Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
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Book Reviews of Cold Sassy Tree
Book Review: Wonderful depiction of a small southern town in the early 1900's
Summary: 4 Stars
According to the flyleaf, this book was written while the author was recovering from cancer. Olive Ann Burns based the book on stories she heard from her parents and other relatives and she recreated the small Georgia town where she grew up, dubbing it Cold Sassy after the local sassafras trees. Her main character is Will Tweedy, a typical 14-year-old boy who has the usual and sometimes unusual adventures of a boy living in Georgia at the turn of the century. Will overhears a lot of conversations about his grandfather who has the audacity to remarry a mere 3 weeks after his first wife dies. This is a delightful book about a bygone era when many people lived near their relatives in a rural setting and everybody knew everyone else's business.
Book Review: Perspectives on death
Summary: 4 Stars
I recently read this book for our monthly book club. It tells the story of Cold Sassy Tree through the eyes of a young boy. What our book club felt was most interesting was the way the theme of death was the main thread throughout the story. It is one of those rare, but delightful books which keeps you thinking, long after you have read the last page.
Even if death is the theme, the book is amusing and not depressing. The characters are life-like and very real. I recommend this book to any one who enjoys the abstract, as well as the obvious.
Book Review: Nice Story
Summary: 4 Stars
The author did a good job with this true story about her father and his grandfather, adding just enough fiction to keep it interesting while giving the reader a very colorful picture of our American past in Georgia.Book Review: Great book
Summary: 4 Stars
Am enjoying this book and the cultural visit to the deep south in the mid-1900's. Will provide some grist for comments and comparisons at the monthly book club.
Book Review: Cold Sassy Tree--Soulfully Southern
Summary: 3 Stars
Title: Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
Pages: 391
Time spent on the "To Read" shelf: 5 months. Not too bad.
Days spent reading it: 15 days.
Why I read it: This book was lent to me from a family member, and I figured I'd actually read it.
Brief Review: Boy Howdy! 'Hit sure were somet'in to read 'dis here book! Haw!
Set in Northeast Georgia around the turn of the 19th century, Cold Sassy Tree follows the exploits of Will Tweedy during a unique year of his life. The book starts with his grandma dying, and his grandpa marrying 3 weeks after the funeral--to the great scandal of the family and town. Will is a detailed observer of this quirky town. He reflects the thoughts of a southern town where everyone knows everyone else's business.
I am conflicted in my appreciation of this book. One the one hand it was difficult to read the dialect, and the truth is a small town is sometimes boring. On the other hand, the character of Will Tweedy makes this tedious lifestyle exciting. Olivia Ann Burns created a great character in Will, who is able to make trouble and to explain the scandals of the town. He lets loose rats at a Christmas play, he spies on his family, he nearly gets killed by a train while walking across train trestles. I enjoyed this book, but also found it laborious at times.
What kept me going was my connection to the geographic location--the town of Cold Sassy is modeled after Commerce, Georgia--which was about 30 minutes from where I went to college for four years. I knew all the sights and towns mentioned in the book. I think readers who enjoy southern small-town life would enjoy this book. It is full of quirky characters, gossip centered events, and a lot of soul.
Favorite quote from the book: The fights were embarrassing to the family but real entertaining to the Baptists, for he would stand up at the next Wednesday night prayer meeting, in the testimonial and confessing part, and tell the Lord all about it. One Wednesday night he ended a long prayer with "Lord, forgive me for fittin' thet man yesterd'y--though Thou knowest if i had it to do over agin I'd hit him harder."
Stars: 3 out of 5.
The Final Word: Soulfully-southern.