A review by laurenleigh
Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

I discovered this on a Pride reading list, though Cumming’s queerness was really never a topic of conversation here. It’s a great example of an LGBTQIA2S+ book that doesn’t center on sexuality. Instead, Cumming focuses on his family and all the discoveries he made at age 45. Partly this is an important memoir about living through an abusive parent’s rage, and the other part is like a mystery novel. Cumming went on that show “Who Do You Think You Are” to learn about his heritage, and throughout that process, he probably gained more insight than he bargained for. It was a really interesting exploration of what it means to be family, and how our roots shape who we grow up to be. Or maybe our beginnings have no effect whatsoever on our middles and end, if we make that conscious choice. All in all, it was a great read made even more amazing by Cumming’s narration. I could listen to his Scottish accent all day!
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