Cold Sassy Tree
by Olive Ann Burns
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Read in June, 2008
I had the first sentence of this review written before I read this book. It was "life was pretty good in the south after the Civil War as long as you weren't black or poor." Quite frankly I was in no mood to appreciate cultural racism.
But then I started reading, and I was captivated. The humor of the story and the joy of life of the characters gave the book a clean feel of a simpler time - and the enjoying feel of a great, grand ole yarn. Yet at the same time, running like a deep a...more
But then I started reading, and I was captivated. The humor of the story and the joy of life of the characters gave the book a clean feel of a simpler time - and the enjoying feel of a great, grand ole yarn. Yet at the same time, running like a deep a...more
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Read in September, 2004
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Someone with time and a sense of humor
I usually don't love Southern fiction like this. Sometimes I get sick of having to read the dialect, or the vocab throws me for a loop, sometimes it can really weigh a reader down and usually it overloads me. This wasn't the case with <i>Cold Sassy<i/>. I really loved this book and I was surprised by it.
It was hilarious, and also made me sob, because of the poignant moments in life that it captures. Without being close to my generation or lifestyle at all I was still able to i...more
It was hilarious, and also made me sob, because of the poignant moments in life that it captures. Without being close to my generation or lifestyle at all I was still able to i...more
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Read in March, 2008
Maybe I should have given this more than three stars, because I truly enjoyed reading it and wanted to know what happened next to young Will, his cantakerous grandfather, and Love Simpson, the scandalous "Yankee" bride. It just seemed a trifle "Southern lit by the numbers" to me, with the town gossips and the coming of age and the quirky characters. A lot of the secondary characters are pretty stock, and I had a hard time with the super-thick dialect given to the black charac...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Kelsey by:
Keri Garciarecommends it for: EVERYONE
I read this one a few weeks ago and I loved the characters in this story because I could see a little bit of myself in each one of them. It is a simple story about a boy named Will Tweedy in a small Georgia town in the early 1900s whose Grandpa remarries the young and very attractive milliner only three weeks after losing his wife.
The plot was so easy going and I really felt like I was watching a movie. Burns did a great job with the southern accent - it must have taken her forever to ...more
The plot was so easy going and I really felt like I was watching a movie. Burns did a great job with the southern accent - it must have taken her forever to ...more
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Read in November, 2007
This is delightful reading. This books has vibrant, complex characters and a story that pulls you in. Burns also does a wonderful job creating an atmosphere -- her book really gives you the feel of what life was like in this small town. It's also laugh-out-loud funny in places, and quite poignant in others. It's a coming-of-age story for the young narrator, but there's a lot more to this book than that. I think they thing I liked the most about the book was the richness of the characters. It tak...more
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Read in July, 2008
Actually i would give this book 3 1/2 stars, but since i can't it shows 3. This book was really hard for me to get into, and although i liked it for the history and the perspective i learned by reading it the story was hard for me to sink into. I sometimes liked the story being told by a teenage boy and other times it was hard for me to relate. I often felt frustration because of the lack of communtication between family members. However, it did open my eye to how some families are especiall...more
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Read in November, 2007
I liked this book for a couple of reasons but first - I gave it only 4 stars because I had a hard time with the southern writing (trying to do the accent), it was a little distracting for me.
What I did like was some of the religious views taught - what might Jesus mean by 'ask and ye shall receive', the view of death and mourning. It made me look a little more at myself and see which character I fit - the gossips of the town, the drama queen mother, the one willing to press forward cheerful...more
What I did like was some of the religious views taught - what might Jesus mean by 'ask and ye shall receive', the view of death and mourning. It made me look a little more at myself and see which character I fit - the gossips of the town, the drama queen mother, the one willing to press forward cheerful...more
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Read in September, 2007
My favorite book of all time. It hits on all cylinders -- it's hilariously funny, it's poignant, it's sad, it's witty, it's a historical snapshot, it's quintessentially southern -- and perhaps those with a similar background will understand it best. Maybe you can hear your relatives saying similar things.
I read it in 9th grade b/c it was required reading, and I was never the same...I have read it multiple times. I "made" my husband read it when we were dating. The author and I wer...more
I read it in 9th grade b/c it was required reading, and I was never the same...I have read it multiple times. I "made" my husband read it when we were dating. The author and I wer...more
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Read in May, 2008
This was a pleasant enough read about a small town in Georgia in the year 1906. It tells about the adventures of Will Tweedy, a 15 year old boy who is the grandson of E. Rucker Blakeslee, the owner of town's general store and the town's leading citizen.
