Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Grand Central Publishing (2022), 240 pages
Description
"Most people know Andrew McCarthy from his movie roles in Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Weekend at Bernie's, and Less than Zero, and as a charter member of Hollywood's Brat Pack. That iconic group of ingenues and heartthrobs included Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Demi Moore, and has come to represent both a genre of film and an era of pop culture. In his memoir Brat: An '80s Story, McCarthy focuses his gaze 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. New York City of the 1980s is brought to vivid life in these pages -- scoring loose joints in Washington Square Park and 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"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member tibobi
The Short of It:
This is probably the first time I’ve ever found myself completely enamored by a memoir.
The Rest of It:
Most people know who he is. Andrew McCarthy did many films, perhaps not all of them successful but films like Pretty in Pink, Mannequin, St. Elmo’s Fire and Weekend at
The push-pull nature of McCarthy’s story is so readable. He was given some breaks but never felt that he belonged. His insecurity about who he was or who he was being asked to portray, caused him a great deal of nervousness and anxiety. He would often self-sabotage himself by consuming too much drink, and later drugs. The substance abuse only masking his insecurities for the moment.
Anyone who has ever doubted themselves can relate to his story. There’s a raw, vulnerability here which I always felt came through his characters too. This is not a story about Hollywood and all of its glitz and glam and it’s not about what we all perceived to be wild success. This is a story about a young man struggling to find a place for himself in the world.
What I really loved about this book is that it so delicately balances what we expect from him, and what he needed to share with readers. He includes plenty of information about each of his films and how they came to be. He also includes a lot on the business of acting itself, which is why I am handing this copy over to my daughter for her to read. But in addition to all of that, he tells us about his family, introduces us to the people who made an impact on him along the way, and what he’s learned from it all.
I’ve read McCarthy before and he’s quite a good writer but he really outdid himself with this one. If you ever wondered what happened to him after the 80’s, you might recall some TV shows he was in and his directorial work for the very popular Orange is the New Black series on Netflix. In my mind, he has had a very successful film career but with this book, I feel that he’s firmly planted his shoes into writing and I hope that’s the case because I would love to read more from him.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
This is probably the first time I’ve ever found myself completely enamored by a memoir.
The Rest of It:
Most people know who he is. Andrew McCarthy did many films, perhaps not all of them successful but films like Pretty in Pink, Mannequin, St. Elmo’s Fire and Weekend at
Show More
Bernie’s were surprisingly successful and seemed to make him a household name. My favorite film Less Than Zero, is oddly enough, not McCarthy’s favorite by far. From the title, you would think that much of this book is about the 80’s and yes, there’s plenty of that decade covered in this book but it’s more about how the term “brat pack” made and broke, what was a very vulnerable kid just trying to find himself.The push-pull nature of McCarthy’s story is so readable. He was given some breaks but never felt that he belonged. His insecurity about who he was or who he was being asked to portray, caused him a great deal of nervousness and anxiety. He would often self-sabotage himself by consuming too much drink, and later drugs. The substance abuse only masking his insecurities for the moment.
Anyone who has ever doubted themselves can relate to his story. There’s a raw, vulnerability here which I always felt came through his characters too. This is not a story about Hollywood and all of its glitz and glam and it’s not about what we all perceived to be wild success. This is a story about a young man struggling to find a place for himself in the world.
What I really loved about this book is that it so delicately balances what we expect from him, and what he needed to share with readers. He includes plenty of information about each of his films and how they came to be. He also includes a lot on the business of acting itself, which is why I am handing this copy over to my daughter for her to read. But in addition to all of that, he tells us about his family, introduces us to the people who made an impact on him along the way, and what he’s learned from it all.
