Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir

When I told my friend, who is a huge fan and probably is responsible for bringing him to my attention, that I was reading a book by Alan Cumming, she sincerely asked, “Is it called, I Cumming?,” to which I replied, “No, it is called Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir.” If by some miracle this review crossed his path, I’m sure that my friend would let him use her title free of charge in exchange for a brief meeting during which she would stare at him adoringly. I actually have not seen him in many movies, but he has usually stood out: The Anniversary Party, X-Men 2 and Battle of the Sexes. He is a personality so when I visited my local library and saw his memoir sitting on a shelf the day before a big winter storm hit, borrowing it seemed like the obvious choice.
The majority of Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir bounces between the past and 2010 when he was working with a TV show to find out what happened to his maternal grandfather, which brings up an unexpected encounter with his abusive father. Arrow and Lost have nothing on Cumming’s real life flashbacks and tension with the present. Fortunately Cumming is a man secure in who he is, believes in therapy and well loved by his family, friends and colleagues so he is able to handle the twists and turns without cracking.
On a less somber note, Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir addresses what a workday is like for an internationally known actor and the benefits and downsides to fame. Unlike most people who come from abusive homes and in spite of his insane schedule, Cumming has forged stronger bonds with his family, who play a considerable role in his memoir. There are really no dishy moments, but it is an unique perspective on a sadly typical story of childhood abuse and a more unusual display of delusion in the later years.
Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir is a quick read, and Cumming could possibly have a second career as a writer. I did find myself taking longer to read it because you even though it is an enjoyable read, it is not necessarily a joy to read about someone walking through the mine fields of family history.