Rating: 
Summary: it ain't over yet
Review: what is it about southerners that makes them better writers, more literate or picturesque or better at story telling and telling the truths that need to be told than northerners? rick bragg has those qualities and they make reading this book, and "ava's man", his paean to his grandfather, which i read first and heartily recommend, a true joy.rick bragg's book is a southern "angela's ashes" and vividly recounts his poverty of money but not of spirit and family. his command of the english language and ability to ascerbically and southernly observe and make his point with the "mo' juiced" is reminiscent of william styron, whose "nat turner" is one of the most beautiful and lyrical books ever written, and of the late lewis grizzard, atlanta constitution humorous essayist. rick bragg has their gifts and combines them in this book. if you read rick bragg's book you will get a picture of the south as it is now, and has been since about 1965, since they built the interstates and integrated the schools. this book tells the story of the new south, from the standpoint of one who was poor and white and shunted off to the side in northeastern alabama. rick bragg's south is not faulkner's misty rural south, with moss hanging from cypress trees, and indians and rich old gentry. it is not willie morris's south with a happy kid with a dog on an andy hardy street and a dad with a respectable job, and an upstairs bedroom and getting ready for college at ole miss. rick bragg's south is old cars, rented houses with no heat and outhouses and drunk missing dads and little brothers, big brothers working at the mill, and moms picking cotton and shooing off water moccasins and making do for the sake of the kids. it is alabama football and a junior college course in writing, stock cars, outdoor church suppers, moonshine, winn dixie, crispie creme and new style old time religion on tv. and rick bragg's south is, like the old south, still about the country and cooking and family and persevering and overcoming and believing you are good enough -- and knowing you are mean enough -- to make it even though everyone, except your momma, has been telling you that you cannot. rick bragg's south is a place with a chip on the shoulder against a northern yankee world that you know deep down still thinks you are illiterate jesus loving good old boys and hicks, but you know you may be some of that but you are a whole lot more, and they are not near what they try to make you think they are, but they pretty much run the show so what do you do. this is not a "we were so poor that..." type of book. it is a moral lesson, a cautionary tale about how rick bragg got out of that rural south and ended up in miami, haiti, harvard, nyc, oklahoma city and winning the pulitzer prize. the only criticism i have of this book is that, in the last part, rick bragg got away from the story about his momma, who is the centerpiece of this tale, and talked more about his career and hurricane andrew and the oklahoma city bombing, although he did tell about when his mom went to nyc to see him get the pulitzer. that was engaging but his point throughout the book was that no matter what all he did and where all he went, he still could go back home and feel like he belonged. rick bragg may have gotten out of the south, but it did not get out of him -- thank god.
Rating: 
Summary: Bragg guilty of "bait and switch"
Review: As a handful of other reviewers pointed out, the first half of this book is marked by exceptional writing and memorable characters. I loved the reminiscences of life in the South in the sixties because I also grew up there at that time - it all rang very true and very real. If only he had stayed in the South with his mama and not given over the second half to boring anecdotes about his adult self and his own professional life. I have to confess that I skimmed through this part, hardly believing that the author could have so deliberately alienated a previously interested and sympathetic reader. But he did - and to the point where I have not the least interest in reading the much-touted sequel. All of this points up a dismaying trend in contemporary literature toward unbelievably self-absorbed and self serving "memoirs" of folks who have judged their own worthiness as autobiographical material.
Rating:
Summary: My new "Favorite Book!"
Review: What a wonderful gift when someone suggested I read "All Over But the Shoutin'". When you're in the middle of something so wonderful-- there is nothing like realizing you are absolutely loving a book. What an honor and a privilege it was to "meet" Mr. Bragg's family, especially his mother. It is funny and touching and sad and then funny, again. It has a very intimate feel to it, as if he is telling you personally 'how it was' and what was and is important to him. I'm a few pages into Mr. Bragg's "Ava's Man", now, and saying, "Thank you, thank you." to the person who recommended Mr. Bragg's work. I'll definitely be reading "Someone Told Me", too. During his descriptions of the news stories he covered, you'll tell yourself, "I'd love to read how Bragg wrote about that in the actual article!" So I'm glad there's a book out that contains those reports! He is the sort of writer and thinker that makes a reader wonder how he would write about the most recent news stories happening around the world, now, too. I really recommend this marvelous, honest, heartbreaking, and book full of pride and love of where he came from. And who and what made him the man and writer he is today. "All Over But The Shoutin'" is just fantastic!
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!! A really great read
Review: I finally got around to listening to All Over But The Shoutin' by Rick Bragg on audio book and was glad that I did. This book has made it to the top of my best of... reading list. This is a wonderful autobiography that focuses on Pulitzer prize winning journalist, Rick Bragg's family. In particular, he talks about his momma who he deeply loves and admires. Without glossing over the poverty and sadness in his life he tells the story of how his momma held their family together. Rick has a warm intimate style of writing that makes you feel like his family lives next door.
Rating:
Summary: Can't put it down!
Review: I thought that this was a great book! It tells of REAL life during a specific time period. I was required to read this book for an Alabama History class. One can read about history all they want; however, until you read of real life experience, it is hard to appreciate what people during this time span went through. I found it impossible to put this book down. I originally only checked this book out from the library, upon completion I purchased it! You will love it! =)
Rating:
Summary: All Over but the Shoutin'
Review: Rick Bragg has to be one of the best of our contemporary writers. The way he puts words together to form a picture is stunning -- the best I've seen in years. I re-read passages just for the magic of his words.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: A wonderful touching story. I can't say anything bad about All Over But the Shouting. It's an enlightened look at a childhood full of poverty, a disfuntional family, the rural south, and the absolute triuph of the spirit. A great story that will improve your faith in humankind.
Rating:
Summary: All Over But The Shoutin
Review: I am from the South and I can relate with this author. He trully understands how the South was and to some extent still is. His choice of words to describe life in the South are perfect. I would recommend this book as a find addition to anyones library.
Rating:
Summary: This Dog DOES Hunt....!!!!.
Review: "That Dog Don't Hunt" is an expression out of Bragg's dirt poor rural South, which means something "will not work" or does not "ring true". This book is one of the most heartfelt and truthful I've ever read. Being an English major, and former teacher of English, I've read a few. Bragg does "show it" instead of "tell it" and he does it in vivid Cinemax. Born and raised in the rural South myself, I can relate to all of his colorful stories. I particularly like the parts where he does not totally discount his Father, and my favorite expression from the book is,"Every life deserves dignity; no matter how fragile or damaged the shell"....how true.
Rating: 
Summary: A rich life
Review: What Rick Bragg and his family lacked in money they more than made up for in love and experience. Bragg's memior, All Over But the Shoutin' chronicles the Pulitzer Prize winning reporter's ascent from poverty in rural Alabama to the offices of the New York Times and the pinnacle of a journalist's career. Forever cognizant of class and treatment, Bragg never loses his heritage when rubbing elbows of the Ivy League elite and it actually aids him as a reporter known for covering the stories of the disenfranchised. I am confident that his upbringing, with an alcoholic sometimes-father, but a strong loving mother, in the poorest of poorest towns created the Rick Bragg of today. Perhaps he would have made the same mark on society under different circumstances - but would he have hungered for it and done everything he could to make up for the lack of money, education and sophistication so many others in his field demanded? A sad and inspiring story it is. Rick, you done your momma proud.
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