All Over But the Shoutin’ is Rick Bragg’s autobiographical tribute to his mother. Raised in extreme poverty in the south, Bragg tells the story of his alcoholic father, his amazing, self-sacrificial mother, and his eventual rise to writing for the New York Times. If you think it sounds a lot like a southern version of Angela’s Ashes, you’d be right.
The good: Bragg was honest about the troubles of his childhood, but he managed to still tell the story with honor and joy. We sympathized with his mother, but he didn’t make her pitiful. He did a great job explaining the bitterness and anger that sometimes drives people to overcome poverty and achieve success.
The bad: When Bragg was talking about his mother and his childhood, the story was great, but when he starts recounting his rise in the world of journalism, I found myself skimming and wishing he would just get on with things. And as much as it worries me to accuse a Pulitzer prize winner of overwriting, I’ve got to. I got a little weary of the colorful country metaphors after awhile.
Final Grade: C. The last half of the book dragged the whole thing down. I wish he had been able to reign himself in, because he got off to a great start.
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I completely agree. I thought the book was two or three chapters too long. I enjoyed “Ava’s Man” much more. My mom’s favorite is “The Prince of Frogtown,” but I haven’t read it. Yet.
I listened to the audiobook version of this (the reader was FABULOUS). I agree…once he got out of high school, I wasn’t that interested in what happened, and wanted to know what was happening in Alabama. I felt my interest returning when he went back to interview people about the tornadoes. Isn’t that odd – I thought his writing was strongest only when he was talking about Alabama.
Hi. I found your blog thru the book blooger hop and now am a subscriber. I like how you summarize your thoughts with “the good” and “the bad.”
Thanks!