Brat - Andrew McCarthy

Brat

By Andrew McCarthy

  • Release Date: 2021-05-11
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4
4
From 224 Ratings

Description

From an actor and director who got his start as a member of the Hollywood Brat Back, an emotionally poignant memoir, perfect for fans of Patti Smith's Just Kids and Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends. The inspiration for the Hulu documentary.

Everyone knows Andrew McCarthy from his iconic movie roles in Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Weekend at Bernie's, and Less than Zero. Part of the legendary Brat Pack (including Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Demi Moore), his filmography has come to represent both a genre of film and an era of pop culture.

In Brat, McCarthy focuses on that singular moment in time. The result is a revealing look at coming of age in a maelstrom, reckoning with conflicted ambition, innocence, addiction, and masculinity. 1980s New York City is brought to vivid life in these pages, from scoring loose joints in Washington Square Park to skipping school in favor of the dark revival houses of the Village—where he fell in love with the movies that would change his life.

Filled with personal revelations of innocence lost to heady days in Hollywood with John Hughes and an iconic cast of characters, Brat is a surprising and intimate story of an outsider caught up in a most unwitting success.

Reviews

  • Excellent

    5
    By SqueezyG
    Whether you are a fan of Andrew’s or not, this is a wonderful book to read. Andrew is very intelligent and an exceptional writer. He has very intriguing stories of the behind the scenes goings on in Hollywood and details his rise from obscurity, to international fame. Andrew is very self-aware, many times critical of himself, but in the end he is the victor as he has grown into the man he was always meant to be.
  • Enjoyable read.

    3
    By Horklespank
    A thoughtful memoir with pacing issues.
  • Great Read!

    5
    By wisdomoflemons
    I enjoyed this look at Andrew took us back to his earlier life. This lead me to read his other travel books - they’re fantastic, very insightful.
  • Insightful and Entertaining

    5
    By Ilovejeh96
    There was always just “something about him” as I watched his films. Reading this book helped me realize what that “something” was and is. Andrew McCarthy is a thinker. He is humble. He is remarkable in his talent, yet undeniably human. His writing flows beautifully, and I never felt as if he dumbed it down for the general public. If you were a fan of his famous 80s films, you might read this and become an admirer of the man he became.
  • Loved it!!

    5
    By JulieRae65
    Like a trip down the memory lane of my youth. Brought back some great memories. Enjoyed all of it. Worth the read!
  • Simply Awful

    1
    By jasnyc65
    Exactly like his acting , less than zero
  • What an amazing writer!

    5
    By iplay88keys
    For somebody from my 80s past on whom I always had a crush, Andrew McCarthy exposes his soul through his writing. More so than his acting ever could convey. I read this memoir so much more quickly than most others I have read. His beautiful words have an indescribable rhythm to them, and I found myself transported back to my 80s youth. The final few paragraphs brought tears to my ears, more so than any cheesy ending from “Pretty in Pink” ever could. (And for the record, I am in the minority of fans who always thought that Molly Ringwald’s character should have ended up with Duckie, because I did! And 33 years later, I’m still so glad that I did.)
  • Could put it down

    5
    By koouu I'm
    The 1st chapter I was crying my eyes out when I read how mean his Dad was to him. He was more then a one hit wonder and 40 years of writing and acting and he put 110% in every he does. He uses every opportunity to entertain us his fans.
  • Eye Opening

    5
    By ChristmasMorning1
    A compelling and relatable insight into young Hollywood in the 80’s from Andrew McCarthy’s observant (even if he’d argue he didn’t have a clue at the time) and honest perspective. It leaves me wondering if he realizes how brave he was while white knuckling it during those years. He’s a smart guy. Maybe (hopefully), he knows.