Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Book review: Not my Father's son by Alan Cumming

Scottish Actor Alan Cumming’ family memoir; Not my father's son: a family memoir is quite compelling reading.  I had a been a fan of the actor mainly from his work in The Good Wife and was chuffed to learn that he was actually Scottish when his episode of Who Do You Think You Are?  was aired a few years ago. (Series seven - episode nine – view it on You Tube.) In that episode he traced his maternal grandfather Thomas Darling and it is this particular time in his life inter-weaved with episodes from his childhood that is recounted in his memoir.
An extraordinary life that surprisingly draws you in. Alan’s life at times was not very pleasant and as a result parts of this book are quite heart wrenching.
I often advise researchers when they start out on a family history research journey to be prepared for the unpleasant aspects of life that they will invariably uncover (and give thought to how they may share it).  Alan Cumming lived this, recounts it and tries to understand it.   If you like biographies and have dabbled in family history research this memoir is a read for you. 
  

1 comment:

Elizabeth O'Neal said...

Oooh, that looks interesting! Alwyas love books about Scots. Thanks for the tip!