Title: All Over but the Shoutin’
Year: 1997
Plot: The extraordinary gifts for evocation and insight and the stunning talent for storytelling that earned Rick Bragg a Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1996 are here brought to bear on the wrenching story of his own family’s life. It is the story of a violent, war-haunted, alcoholic father and a strong-willed, loving mother who struggled to protect her three sons from the effects of poverty and ignorance that had tainted her own life. It is the story of the life Bragg was able to carve out for himself on the strength of his mother’s encouragement and belief.
We had a mixed bag of reactions from the readers for this one. Some really enjoyed it, some didn’t like it, and some were square in the middle. One reader commented that they imagined Rick Bragg as an Eeyore-type character, with a slow and friendly drawer–kind of ho-hum about things. Another reader really found Bragg funny. A few of the readers admitted they knew very little regarding the Deep South, and they view this book as a valuable way to get a peek into that world. One thing they agreed on, however, is that Rick Bragg was all over the place, for better or for worse. He would be talking about one thing, jump ahead in time to another, and then jump somewhere else. He was all over the place, according to our group.
Overall, they sincerely appreciate the learning experience that it was. One reader said she had no idea that white people picked cotton. That’s just not something she was ever taught or ever saw. Speaking of his mother, everyone was moved by what a beautiful tribute this book is to his mother. Bragg was quick to point out that if his mom wants to take blame for any unfortunate events in his life, then she needs to take credit all of the positive as well.
Rick takes the reader through his time in Florida, Haiti, New York, and his hometown. The readers, whether they loved the book or not, sincerely appreciated what they learned, and how Rick could write a book that balances itself between sadness and humor. One moment they wanted to cry, and the next they were laughing. One quote that stuck out is on page xxi: “…of all the lessons my mother tried to teach me, the most important was that every life deserves a certain amount of dignity, no matter how poor or damaged the shell that carries it.” This really resonated with them, considering their circumstances. Society and others tell them their worth, but it’s good for them to be reminded they are of worth. The biggest takeaway from the quote is to treat everyone with some dignity and respect. Another quote they liked was on page 147: “You do not hate the time you waste; it evokes a much more passive emotion than that. You wish you had it back, like a quarter in an unlucky slot machine.” Again, considering the environment of the readers, they are motivated to not waste their time! And the fact that they’re involved in some educational programs is a testament to that.
Join us next week as we read Educated.
Feel free to leave comments below. We’d love to hear what you think.
Until next time,
E.
If you’d like to purchase All Over but the Shoutin‘, you may do so here:
