Based on titles I've read over the past couple of years, The Mistress offers a few suggestions. See if something here strikes your fancy (besides the man in the photo, above.)
Not My Father's Son: A Memoir by Alan Cumming (2014)...
You may know Alan Cumming as Eli Gold on The Good Wife. Or as the master of ceremonies in Cabaret. (If you haven't seen him in Cabaret, give yourself a treat and click here.) Or as the camp steward, Sebastian Flight in the Britcom, The High Life. Or maybe you've seen him introduce Masterpiece Mystery! for PBS.
So now that we've established just a few of his on-screen accomplishments, let's add author to the list.
In Not My Father's Son, Alan shares the emotional story of his complicated relationship with a father who psychologically and physically abused him. Not for the faint of heart, the descriptions are absolutely Dickensian.
Interwoven into the tale is how he goes about solving a deeply buried family secret.
Though emotionally draining and at times disturbing, Alan relates his memoir with his signature wit and opts for a positive outlook.
"The truth can hurt," says Cumming, "but not knowing can hurt more."
Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast (2014)...
If you're a fan of Roz Chast's angst-ridden cartoons in the New Yorker magazine, try her memoir on for size, in the form of this graphic novel.
Roz deals with the decline and care of her aging parents with dark humour and a sense of the absurd. You'll laugh. You'll cry. And if you or "a friend" are going through a similar situation, this book may bring much needed comic relief.
And it's all illustrations so it's like reading a comic book. Yay!
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe by Romain Puértolas (English translation published 2014)...
The title perfectly describes what happens in this whimsical novel. Looking for a light, fun read? You've found it.
READ MORE BOOKS, BITCHES!
that second book choice could have also been a wonderful title for this here blog! Meanwhile I'm happy to report I have just another day till my book arrives. It's called Wildflower, the life story of Barbette, a drag queen trapeze artist who took all of Europe's prestigious clubs by storm and one of the first really well known drag acts.
ReplyDeleteMISTRESS MADDIE: "More fun than a sex party!" says the review.
DeleteI'll look into that and let you know.
DeleteMISTRESS MADDIE: Thank you. Somebody has to get down and dirty and do the research.
DeleteI'll have the guy in the first picture read me the books while I'm...... well, you don't need a picture eh?
ReplyDeleteHUGGY JON: I’m sure a lot of us would like a picture!
DeleteIt's all about - ahem - Cumming here at Infomaniac, isn't it? Jx
ReplyDeleteJON: I really do fancy the pants off Alan Cumming.
DeleteBut I’m happy for him that he’s married the man of his dreams.
roz is right up my alley.
ReplyDeleteNORMA: The first thing I look for in the New Yorker is a Roz Chast cartoon.
DeleteProving that I don’t read it just for the articles.
Cumming is perfect as the desk clerk in Eyes Wide Shut and in this wonderful scene in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.
ReplyDeleteI love that film.
DeleteSx
Is there an echo in the room?
DeleteI think the only thing scarier than being trapped in an IKEA closet is trying to figure out the instructions on putting it all together.
ReplyDeleteEROS: You don’t want to know my collapsing bookshelves story.
DeleteI like all these suggestions. I'm especially glad you mentioned the Fakir/wardrobe one as I now remember that it was featured here before and I meant to read it then but never got around to it!
ReplyDeleteMR. DeVICE: Remember THE RULE OF 50: "Give a book fifty pages before you decide to commit to reading it or give it up."
DeleteI don’t want your not enjoying the book on my conscience.