All Over But the Shoutin'

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Summary: Southern Literature
Review: All Over But the Shoutin' is a funny and sentimental journey. Rick Bragg's life as a poor, white southerner is unveiled thru his own eyes in this touching memoir and tribute to his mother.

The book is very comical with Rick's tales of brotherly love like the outhouse incident. All Over But the Shoutin' is also a vessel to honor his upbringing and the southern heritage. Rick really admired the people that lived in his home town, at least most of them.

The book is a wonderful book. It's about Rick trying to honor, justify, and explain the direction his life took and the people in it. Rick Bragg is a sympathetic, sensitive writer, as well as sarcastic. He wrote this book with a sense of pride, guilt, and humor, and these feelings clearly com thru.

Being from the south myself, I thoroughly enjoyed and drank in every drop of detail of this book. However, even if you're not southern, it's still a great read!

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Summary: All Over but the Shoutin'
Review: Taurece A. Riley
English 3330

All Over but the Shoutin'
The memoirs of famed journalist Rick Bragg are featured in the autobiographical novel All Over but the Shoutin'. Bragg recites his tale of hardship and his family's struggle to survive in rural Alabama and Georgia in the late 1960s and 1970s. He dwells on being abandoned by his father and the effect it had on him and his family. In addition, he celebrates his mother's heroic attempt to carry their family through all of the pain and suffering.
Bragg has a wonderful writing technique that is uniquely his. He uses unrelated images to describe how people spoke in the rural Alabama and Georgia. When Bragg talks about how is mother spoke, he says that she did not have "timing" and when she spoke it sounded "like puppies spilling out of a cardboard box, jumping all over each other". (28) He also writes about how people in the South would leave the "r" out of words. He writes that the word "mother" became "mu-thah" and "never" became "nevah". (28)
All Over but the Shoutin' is a very captivating novel. Each chapter begins with sentences that capture your attention and entices the reader to read further into the chapter to find out what it is about. The beginning of chapter 10 is especially interesting. It begins, "For three good years...I lived in a beautiful oblivion." (90)
This is a wonderfully written autobiography suited for anyone who loves a good book about real life. Rick Bragg expresses the human condition as he experienced it growing up. He recounts the hardship, pain, suffering, and guilt in this novel. These are all events in the lives of people no matter what your economic status is. Anyone who picks up this novel will not be able to put it down until they have finished it. The novel captures the essence of life and will be enjoyed by all readers.

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Summary: Remembering Mom
Review: If Rick Bragg can be given credence, there's no poverty like growing up dirt-poor in northeast Alabama. But he also has an exceptional Momma, and ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN', besides being an autobiography, is Bragg's tribute to this loving and selfless woman.

Bragg was born in 1959. His father, perhaps irrevocably damaged psychologically by combat duty in Korea, was an alcoholic spouse abuser who finally deserted his family in 1966. Rick's mother, Margaret, was left struggling to support herself and three sons by picking cotton, doing other people's laundry, and swallowing her pride to accept charity from family and neighbors. This book is Bragg's account of those early years, and his career as a print journalist from reporting high school and college football games in the late 70s to winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1996 while on the staff of the New York Times. Most of all, it's about family - his Mom, her parents, and his brothers (Sam and Mark).

That the author is a gifted writer goes without saying. (After all, one doesn't win the Pulitzer by scribbling book reviews for a major website.) ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN' is poignant, sad, affecting and absorbing. It's a page-turner. However, at no time did Rick convince me that he's experienced any joie de vivre. Unlike one of my favorite authors, Laura Shaine Cunningham, who penned the autobiographical SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS and A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY, Bragg comes across as one whose difficult childhood left him one of the walking wounded. I'm not sure his numerous mea culpas scattered throughout the work added value, and the apologia began to get tiresome. Indeed, the whole book seems a prelude to chapter 40 in which the author explains why he is what he is, and apologizes for what he's not and what he hasn't done.

The best reason to read ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN' is to become acquainted with Margaret, and perhaps the best chapter is near the end when Rick describes his Momma's very first plane ride and foray out into the larger world - at age 59 - to see her son awarded the Pulitzer in New York City. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book. Margaret is truly the essence of the meaning of "Mom".

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Summary: Patience is a virtue
Review: All over but the Shoutin' is a autobiographical memoir that Rick Bragg writes to tell the audience his story. He writes non-chronilogically, but in a as-it-comes-to-him style. He focuses on outstanding memories and people that have stuck with him through the years. He honors the heroes he's had in his life, such as his grandfather, older brother, but most of all his mother.

Rick Bragg's is overall very interesting, but his purpose of telling his story is hazy. The component that makes this book a classic is the talent of artistry he displays. Bragg is a good ole country boy and when you read his story, youcan just about hear his country accent. One example of this is how he describes his mother's storytelling ability as "puppies spilling out of a cardboard box, jumping all over each other."(28) Bragg describes his father as a "rough-as-a-cob country boy who could shoot bumblebees off dandelions with a BB gun."(16) These quotes and many more show the talent Bragg has in telling a story and making the reader feel a part of it.