I’ve read McCarthy before and he’s quite a good writer but he really outdid himself with this one. If you ever wondered what happened to him after the 80’s, you might recall some TV shows he was in and his directorial work for the very popular Orange is the New Black series on Netflix. In my mind, he has had a very successful film career but with this book, I feel that he’s firmly planted his shoes into writing and I hope that’s the case because I would love to read more from him.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
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LibraryThing member ecataldi
McCarthy, Andrew. Brat: An '80s Story. digital. 2021. Hachette Audio. Iconic '80s actor and teen heartthrob, Andrew McCarthy, reflects on his early career and rise to success in this revealing memoir. Known for classics such as Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, and Mannequin; McCarthy talks about
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his love for New York City, acting strategies, his struggles with alcohol, and has no compunction about dropping tidbits regarding actors and directors he's worked with. Though he was a founding member of the "Brat Pack," he reflects on why he resents the designation and has never fully embraced the nickname for the group of actors and actresses that he is most often is associated with. Brutally honest, this memoir looks back at youthful debauchery, acting ambitions, and naivety. A perfect example of the highs and the lows that come with achieving the Hollywood dream. McCarthy is more than willing to dissect old mistakes and failings with self-deprecating humor and fresh insight. Brat is extremely well written, something too often missing from celebrity memoirs; and highlights just how talented Andrew McCarthy is on multiple fronts. Narrated by the actor himself, this memoir is an easy listen and perfect for those who grew up loving his work and are looking for a trip down memory lane. Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
I enjoyed this book! I don’t usually read celebrity memoirs. In fact, this is the first celebrity memoir that I can remember reading even though I do occasionally pick up memoirs written by people who are not famous. I am not even sure why I was drawn to this one. I like Andrew McCarthy well
This is a relatively short book so it was a very quick read for me. The book starts during Andrew’s childhood focusing on his journey to becoming an actor. There were photos scattered throughout the book which helped to tell this story. I felt like we really get to know him during this book while we see his acting develop. There were some lucky breaks on his path to stardom but there was also a lot of work. Andrew wasn’t always confident and was often very hard on himself.
Once he landed his first movie, extraordinary things started to happen. Some of the stories that he tells in this book were just amazing. It is kind of amazing just how lucky he was in some situations. There is no doubt that he worked incredibly hard to get where he was and it could be hard to read some of the passages about the things he did that were essentially self-sabotage. I went into the book knowing next to nothing about Andrew McCarthy and learned a lot about him in these pages.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that anyone that has seen any of his films will enjoy some of the background information presented in this book. Even if you are new to his work, I think that there is something to take away from this book. Who knows maybe I will open my mind to reading more celebrity memoirs moving forward.
I received a copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing.
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enough but I wouldn’t call myself a big fan or anything. I am glad that I went with my instinct and gave this book a try.This is a relatively short book so it was a very quick read for me. The book starts during Andrew’s childhood focusing on his journey to becoming an actor. There were photos scattered throughout the book which helped to tell this story. I felt like we really get to know him during this book while we see his acting develop. There were some lucky breaks on his path to stardom but there was also a lot of work. Andrew wasn’t always confident and was often very hard on himself.
Once he landed his first movie, extraordinary things started to happen. Some of the stories that he tells in this book were just amazing. It is kind of amazing just how lucky he was in some situations. There is no doubt that he worked incredibly hard to get where he was and it could be hard to read some of the passages about the things he did that were essentially self-sabotage. I went into the book knowing next to nothing about Andrew McCarthy and learned a lot about him in these pages.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that anyone that has seen any of his films will enjoy some of the background information presented in this book. Even if you are new to his work, I think that there is something to take away from this book. Who knows maybe I will open my mind to reading more celebrity memoirs moving forward.
I received a copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing.
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LibraryThing member gpangel
Brat: An Eighties Story by Andrew McCarthy is a 2021 Grand Central Publication.
Growin' up, you don't see the writing on the wall
Passin' by, movin' straight ahead, you knew it all
But maybe sometime if you feel the pain
You'll find you're all alone, everything has changed
I was just a little bit
I confess, I haven’t thought of Andrew in a long while- although it does seem he keeps busy, directing, and writing, and works steadily as an actor. When I saw this book at the library, I put a hold on it immediately. I was dying to trip down memory, and hopefully, get a little glimpse of what McCarthy was like in his private life.
The first thing you might want to know is that this book is not a full-on memoir- it really does stick, almost exclusively, to the 80s decade. Andrew doesn’t get into his romantic entanglements, etc., but he does share some personal issues, including his complicated relationship with his father, and his struggles with alcohol and anxiety.
The book begins with a very brief outline of his early life and when and how he decided he wanted to be an actor. From there, McCarthy takes us on his journey through awkward auditions, excellent connections, and some pure luck that propelled him to stardom as well as a few odd reminisces, about one or two one-off chance encounters with famous people -Maybe a little 'slice of life' Hollywood style.
Andrew has real talent, but I get the impression that fame was uncomfortable for him- he seems reserved, maybe a little introverted, and didn’t seem to care for the politics, or the some of the sheer shallowness of being a celebrity- but of course, he enjoyed the attention paid him by beautiful women. Ha! (Though he knew his celebrity was a big part of that attention.)
