All Over But The Shoutin' by Rick Bragg is an autobiography that starts from Mr. Bragg's impoverished childhood in a family that included an abusive, alcoholic father, an incredibly powerful angel of a mother and his two brothers, and follows him through his Pulitzer Prize-winning journalistic career. Mr. Bragg starts the book out by simply stating that this book isn't of great importance but it was something he had to do. I don't agree with the first point and am eternally thankful that he believed the second point.
The author suggests at the outset readers will laugh and cry reading it. He was right on the mark on both of these points. In fact, I finished the book today while eating lunch. As I read the last 40 or so pages I openly wept, and even laughed in between the weeping.
The Bragg family grew up with virtually nothing. The father left the family a number of times, offering no financial assistance and stealing whatever he could before he left. When he was there, he was usually drunk and physically abusive to mother and children. Mr. Bragg's mother's life consisted of working herself to exhaustion, using whatever money they had for the children and then of course, defending the children from their violent father.
The second half of the book follows Mr. Bragg's career and family as it develops. Mr. Bragg covered events like the Miami riots, the Haitian atrocities, and the Susan Smith case (that was one that had me weeping uncontrollably today) among others.
The book is one of the best I have ever read. There were dozens of lessons I learned from the book, and two that touched me deeply. First, it's hard to see folks living in shame because they cover it up really well. I grew up in an upper middle class family and simply don't have a clue what it means to be so broke that you are ashamed to be around people who have money.
I bet it wouldn't take much effort for me to identify a time in my life when I was cruel towards people who were poor, raining judgment down on them. One of the most poignant parts of the book that had me weeping that day at the cafe involved his mom. When Mr. Bragg won the Pulitzer, he wanted his mom to come to the event. She was initially too scared to go because she was ashamed in front of all of the rich folks.
Article comments
1 - Jo
Nice review! I grew up in the area Rick's from, and it's hard to describe how fascinating his life is - knowing the people he mentioned, the landmarks, and being able to look up his momma in the phone book after tearfully reading the last page.
One of my favorites! I'm glad you enjoyed it too!
2 - MaryB
The best book I've read in a long time. Mr.Bragg speaks of the south and all it's peculiarities with nothing but love, and tells his story in such a way as to transcend genre, time, and place. I grew up in rural Alabama myself and have never witnessed an account of it's native people so brutally accurate and heartfelt. This book is sure to be a classic.
3 - Aurellia Collier
i have to read this book for my literature class. i like it and all, but sometimes i think its alittle wordy. like his life is interesting and i love his many stories, but he rambles and switches from time to time without warning. i have to say that his book comes in second with my reading list, but he most definatly in the top five!!!
4 - ruel el. farol
i have just finished the prologue, and i knew that i would have to finish the whole book. mr. bragg says, "this is not an important book."well, before he started with that on the 2nd paragraph he had me in "redbirds," and with that i have to read on.