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| Plot Summary of All Over but the Shoutin' |
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"The autobiography of Bragg's upbringing in the poor and rural south of the 1960's is moving, tragic, and uniquely American. His story pays homage to the selfless efforts of his mother to raise her three young sons without the assistance of their heavy drinking and abusive Korean War vet father. Growing up not realizing the sacrifices she has made for them, Bragg feels indebted to his mother for all she as done without in her life. He pushes himself to become a better son and writer, starting out as a sports reporter for a local daily newspaper in Alabama, working his way up to the NY Times, a prestigious fellowship to Harvard, and a Pulitzer Prize for journalism.
Bragg delves into the difficult relationship with his estranged father and later his younger brother, whose behavior as an adult mirrors that of their dad. He is forthright in assessing his own shortcomings and personality quirks. Braggs also talks about how the unsettling and horrific stories he writes for the Times haunt him months after his reporting trips are over and the events have faded from the nation's consciousness. Despite all his personal and professional accomplishments, he is proudest of having saved enough money to buy his mother a home of her own in her hometown in Alabama. Bragg's lifestory which reads like a work of fiction is compelling and ultimately uplifting."
David Fletcher, Resident Scholar
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"Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Rick Bragg grew up in grinding poverty in northeastern Alabama. This is the story of how he got from there to his success as a writer. However, it is more a tribute to the woman who got him there, his mother. Abandoned by a violent alcoholic husband, she was left to raise three boys on her own. She picked cotton and often went hungry to see that they were fed. Bragg intersperses the story of his own development with his mother's own story. Ultimately, he measures his own success by being able finally to provide for her."
Tara D-S, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of All Over but the Shoutin' |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession:
- journalist/editor
Gender/Class story?
- story of lower class
Job/profession/poverty story
Yes
Kind of living:
- general poverty story
Ethnic/regional/gender
Yes
Period of greatest activity?
- 1950+
Big/small town?
- small town
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- journalist
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity
- White
Nationality
- American (!)
How sensitive is this person?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other people
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 7 ()
United States
Yes
The US:
- Deep South
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- moving train
Century:
- 1980's-Present
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel?
- thoughtful
Is book humorous?
Yes
If humorous, kind of humor
- gentle
Commentary on society?
Yes
Commentary on
- love/sex
- decency
- dying
- religion
Writer's slant towards subject:
- neutral
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of nearly entire life
Is this a biography of several people?
Yes
If this is a kid's book:
- Age 16-Adult
Autobiography?
Yes
A LOT of info about personal vices?
Yes
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 0-25% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story?
- 0-25% of book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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