ,

I love him even more...

... for his honesty and ability to see through the forest of thorns that was his youth!! For anyone who has grown up under the hand of bad parenting and learned to be a better person because of it... this story is a must read!!

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