Rick Bragg’s daunting challenge in his newest book, Ava’s Man, is to create a personal revelation of a grandfather he never met. Bragg, the consummate storyteller, begins this one with an astonishing prologue. It leaves the reader eager to know more about his beloved mother’s late father.
Fans will remember that his first book, the best-selling All Over but the Shoutin’, was a tribute to her. It also went a long way toward establishing the Calhoun County native as a leader in the popular and growing genre of memoir.
Bragg’s reasons for this latest tribute to his family are worthy of applause. The prologue’s poetic title, “On a bluebird day,” elevates the Southerner’s dialogue and its characters to art form.
Many area residents will appreciate the compliment Bragg has paid to those of a similar ancestry. He focuses on the universal truths and values of the generations from the 1920s through the late 1950s without ignoring their flaws.
Ava’s Man begins with the story of his grandmother, Ava, who had long hair as “black as crows,” who “dog-cussed,” dipped snuff and possessed an amazing spirit. Equal to this woman was her husband, Charlie Bundrum who, Bragg says, “was probably the only man on earth who could love that woman and not perish in the flame.”
As Bragg thought about the possibility of discovering more about such a man after hearing bits of stories throughout his life, he felt his grandfather might be “worthy of a book.”
He became more acquainted with him through family interviews, stories, a few old photographs,
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Sherry Kughn is executive secretary for The Star and is co-director of the Accent on the Author luncheon series at The Anniston Calhoun County Public Library.