The story is interesting and provides some insight into the customs and mores of the South at the turn of the 20th century. I did not find the book to be "deep," there is little if any symbolism, and there is no real moral to the st...more
The story is interesting and provides some insight into the customs and mores of the South at the turn of the 20th century. I did not find the book to be "deep," there is little if any symbolism, and there is no real moral to the st...more
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I actually really liked this book, but I think I enjoyed the cultural and historical aspects of it more than the story, to be frank. Burns paints a wonderful picture of life in a small and changing southern town in the early 20th century. The depiction of the social tensions between the "lintheads" who work in the cotton mills and the rest of the town hit the nail on the head, in terms of the southern industrial mill era. We also see the coming of the automobile and the way that the...more
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Read in January, 2008
My only gripe about this was that it ended too soon. I needed at least another chapter to wind down or something. Aside from that, I really liked this book. My mom suggested it after I had read some southern fiction chick lit, but this really was nothing like that. It reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird or something. I was afraid I would have trouble with the souther dialect based on other reviews I read, but I didn't at all. That just flowed for me. I think I liked it because it was jus...more
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This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITES! It is written from the perspective of a young boy at the turn of the century. He lives in a small southern town and his grandmother has just died. Contrary to prescribed and accepted mourning practices, his grandfather quickly remarries a young, beautiful, and outgoing woman who works in his store. The town is in upheaval!!
This book explores the young boys perspective on his late grandmother, his relationship with his granfather and new STEP-grandma, an...more
This book explores the young boys perspective on his late grandmother, his relationship with his granfather and new STEP-grandma, an...more
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Read in June, 2008
At first I found the way all the dialogue was written out in the vernacular to be a little cliche and tiresome, but it grew on me and made me start talking really southern while I was reading it. The night I finished it I made a big pot of the best collard greens Ive ever had. I like it when books inspire other unrelated aspects of my life. The author, like the main character (a 14 year old boy) is a colorful storyteller and I enjoyed the book a lot and was nearly crying at the sad parts later o...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Paulette by:
My good friend, Kate.recommends it for: Women who grew up ina small town or wished they did.
Small town Southern living displayed with humor. Much to be learned about which values are worth preserving. The characters are true and fine. The dialogue is amusing. The author, who was a professional writer, decided to use vignettes from her hometown in Georgia to write a novel. This came about because she re-evaluated her life after being afflicted with a life-threatening illness. She writes this story fromthe viewpoint of a young boy. It is amazing how believable this voice is!
I lo...more
I lo...more
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I can't believe Janette only gave this book 3 stars! I love this book, it's so delightful, the characters are so human with their fears, and pettiness and prejudices and lusts. It had a lot of humor in it as well, like when the grandpa decided eloped with the millner (hat maker) 2 weeks after the grandma died, and his excuse was, "she's as dead as she's ever gonna be!" But we didn't doubt his devotion to the grandma, because he completely lined her grave with cut roses from her rose...more
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Read in January, 2005
This book takes place in the South during the 1940’s. The main character is a young boy who’s relationship with his grandfather and the family dynamic of his mother, father, aunts and uncles as well as the townspeople make up the characters. The young boys grandmother dies in the beginning and then the beloved grandfather begins a controversial relationship with another woman. This book was simple, an easy read and a delightful treat for my inner child. It touched on issues of racism an...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in May, 2008
I really enjoyed thinking about some of the themes in this book. There are so many subtle things that have changed in life over the past 100 years and the turn of the 20th century is captured beautifully in Cold Sassy Tree. The author uses a 14 year old narrator to tell the story, and although I liked the narrator and his voice, it was slightly annoying to me that he happened to be in the right place to eavesdrop on every pertinent conversation. If you can overlook this blatant literary devic...more
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Read in July, 2005
recommended to Angela by:
a friend in San Antonio
Rucker Blakeslee is one of the most delightful characters I've come across in a while. For a man who doesn't attend church, he sure does make good sense in his "sermons." This book is an entertaining look at Southern life in the early 1900s. The novel is so replete with Southern dialogue that I found myself "talkin' like a South'ner" in between my readings. I like how the story deals with characters who get a second chance at life and love. The narrator is 14-year-old Will Tw...more
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I have read and re-read this book and each time I find my self crying and laughing through out the reading. Olive Ann Burns described her characters in a way that makes them come alive. I I think the fact that her family history plays a part in the writing of this book makes this possible. I loved Will's grandfather and enjoyed his outlook on life and especially his take on death. Years after first reading this book I remember the statements that he makes to Will fondly. I have read it again...more
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.89 (3089 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.90 (2911 ratings) number of reviews: 453popular shelves
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quote
"Angels! Son, this here room's just full a-angels! Her voice sent another thrill up my spine. They got lacy wings, and they're all dressed up in quilted robes... The softest, prettiest colors, Will! Lordy, they keep a-comin'. They's flyin out'n the quilt chest! You cain't see'm? They come out, and then they float up and on off- clear the'w the ceilin! They's just beautiful son!"
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