This story has some definite strengths and weaknesses. One weakness of Bragg's memoir is his lack of clarity of his purpose. I am not saying he does not have one, but I am saying I could not figure it out. Another weakness is the amount of useless information there is. Being specific is important, but in my opinion, he crosses the line. There are also several strengths in this story. One, as mentioned before, is the reality of language he used. Another aspect I really enjoyed is how much he appreciates, respects, and loves his momma. She worked herself almost to death for her boys and he knows that and he makes sure his audienceknows that.

Overall, this book is well-written and very interesting. I would reccommend it to people who are patient and love a good country story.

[Kristin Daniel (in our class) says "I think talking about the artistry was a good idea. It lets us know why he writes the way he does." She ranks my paragraphs 3,2,1,4.]

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Summary: I'm still hongry!
Review: "All Over But the Shouting" presents the life of New York journalist, Ricky Bragg. In this searingly honest yet humorous memoir, Bragg discusses everything from his family to his career, placing a great deal of focus on his relationships between his alcoholic father and hardworking mother. Unlike most autobiographies, Bragg writes his life like a series of short stories. Although there are numerous reasons why he decided to tell this story, the main reasons were his desire to tell his mother's story and his need to vocalize his feelings in regards to his father.
After reading this book, I would have to say my favorite sections were chapters 38 and 39. Within chapter 38, Bragg finally reaches the pinnacle of his career by winning the Pulitzer. Finally, he had arrived and he was given the opportunity to help his mother get the respect and recognition he felt she deserved. Then in chapter 39, he achieves his ultimate goal of getting his mother a home of her own. Although she never asks for anything, Bragg goes above and beyond to show his mother that she was a good mother and that she was the reason for all his success.
For the most part, I was not upset by any of the contents of this book. All things considered, I found nothing offensive or inappropriate about his writing. Even though, I feel that Bragg is an excellent writer and journalist I thought the storyline was sort of jumpy. One second, he would be talking about his childhood and the next he would have switched to discussing his adult life. In addition, I wanted the story to be more engaging, something that would get my full attention, but I felt that he left me wanting more.
Overall, I would give "All Over But the Shouting" a thumbs up. However, I am glad I didn't spend a dime on this book. Even though I was not extremely impressed by this book, I would recommend that anyone is a fan of short stories, autobiographies, or southern literature to read a form their own opinion

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Summary: Must Have!!
Review: All Over but the Shoutin' is a memoir written by Rick Bragg, a southern writer. Bragg's , memoir is all about his growing up in a small southern town, and how his growing up has affected his adulthood. Bragg confesses his poverty stricken childhood in a respective, charismatic, way while including his outcomes and resolutions to his childhood now as an adult.

All Over but the Shoutin' contains many styles and techniques. Rick Bragg uses these techniques to keep the audience entertains, interested, and reading smoothly. The most important style he uses is appealing to all the senses. He describes objects, people, scenes, and places as if the reader were right there- very detailed. In this passage Rick Bragg subtlety appeals to every sense. "I already know a good bit about my history, stories that were seldom written down, only passed from one to another of us over cones of strawberry ice cream in the gravel parking lot of the tiny store owned by a one-legged man named Tillison. I heard them over the ring of the guitar strings on the front porch, over the endless beautiful hateful rows of cotton that I still dream about even today, even though the fields lie in trash and weeds. (Prologue xvi,xvii). Even in the prologue, Bragg illustrates the scene so vividly that the reader can taste and smell the strawberry ice cream, feel the gravel and cotton, see the one-legged man and the trash and weeds while hearing the guitar in the background.

Another techniques he uses is alliteration. All through the book he repeats consonant sounds that keeps the readers' attention. For example, on page 271 he repeats the "p" sound. "My neighborhood is a potluck supper of a place: white, black, straight, gay, rich, poor, peaceful, violent, nuts, punks, homeless, and some just a paycheck or two away from it.

All Over but the Shoutin' is an excellent portrayal of poverty stricken southern life in this time period. I enjoyed reading his memoir and could relate to many of his instances. I would recommend this novel to anyone living or from the south and/or is perusing a career in writing.

