AVA'S MAN

The author of ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN' returns to his family and his Southern roots in AVA'S MAN. Rick Bragg tells the story of his grandfather, Charlie Bundrum, a man he never knew. So he reconstructed him through the stories of those who knew him. He tells of Charlie's wanderlust, his moonshining, his craftsmanship as a carpenter, his life on the edge of abject poverty, yet a life so full of character that even decades after his death people spoke in reverent quiet tones about him. Bragg does his own reading and does it well. His Alabama accent is strong enough to flavor the work, but not so strong it makes it too spicy for Northern tastes. He's not afraid to show his feelings, and his reading will engage listeners at an emotional level. The writing is filled with colorful similes and metaphors. For instance, at one point he writes: "God don't tiptoe into a Congregational Holiness Church. He bangs down the door and joins right in." R.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2002 Audie Award Winner (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/ JAN 02]