The acclaimed actor profiles his turbulent relationship with his father and discusses his 2010 appearance in a celebrity genealogy show to solve the disappearance of a WWII hero grandparent and his discovery of astounding family secrets.
Dark, painful memories can be put away to be forgotten. Until one day they all flood back in horrible detail. When television producers approached Alan Cumming to appear on a popular celebrity genealogy show, he hoped to solve the mystery of his maternal grandfather's disappearance that had long cast a shadow over his family. But this was not the only mystery laid before Alan. Alan 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, whom Alan had not seen or spoken to for more than a decade when he 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.
There is absolutely no logical reason why I am here. The life trajectory my nationality and class and circumstances portended for me was not even remotely close to the one I now navigate. But logic is a science and living is an art. The release I felt in writing my first memoir, Not My Father's Son, was matched only by how my speaking out empowered so many to engage with their own trauma. I was reminded of the power of my words and the absolute duty of authenticity. But. No one ever fully recovers from their past. There is no cure for it. You just learn to manage and prioritise it. I believe the second you feel you have triumphed or overcome something - an abuse, an injury to the body or the mind, an addiction, a character flaw, a habit, a person - you have merely decided to stop being vigilant and embraced denial as your modus operandi. And that is what this book is about, and for: to remind you not to buy in to the Hollywood ending. Ironically maybe, much of Baggage chronicles my life in Hollywood and how, since I recovered from a nervous breakdown at 28, work has repeatedly whisked me away from personal calamities to sets and stages around the world. It is also about marriage(s): starting with the break-up of my first (to a woman) and ending with the ascension to my second (to a man) with many kissed toads in between! But in everything, each failed relationship or encounter with a legend (Liza! X Men! Gore Vidal! Kubrick! Spice Girls!), in every bad decision or moment of sensual joy I have endeavored to show what I have learned and how I've become who I am today: a happy, flawed, vulnerable, fearless middle-aged man, with a lot of baggage
There's a lot of joy in this book and a lot of laughs. You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams is the best part of experiencing New York nightlife: all the gossip without the hangover. - New York Journal of Books The pictures-and stories-are intimate, mischievous, funny, and poignant. It's a rare self-portrait by an actor in an era when most are wary of revealing too much. -Town & Country Magazine ...a fun, heartfelt, adorably catty collection of anecdotes and accompanying photographs from the entertainer's personal and professional life. -Edge Media Network A passion for photography has stayed with Cumming, all his life, and stage, film and television actor, has just released a book of 45 short essays accompanied by his photos. -San Francisco Chronicle Cumming's delight in life's unexpectedly joyful experiences - of which he's had plenty in his fortunate career - runs throughout the 45 essays in You've Gotta Get Bigger Dreams , his third book. . . . Cumming's new book is rife with entertaining anecdotes, as well as personal reflections and at times shrewdly insightful commentary on his adopted country. -SF Gate Cumming's witty and incisive essays cover everything from a cross-country road trip with his beloved dog Honey to an unforgettable encounter with Oprah , whose one- line response to one of Cumming's friends became the title of his book. -Daily Front Row Alan Cumming is just plain old delightful. Instead of just writing another memoir book, he peppers his crazy life stories with his photographs to give them an extra visual punch most people don't have in their writing. -Ain't It Cool News Must Read selection:. . . 45 vignettes, with photos, name- checking Oprah, Seam Combs, and Elizabeth Taylor. - Harper's Bazaar Cummings says that as a photographer, hes just a snapper, capturing moments. -Pittsburgh City Paper . . . a brisk, entertaining read that makes the reader feel like Cumming is in your head relating each mischievous adventure. - Metrosource NY . . . 45 charming, naughty, thoughtful, and wickedly hilarious stories , all illustrated by Cumming's own memorable photographs. - Good Morning Washington / WJLA-TV If you're a fan of Cumming, You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams is fun and lively enough to sustain interest. For those less familiar, it is a teasing glimpse into an impressive achiever's high life and downtime . - StageBuddy.com ...a charming mosaic of anecdotes and photos... - Out Magazine Flipping through feels like passing a couple hours with the scrapbook of your most fabulous older cousin. - Passport Magazine
Tommy, a twenty-nine-year-old Londoner, grapples with his fear of commitment and the carefree lifestyle fueled by drugs and nightlife. As he contemplates fatherhood, he questions whether his hedonistic existence can bring true happiness. His journey takes him from vibrant London scenes to intimate moments in New York, forcing him to confront life's deeper questions and the possibility of embracing a more fulfilling, sober life. Through a mix of adventures and misadventures, Tommy seeks answers to challenges he never anticipated.
Alan Cumming and Grant Shaffer's world-traveling dogs are back...and off to Scotland! When Honey falls in love with a handsome Scottish pup, will Leon be able to protect their dads on his own?Honey and Leon have done a very good job of keeping their dads safe--but now the dads have decided to travel again! So the two loyal dogs pack up their disguises and secretly follow them all the way to Europe on a Scottish Highland adventure.All is going according to plan...until Honey becomes besotted with a charming Scottish dog named Coll! Can Leon manage to keep their dads out of trouble on his own while Honey is gallivanting with her new beau?Actor Alan Cumming and artist Grant Shaffer bring to life the imagined secret identities of the two dogs they once owned. Hilarious, sassy dialogue and wild escapades make this an unmissable read-aloud, perfect for families who love to put on a show!
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Determined to keep their dads safe on their trip to France, two dogs disguise themselves and follow along.