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Summary: Helps anyone who suffered as a child......
Review: Rick Bragg uses this book to narrate his life to the world. He writes this as a memoir, a dedication to his mother who gave everything to her children while she suffered or went without. Bragg's focus is on the family, how he came from one that wasn't as nice as some, and how his childhood impacted his adult life.
The very best part is the chapter entitled "Dreaming that a crooked man will straighten up and fly right". Here, Bragg speaks of his father, more or less dedicating the chapter to him and what he didn't do. By this I mean that Bragg changed the norm. We generally dedicate to positive people, but this chapter is all about the reality that his daddy could never really be all that good. He tells us how the other people in his life, uncles and his mother, took the role as his father and cared for him while his mother was out of the picture. He invites the reader into the his world so that we can see a single, poor mother trying to entertain her sons by carving squash for fun. We literally see Bragg's uncles throwing him into the air as they played, when he was a kid and share this fun love aura that comes out of all of the pain. Bragg uses a writing style that captures his audience. His humor flows through with funny family instances, such as him lying to his mother to protect her from knowing what kind of dangerous work he was really doing as a reporter. We have all lied to our parents at one point or another to protect them havent we?
This book is an autobiography that is told in such a way that people can relate to it personally. Bragg is open with his past, which is sometimes hard to do, especially when the past is not lined with golden roads.
Overall, this book is a "thumbs-up" from my own perspective. Bragg mentions things in this book that personally helped me come to terms with some things in my life and realize that I am not alone when it comes to family problems. One can appreciate a book like this because Bragg was not afraid to tell his audience to get their own opinion about the book. He states that it isn't really even important to anyone, but the hidden message is that it really IS!!

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Summary: Touches the heart and the funnybone!
Review: In this memoir Bragg seeks to honor his mother who made tremendous sacrifices to see to it that he and his two brothers got a "leg up" out of the cesspool of poverty where their troubled father left them. He also struggles to understand his hard-drinking father who grappled with his own personal demons after returning from the Korean War. The book contains many humorous and often touching scenes from his childhood and subsequent career as a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for the "New York Times."

Rick weaves an artistic tapestry with words. He employs humor, sarcasm, alliteration, cleverly worded chapters and paragraphs, among many other linguistic devices. The stories are poignant, illuminating and thoughtful. Chapter 9, "On the Wings of a Great-Speckled Bird" offers an interesting insight into southern religious culture without embracing or excoriating it.

This is such a well written and evocative book. Bragg entertains, informs, and amuses while at the same time drawing the reader into understanding a unique aspect of life in the south. He makes the reader admire those dear to him and feel his emotions.

In conclusion, this is a most compelling memoir. It is a reading experience that you'll want to re-sample from time to time with growing appreciation. Anyone from the south should enjoy his down home language, while those not so fortunate will enjoy his southern-fried perspective. Enjoy!

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Summary: Mother- a Dedication
Review: We all have things from our past that we would probably like to forget, skeletons in our closets that we pray would just go away, situations that have risen that we hope do not mark us. In All Over but the Shoutin', Rick Bragg introduces, deals with and overcomes such demons.
In honor of his mother, and other underlying reasons, this book is birthed and created with one purpose and one purpose alone-Bragg is not a betrayer of his people, his MOTHER.
His masterful talent and ability in taking hard, grit truth and composing it into beautifully written poetry is breathtaking. With every word Bragg reveals his heart and soul and genuine love and respect that he has for his dear mother.
All Over but the Shoutin' is a masterpiece, an emotional roller coaster ride of fear, anger, shame, guilt, innocense, and love.
This book is a definite thumbs up. This book is suitable and recommended for anyone that has ever had a mother or father.

- Renee' Whaley

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Summary: Rick Bragg is a poet...
Review: His book "All Over But the Shoutin'" is a riveting memoir written to immortalize his benevolent mother's sacrifices. He grew up in other people's houses, wearing shoes that were too small for him. His mother took in ironing & picked other people's cotton just so they could have school clothes & things to eat. He tells of his mind becoming unsheathed from the playful ignorance of childhood as his mother waits until after he & his brothers have eaten to scrape pots and pans to make her plate. she lies for his sake, says, "I'm not hungry." Rick Bragg has set his life's focus to taking care of his mother, making sure the worst part of her life has passed.
Reading this book, I reveled in the beautiful language. his words are like candy--smooth & fulfilling, indulgent. He gives words pigment. This book is a colorful, involving painting. His tone is, at times, serious and deep enough to stop all other thoughts and sound to enter into the readers mind. Yet, sometimes I was laughing out loud. fear & beauty weave through his words making the book truly sublime. The opening paragraph of the Prologue illustrates the artistry of language that is to come: "I used to stand amazed and watch the redbirds fight. They would flash and flutter like scraps of burning rags through a sky unbelievably blue, swirling, soaring, plummeting. On the ground they were a blur of feathers, stabbing for each other's eyes." The alliteration and imagery are vivid and not short of amazing.
The book is sharply focused around the authors deepest guilt & fears. It tightly dispels the two emotions when Rick Bragg finally unleashes all the ghosts from his past, all of them.
This is a great book for someone who enjoys language art, someone who loves words like a poet. The book is also great for those who appreciate a good emotional catharsis. I truly believe that Rick Bragg could write an engaging piece about the contents of a shampoo bottle.