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)

80's Teen

As a teen of the 80's and huge fan of Andrew McCarthy I loved hearing about his life and his road to fame.
Thank you ❤
Karen

Well written and interesting

Sentimental as his movies were part of my youth. Impressed with his humility and insights on the brat pack years and coming of age movies that were part of my youth

Weekend at Dullsville

Super snoozy nothing of a book that hops all over the place and reminds you of what a nothing McCarthys career was. Well written and narrated though

Surprising and Heartfelt

The story that Andrew McCarthy shares and narrates in his own, careful and reflective style was one wholly unknown to me and completely unexpected. His anxiety and masking of that anxiety was a complete surprise to me. Maybe, as a fan of his popular movies, I had never thought to learn more and simply accepted his performances at face value. It made the stories he related in this book to surprise me. His reflection, honesty and ability to relate his experiences almost felt too close, yet his style has a tenderness that allowed me to walk alongside the journey he revealed without feeling like a voyeur - something not always achieved by autobiographies.
At the end of the story, I found myself rooting for him as the hero of his own life. Though complicated, his story gave me a heartfelt appreciation for his ability to share what must have been a difficult look back at his life and his relationships, and instilled a recognition of his humanity beyond his fame.

1980's Underside

My review is more than indulgent praise as fan during the 1980's.
To me, McCarthy appeared to be on the fringe of the Brat pack i.e. in but not of. That was what appealed to me. I could relate to that status. To now know his history with alcohol, not so different than my own during that decade, perhaps I sensed another connection.
His writing is elegant and the reading, articulate, also in contrast to his self description as an apathetic or lackadaisical student.
Having enjoyed this memoir, I hope some day he will write the rest of the story.

Loved It!

I loved listening to Andrew’s story. Nostalgic for sure. Genuine and real. A snippet into the behind the scenes of a simpler time of life. Bravo!

Enjoyed!

Like so many, I was coming of age in the ‘80’s.
John Hughes was genius imo.
Wish he was here today...

I digress...:)
Andrew McCarthy was my favorite-
And like Molly Ringwald said, I too would have gone for ‘a guy like him’.
Heaven Help Us was soulful and beautiful.
So much of Andrew McCarthy’s depth shone right through in that movie. Beautiful film and role.

Whatever your favorites, Brat gives us all a closer glimpse at that interesting time period in movies for teens and young adults of that era.
It was fun hearing more about Andrew’s world and experiences, his take on all that transpired.
And hearing him narrate it made it all the more complete.

Thank you for this insightful and reflective book!

Enjoyable

Flash back to the 80’s movies we loved that Andrew was cast in. His story and his journey. Covers his life and not other cast from the movies. A good listen. I enjoyed this much more then The longest way home.

Lar

I loved Andrew McCarthy 's account of his 80's. Truthful, I expected nothing less.

This was fun to read

I completely enjoyed this book. It was joyful to find that I shared interest in the same actors as Andrew. It confirmed why I always enjoyed him as an actor. This was fun to read!