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Dark, painful memories can be like a cage. Or, in the case of Alan Cumming, they can be packed away in a box, stuck in the attic to be forgotten. Until one day the box explodes and all the memories flood back in horrible detail. Alan Cumming grew up in the grip of a man who held his family hostage, someone who meted out violence with a frightening ease, who waged a silent war with himself that sometimes spilled over onto everyone around him. That man was Alex Cumming, Alan's father. When television producers approached Alan to appear on a popular celebrity genealogy show in 2010, he enthusiastically agreed. He hoped to solve a mystery that had long cast a shadow over his family. His maternal grandfather, Tommy Darling, had disappeared into the Far East after WWII. Alan's mother knew very little about him-he had been a courier, carrying information between battalions on his motorbike. The last time she saw her father, Alan's mother was eight years old. When she was thirteen, the family was informed that he had died by his own hand, an accidental shooting. But this was not the only mystery laid before Alan's feet. His father, whom Alan had not seen or spoken to for more than a decade, reconnected just before filming for Who Do You Think You Are? began. He had a secret he had to share, one that would shock his son to his very core and set into motion a journey that would change Alan's life forever. 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 the celebrated actor of film, television, and stage. At times suspenseful, at times deeply moving, but always incredibly brave and honest, Not My Father's Son is a powerful story of embracing the best aspects of the past and triumphantly pushing the darkness aside.… (more)
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. This is a beautiful, tender memoir written (and read) by Alan Cumming where he shares about his difficult childhood, including abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. He also writes about his beloved mother and brother and his experience on a discovery for the truth about his maternal grandfather's demise on the BBC's version of "Who Do You Think You Are". ( )
This is about a couple of Cumming's family mysteries that are revealed when Alan participates in the TV show Who Do You Think You Are? I almost gave this book 2 stars, since half stars aren't possible, but I was curious to see how things rolled out, so I kept reading. I felt that was worth another half star.He delves into his childhood as a counterpoint to current events unfolding in the book. If you really enjoy self absorbed navel gazing, go for it. I'm glad the book was only 294 pages. ( )
I started listening to this on my way to school, and almost gave it up because the opening was so hard to take at 8:30am. So glad I kept listening! This is a memoir and a double mystery rolled into one, with wit and humor and style galore. I binge-listened to this while sick with a cold and it was the perfect distraction. Fantastic book; I highly recommend the audio version if you can get it because Alan himself is the reader and everything sounds better in a Scottish accent. ( )
An exceptional memoir. I am not drawn to reading celebrity memoirs, but I gave this a try because I so like Alan Cummings as an actor.I had no idea his growing up years were so difficult. He, and his mom and brother worked together and separately to become the best they could be and are good and decent people. ( )
Dark, painful memories can be like a cage. Or, in the case of Alan Cumming, they can be packed away in a box, stuck in the attic to be forgotten. Until one day the box explodes and all the memories flood back in horrible detail. Alan Cumming grew up in the grip of a man who held his family hostage, someone who meted out violence with a frightening ease, who waged a silent war with himself that sometimes spilled over onto everyone around him. That man was Alex Cumming, Alan's father. When television producers approached Alan to appear on a popular celebrity genealogy show in 2010, he enthusiastically agreed. He hoped to solve a mystery that had long cast a shadow over his family. His maternal grandfather, Tommy Darling, had disappeared into the Far East after WWII. Alan's mother knew very little about him-he had been a courier, carrying information between battalions on his motorbike. The last time she saw her father, Alan's mother was eight years old. When she was thirteen, the family was informed that he had died by his own hand, an accidental shooting. But this was not the only mystery laid before Alan's feet. His father, whom Alan had not seen or spoken to for more than a decade, reconnected just before filming for Who Do You Think You Are? began. He had a secret he had to share, one that would shock his son to his very core and set into motion a journey that would change Alan's life forever. 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 the celebrated actor of film, television, and stage. At times suspenseful, at times deeply moving, but always incredibly brave and honest, Not My Father's Son is a powerful story of embracing the best aspects of the past and triumphantly pushing the darkness aside.
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Acclaimed actor Alan Cumming shares the raw and emotional story of his turbulent relationship with his father and the long-buried family secrets that shaped his life and career.
A beloved star of stage, television, and film, Alan Cumming is celebrated for his unparalleled diversity and fearlessness as an artist. However, his success conceals a painful childhood marked by the heavy hand of an emotionally and physically abusive father—a torment that followed him well into adulthood.
In 2010, when UK television producers invited Alan to appear on a popular celebrity genealogy show, he eagerly accepted. He hoped the program would unravel the mystery surrounding his maternal grandfather, a celebrated WWII hero who vanished in the Far East. But as the show unearthed the truth about his family's past, Alan discovered far more than he anticipated—about his ancestors, his own past, and the father who had haunted him for so long.
With a blend of ribald humor, sharp wit, and profound insight, Alan effortlessly weaves together tales from his Scottish childhood and his current experiences as a star. Suspenseful, deeply moving, and wickedly funny, Not My Father's Son will make readers laugh even as it breaks their hearts. - Ian Scheil
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