The Prince of Frogtown

I love Rick Bragg

This one is good too. Charles Bragg is hard to be sympathetic with. But I love the way Rick Bragg writes. I would read anything he publishes. He's great.

Loved it!

I really, really enjoyed The Prince of Frogtown. In fact, I have loved every Rick Bragg book I've read: All Over But The Shoutin', Ava's Man, & this one. I also love the column he writes every month in Southern Living magazine. He just seems to write so honestly & naturally. I give him credit for trying to present his father in a fair way. That had to have been hard, considering the kind of father Charles Bragg was. Really, though, looking at both sides of Rick's family--it's amazing he turned out as he did! From his family history, you'd have thought he didn't stand a chance. Obviously, Rick's mother deserves a tremendous amount of credit--she just never gave up trying to raise her boys well, despite all the difficulties her husband caused. I'm not convinced however, that Charles' experience in Korea was such a big reason for his problems. Read the book, & decide for yourself!

You must read this touching, funny memoir!!

Pulitzer prize winner Rick Bragg has magnificently written a truly remarkable memoir.touching, engaging, funny and filled with emotion. Preceded by companion Bragg family memoirs, All Over But the Shoutin' and Ava's Man, this poignant book focuses on the author's father. Charles Bragg grew up in the working class Frogtown neighborhood of mill town Jacksonville, Alabama, and his life was marked by alcoholism, poverty and violence. Following his Korean War service, he deteriorated into an abusive, raging alcoholic who eventually left his family when his sons were young. When author, Rick Bragg, marries late in life, he finds himself helping to raise his youngest step-son, a 10 year-old he simply calls "the boy". Polar opposites in terms of personality and upbringing, he struggles to understand this gentle child. Trying to discern how to be a father, the author reexamines the man his father was through interviews with relatives and friends, and reflects on what he has learned. Chapters alternate between Charles Bragg's life and the author's heartwarming, developing relationship with the boy. Rick Bragg is an exceptionally gifted storyteller who tells his story with beautifully crafted sentences that utterly captivated me. He describes in vivid detail the story of the region.the harsh life of those living in the mill villages and the history of the unfortunate mill people in general. I found myself intrigued by the contrast of the father he had with the step-father he was becoming. This book taught me a lot about relationships.between family members, boyhood friends, neighbors and other relatives. I absolutely loved this hilarious, compelling and insightful memoir and I highly recommend it!

Completely Absorbing Read!

As a big fan of Rick Bragg's previous books, I was very anxious to read Prince of Frogtown, and I was totally captivated by his moving story. As with "All Over but the Shouting" and "Ava's Man", I found myself weeping in places in the book. Those of us who grew up poor in the South during this same time can especially relate to Rick's writing. I read the entire book in just two evenings, and was left wanting to know more about the younger brother. Hopefully this isn't the last of Bragg's family stories. This is a must-read for anyone, but much better enjoyed after reading the previous two books about his Mother and Grandfather.

Keep your pages coming, please!

His works are so alive and come from the pages as true people living , loving and will be with me for a long time, until his next book arrives for me to live with them too.Thank you Rick Bragg for the insight into your family.

Another great book

Another great book from Rick Bragg. His descriptions make me feel like I am really there. I laughed and I cried. He has a way with words that left me in awe. This will definitely go on my all-time favorites list, along with All Over But the Shoutin' and Ava's Man.

A reviewer

I think Rick Bragg tells his family story so well I feel I know the whole family. He is a master of language and my family has read each of his books several times. I had the chance to visit 'Frogtown' in the beautiful city of Jacksonville, AL. I would recommend the book and visit to the area of his roots to anyone. My family and I are big fans of Rick Bragg!

no appeal

This book is nowhere near the quality of his other two books about his family. Very disappointing. Would recommend checking it out from the library instead of purchasing it. Ava's Man is one of the best books I have ever read-this book is not even worth re-reading. Has no appeal, nothing interesting happens. Boring.

A Great Tale of Less Than Perfect People

I enjoyed Rick Bragg's first two books covering his disfunctional family life and this is equally enjoyable. It's always good to take a look at those not so perfect people in the world. Those who do the best they can even when that really isn't enough. Well written and enjoyable.

Not Bragg's Best Read

This book doesn't have the same appeal or 'heart' as Bragg's other books. I would have rather read a book about 'Hootie' or his brother Sam. Sorry, but this one will not be a re-read for me.

A reviewer

I can't wait for this book to come out. Mr. Bragg is my favorite author and he writes great personal story books. He makes the characters so real and genuine. I have never be able to meet him but have talked to him on the phone and he is a very nice gentlemen. He writes a lot about his own family and his childhood. His mother sounds like a wonderful lady and she did a very good job raising Rick.

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