Not My Father's Son - Alan Cumming

Title: Not My Father's Son: A Memoir
Author: Alan Cumming
Publisher: HarperAudio
Published date: 2014
FTC: Checked eAudio from library


When I heard that Alan Cumming came out with a memoir I really wanted to read it. I am an Alan Cumming fan. Ok, not a crazy, seen everything of his type of fan. Just one of those every time I see him in something I think he does a fantastic job and I can tell, just tell, that he is a truly likable person. AND he does the intro to Masterpiece Mystery if you've ever watched Sherlock (strictly to make Patti Smith jealous - just kidding - read the book).  Which is funny because that is one of my memories of my father, watching Masterpiece Mystery and loving the Gorey intros.  I also knew I'd want to listen to the audio because 1) Alan Cumming has a fabulous voice - I just listened to the audiobook of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan and he did an awesome job and 2) I love when people narrate their own memoirs, it's so interesting to hear their story told in their own voice. For example, I love Kristin Chenoweth's audio book A Little Bit Wicked. Awesome. Anyway, I digress.

Back of the book:

 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. 

My thoughts:

While I was a fan of Alan Cumming as an actor and performer before I read this book, I can safely say that I was correct and he is a thoroughly likeable person.  He has got such a great sense of humor and such a way of bringing his story to life. The narration flashes between Then - stories of growing up in Scotland where, I know this is silly, but I keep seeing his father as a gruffer meaner version of Golly in Monarch of the Glen. (Seriously, Netflix it - fun show.) Then if flashes to Now (being 2010) when he is doing the genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? which sounds fantastic. I tend to not like reality shows but I love genealogy being a history major and all. And I do really think that a lot of us have questions about our ancestors or past that would be fascinating to uncover.

Since I haven't seen the show, I thought it uncovered his parental questions. Nope. That would have been really awful even for reality tv. Anyway, the show went into what happened to his grandfather Tommy Darling after WWII.  But during this time, his father tells him that he wasn't his father's son.  Wow. Now if you think well, that's the story I don't need to read the memoir....um....no. I don't want to spoil it for you.

While filled with painful memories from his past, Alan Cumming manages to make his memoir quite humorous (I really need to watch Eurovision) and respectful. I was actually quite amazed at his ability to manage his outrage, emotions, and language at some of the things he went through. At the end of the book, when Alan Cumming dedicates the book in part to his father, while also stating that he is NOT his father's son (so interesting, read the book) it is pretty jaw dropping fantastic.

How can I possibly rate someone's intimate memoir? I did. Five stars.