It was nice to revisit the eighties, to get an up-close look at how someone like Andrew, who didn’t grow up in the Hollywood circle, depending on his talent and determination, making an impression on some key people in the industry which helped to establish him as a respected, popular, and skilled young actor.
His stories are funny and witty- told in low-key, self-deprecating tone- at times. Sometimes I thought even thought Andrew was marveling at some of his unique experiences and by how things clicked into place.
The book also has a bittersweet quality to it, a poignancy that exposes McCarthy’s vulnerabilities, and at times a raw pain he stoically attempts to contain-even now.
This short book is hardly a definitive memoir of McCarthy’s life, but it centers on the area of his life people will be the most curious about- and it did bring back some nice memories, favorite movie quotes and scenes, while a stellar soundtrack runs in the back of my mind...
Overall, this is a very nice memoir-interesting, though a bit mild-mannered. If you liked McCarthy before, you’ll still like him after you read this book- and you might even respect even more.
I need you now like I need you then
You always said we'd meet again…
Someday.
Growin' up, you don't see the writing on the wall
Passin' by, movin' straight ahead, you knew it all
But maybe sometime if you feel the pain
You'll find you're all alone, everything has changed
I was just a little bit
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outside the targeted audience for some of McCarthy’s films in the 80s- but not by much- so I could still easily relate. Of all the ‘Brats’, McCarthy was my favorite. I thought he was so adorable. I never knew much about him personally, as he wasn’t quite as flamboyant as some of his peers, who knew how to work the system to keep themselves in the public eye as long as possible. I confess, I haven’t thought of Andrew in a long while- although it does seem he keeps busy, directing, and writing, and works steadily as an actor. When I saw this book at the library, I put a hold on it immediately. I was dying to trip down memory, and hopefully, get a little glimpse of what McCarthy was like in his private life.
The first thing you might want to know is that this book is not a full-on memoir- it really does stick, almost exclusively, to the 80s decade. Andrew doesn’t get into his romantic entanglements, etc., but he does share some personal issues, including his complicated relationship with his father, and his struggles with alcohol and anxiety.
The book begins with a very brief outline of his early life and when and how he decided he wanted to be an actor. From there, McCarthy takes us on his journey through awkward auditions, excellent connections, and some pure luck that propelled him to stardom as well as a few odd reminisces, about one or two one-off chance encounters with famous people -Maybe a little 'slice of life' Hollywood style.
Andrew has real talent, but I get the impression that fame was uncomfortable for him- he seems reserved, maybe a little introverted, and didn’t seem to care for the politics, or the some of the sheer shallowness of being a celebrity- but of course, he enjoyed the attention paid him by beautiful women. Ha! (Though he knew his celebrity was a big part of that attention.)
It was nice to revisit the eighties, to get an up-close look at how someone like Andrew, who didn’t grow up in the Hollywood circle, depending on his talent and determination, making an impression on some key people in the industry which helped to establish him as a respected, popular, and skilled young actor.
His stories are funny and witty- told in low-key, self-deprecating tone- at times. Sometimes I thought even thought Andrew was marveling at some of his unique experiences and by how things clicked into place.
The book also has a bittersweet quality to it, a poignancy that exposes McCarthy’s vulnerabilities, and at times a raw pain he stoically attempts to contain-even now.
This short book is hardly a definitive memoir of McCarthy’s life, but it centers on the area of his life people will be the most curious about- and it did bring back some nice memories, favorite movie quotes and scenes, while a stellar soundtrack runs in the back of my mind...
Overall, this is a very nice memoir-interesting, though a bit mild-mannered. If you liked McCarthy before, you’ll still like him after you read this book- and you might even respect even more.
I need you now like I need you then
You always said we'd meet again…
Someday.
Show Less
LibraryThing member etxgardener
I always thought that Andrew McCarthy’s characters in the “Brat Pack” movies were interesting, but after reading this book, maybe not so interesting because it appears he wasn’t acting as much as playing his insecure real self on celluloid. Ugh!
LibraryThing member jscape2000
A tidy little memoir. Lightly considered for a light Hollywood life. I picked it up on a whim, and I’ve never seen most of McCarthy’s films. Perhaps it will mean more for someone to whom his work means more.
Awards
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Non-Fiction — 2021)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
240 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
1538754290 / 9781538754290
Local notes
Signed