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Not My Father's Son
- A Family Memoir
- Narrated by: Alan Cumming
- Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
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Not My Father's Son
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Editor reviews
Summary
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 Alan's father, Alex Cumming.
Alex was the dark, enigmatic heart of Cumming family life. But he was not the only mystery. Alan's maternal grandfather, Tommy Darling, had disappeared to the Far East after the Second World War. The last time Alan's mother saw her father she was eight years old. When she was 13, the family was informed that he had died in an accidental shooting.
Curious to explore this second mystery, Alan committed to filming an episode of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? Then out of the blue, his father, who Alan and his brother had not seen or spoken to for more than a decade, called. He had a secret he had to share, one that would shock his son to his very core and set in motion a journey that would change Alan's life forever.
At times suspenseful, at times deeply moving, but always brave and honest, Not My Father's Son is a powerful story about embracing the best aspects of the past and triumphantly pushing the darkness aside.
Critic reviews
"What a shattering, compelling and extraordinary story Alan Cumming has to tell. And he does so with such style and grace . . . Beautifully and cunningly structured, Not My Father's Son is one of the most memorable, heart-stopping autobiographies I have ever read." (Stephen Fry)
"Do you know the old line "I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me"? Alan Cumming's moving memoir Not My Father's Son is all that and more. This is a beautiful book-sad, funny, haunting, surprising, suspenseful, gut-wrenching, endearing. It will linger inside of you long after you turn the final page." (Harlan Coben, author of New York Times bestsellers Missing You and Six Years)
"In beautiful, honest, arresting prose, he offers a tale you'll never forget. A real diamond of a book." (Andrew O'Hagan)
"A clear-eyed, often moving account of both his terrifying childhood and his recent attempts to come to terms with his past [. . .] Not My Father's Son moves elegantly and with an occasional dash of humour between Cumming's childhood and the revelations of the more recent past [. . .] memorable." ( Chicago Tribune)
"One of the most fun people in show business" ( Time)
"Cumming's eccentric style and assured voice shine brightly on every page, while escorting readers and fans on a memorable journey that is simultaneously insightful, brave, moving, and witty." ( Book List)
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What listeners say about Not My Father's Son
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Katherine
- 06-11-14
An extraordinary memoir
Where does Not My Father's Son rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
One of the best ever.
What did you like best about this story?
This is no showbiz memoir, although the revelation that Patti Smith has a tendency to spit had me in stitches. It's a heart-wrenching story of Alan's painful childhood, his fraught relationship with his father, intertwined with the slow unfolding mystery of his grandfather's abandonment of his family after the Second World War and subsequent death in Malaysia. Above all, it's a powerful, honest story and a wholly intriguing yarn, more fascinating than fiction.
Which character – as performed by Alan Cumming – was your favourite?
Alan has a particular talent for bringing to life the women in his family: his mother, the formidable and clearly-adored Mary Darling, and his charming, wickedly funny granny. He has the most beautiful voice, too.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It's a deeply emotional story, and I laughed out loud and wept unashamedly in turns.
Any additional comments?
Quite the most astonishing audiobook (or indeed publication of any kind) I've heard in ages. More than anything, one comes out of the experience with deep respect for Alan Cumming as a human being, someone who refused to back down until he had found the truth he needed to begin healing.
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31 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- lduro
- 14-01-15
Real life
Brilliantly depicted story of family strife brought about by mental illness and how a revelation of a hidden ancestors life mirrored agonising emotions and processes. Written with total compassion and read with undoubtably true conviction.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- miss janet swift
- 22-02-15
True story, but very well written kept interest. Very well constructed plot
What made the experience of listening to Not My Father's Son the most enjoyable?
The twists and turns in the plot , it was full of surprises and the emotions of Alan Cumming were very well captured, giving depth to the story.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Not My Father's Son?
Alan's meeting with his father.
Which character – as performed by Alan Cumming – was your favourite?
Alan.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Alan's meeting with his father.
Any additional comments?
Well written, the story covered the wide range of emotions involved in a story of this type.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- John Warner
- 15-08-21
Anyone with slightest interested in trauma read
Not only a first rate autobiography
But one the best insights into the effects trauma has on anyone unfortunate enough to suffer it.
Those unaffected will read and enjoy and come out a little wiser.
The bridges over the Ness will bring a smile from now on
Thanks Mr Cumming
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- Sara
- 22-12-20
Funny, heartbreaking and a wonderful story.
A difficult story, told by the author. a really great read. if you are a fan or Cummings or not, this story of the more difficult aspects of his life will keep you listening until the last minute.
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- Jason A.
- 12-01-21
Talk about a roller-coaster
Just a brilliant memoir that was, in parts, difficulty to listen to such was the extent of abuse that Alan faced and in other parts euphoric and joyously funny, yet always engaging
Thank you for your honesty and integrity Mr Cumming
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- G. Armstrong
- 14-05-21
amazing 😍
I really loved this heartfelt account of a life lived by Alan
I'm sure I'll re listen to it again
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- s.alexandra
- 06-11-21
Loved this book
What a great book, I was captured from the very beginning. A bitter sweet story written by an amazing human being. Thank you so much.
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- sonya_cummins
- 07-12-21
Such a beautiful honest account
Absolutley loved the honesty, emotion and realness of this book. Adored listening to Alans lilting accent. I cried many times through it and felt my own trauma surface so real were the descriptions of the events with his father. Thank you.
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- Vicki Heijnen
- 09-04-18
What a story teller!
The best memoir I’ve read in years! Terrifying and heartbreaking but also heartwarming and uplifting. I loved it
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