Brat

An '80s Story

By: Andrew McCarthy

Narrated by: Andrew McCarthy

Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Fans of Patti Smith's Just Kids and Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends will love this beautifully written, entertaining, and emotionally honest memoir by an actor, director, and author who found his start as an '80s Brat-Pack member.

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 this book, 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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Andrew McCarthy (P)2021 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"This is not some memoir written by an actor who fancies himself a world traveler. McCarthy really is a world traveler - and a damned fine writer, too.... To readers who think, 'Andrew McCarthy? Really?' the answer is a resounding and emphatic yes. Really." (Booklist)

"Rarely have I seen the male psyche explored with such honesty and vulnerability. This is the story of a son, a father, a brother, a husband, a man who finds the courage not only to face himself, but to reveal himself, and, in so doing, illuminates something about what it is to be human, fully alive, and awake." (Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion)

Amazing!

As an introverted teenager in the 80’s, I was obsessed with Andrew, Molly, Jon, Judd, and Ali... and of course the movies they made. Andrew’s take on introversion and disassociating to mask insecurity was especially relatable and validated my own uncomfortable experiences, growing up shy, reserved, aloof, and unavailable. Thank you for that!

disappointing

struggled to finish. Disappointing how arrogant his voice sounds. I'm really big fan and was excited for the book.

Truly Engaging

This book was well written. The word choice was almost like putting great lyrics to the best music possible to convey a meaning. The story is simple and complex at the same time. I felt his struggles and humanity in his story. He did well in showing his story instead of telling it. I would recommend this to anyone who grow up in the 80’s or have a love for the arts.

Great

Love the candor and true talk. Impressed by the author's ability to drop the actor's facade and let us see him.

What a Treat!

I don't think I could have loved this book anymore had Andrew McCarthy come to my home and read it to me in person... yeah, right. Loved every, single word and annunciation of this book which put to rest my suspicions and questions about The Brat Pack.

Worth the listen or read

Phenomenally honest and feeling book. Loved it
Andrew McCarthy is a greet writer and tells his story w courage abs honesty.

Gotta listen

If you grew up watching Andrew this book is for you! He has a gift for the written and spoken word

A must read

Love this book! Any 80’s child needs to read this book. Andrew is a gifted writer and offers on-site into my favorite eras of films! Thanks Andrew for taking the time to give us a glimpse into such a special time of film history!
Buy and read this book!

A great reflection.

I didn’t want it to end. A welcomed insight into a creative mind that I admired for decades. The humility and appreciation he shows for the people who touched his life is inspiring.

I actually liked Weekend at Bernie's II...

An exceptional read. A childhood hero of mine in many films, especially as Larry Wilson in Weekend at Bernie's (BOTH of them...yes..I said it), Andrew shows an incredible knack for narrative writing as well as delivering a flawless and beautifully paced audio reading- to which may have been the best I've heard to date.

The book was a witty, honest, and sincere account of a young man's journey through an industry/place (Hollywood) most of us wish we had been, and at a time (The 80's) most of us loved.