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.
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.
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