In 'All Over but the Shoutin'' by Rick Bragg, the author embarks on a poignant journey through his impoverished Southern childhood, filled with vivid memories and haunting truths. Bragg's lyrical prose brings to life the struggles and resilience of his family, particularly the fierce love of his mother. With a mix of humor and heartbreak, the narrative explores themes of poverty, loss, and redemption in the face of hardship. As Bragg confronts his past, he delves into the complexities of identity and belonging, ultimately weaving a tale that resonates universally. This deeply personal memoir invites readers to reflect on their own roots and the indelible mark they leave behind.
By Rick Bragg
Published: 1998
"'You can’t get a drink of water out of a dry well.'"
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the Pulitzer Prize–winner and bestselling author, "a grand memoir.... Bragg tells about the South with such power and bone-naked love ... he will make you cry" (Atlanta Journal-Constitution). This haunting, harrowing, gloriously moving recollection of a life on the American margin is the story of Rick Bragg, who grew up dirt-poor in northeastern Alabama, seemingly destined for either the cotton mills or the penitentiary, and instead became a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for The New York Times. It is also the story of Bragg's father, a hard-drinking man with a murderous temper and the habit of running out on the people who needed him most. But at the center of this soaring memoir is Bragg's mother, who went eighteen years without a new dress so that her sons could have school clothes and picked other people's cotton so that her children wouldn't have to live on welfare alone. Evoking these lives—and the country that shaped and nourished them—with artistry, honesty, and compassion, Rick Bragg brings home the love and suffering that lie at the heart of every family. The result is unforgettable.
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“'You can’t get a drink of water out of a dry well.'”
All Over but the Shoutin'
By Rick Bragg
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Rick Bragg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist, renowned for his vivid storytelling and rich, lyrical prose. His notable works include 'All Over but the Shoutin'', 'The Prince of Frogtown', and 'Ava's Man', which showcase his Southern roots and explore themes of family, resilience, and the human experience. Bragg's writing is characterized by its deep emotional resonance and an evocative sense of place, often drawing on his own upbringing in Alabama to craft compelling narratives that speak to broader truths.
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