You may know Alan Cumming as the host of Masterpiece Mysteries on PBS or from his roles in TV shows like "The Good Wife" and "The L Word." He's also done a couple dozen movies ranging from James Bond to X-Men. One of my favorites is "Josie and the Pussycats." This talented performer is also an excellent writer, and he shares the dark side of his growing up in a memoir called NOT MY FATHER'S SON.

The book centers on his relationship with his father, Alex Cumming. The chapters bounce back and forth between Then, Alan's youth in Scotland, and Now, traveling the world primarily for work. It's a brilliant strategy. A modern day chapter will end on a cliffhanger, then take you back to an earlier event. The next childhood memory will be so dark and painful that you're grateful when the chapter ends and takes you back to the adult, a reminder that the boy survived and thrived.

The Now chapters take place over several weeks in 2010. It was a time of great upheaval for Alan, as he learns more about his family history -- his notions about his parents, other family members, and himself are all challenged, knocked about mentally much as the boy Alan was manhandled physically and emotionally. He weaves all of this together in such a way as to give us insights, not only into his formative years but also into our own. It's an exhausting tale, but in the end it's an uplifting one.

If you're one of Cumming's fans, you should definitely read NOT MY FATHER'S SON. It will give you a new appreciation for him. I also recommend it for readers with an interest in psychology, especially as related to childhood abuse.