Cold Sassy Tree

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Summary: The Roots of Cold Sassy
Review: The novel Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns depicts a very realistic image of old, country life in a small town during the1900s.The characters in the novel invest many lively emotions into the story. For example, Rucker Blakeslee and Miss Love Simpson bring much controversy and excitement to the story. The entire plot is mainly based around them. Their decision to get married despite the judgements and gossip of the nosy inhabitants of Cold Sassy, Georgia, foreshadows change that is yet to come to the tired town of Cold Sassy. For example, Rucker finally decideds to mondernize his home, Mr. Tweedy buys a car, and all of the people in the community begin to change their attitudes towards life. Mary Willis and Aunt Loma, the daughters of Rucker Blakeslee, give much drama to the plot. Their emotions and feelings of hatred towards Rucker and Miss Love's marriage symbolize many of Cold Sassy's "old timey" ways. The characters in the novel were believable, interesting, and overall, realistic.
The storyline in the book was readable, and at times exciting. The marriage of Miss Love and Rucker opens up many good and bad emotions from all of the characters in the book. The suicide of Uncle Camp adds drama and sorrow. The purchasing of cars by Mr. Tweedy and Mr. Blakeslee brings change into the novel. New thoughts and feelings emerge on every page, and the reader never knows what might happen next. The author does a fantastic job in organizing the plot. She begins the book by expressing anger and sorrow through the characters, and ends the story with much change and hope. At the end of the novel, the reader is sad due to Rucker Blakesle's death but is still hoping that the families' bonds will continue to grow stronger. The plot of the book is so enthralling that the reader cannot put it down.
The novel's narrator is Will Tweedy, only fourteen years of age. Throughout the book, Will matures rapidly. He is deeply involved with all the drama of the story, beginning with the marriage of Rucker and Miss Love to the death of his beloved grandfather. He also tends to be right in the middle of the problems that occur. During the marriage of his grandfather, Miss Love confides in him, and he learns many new ideas and situations that might be too hard for someone of his age to understand. Burns made an excellent choice by choosing him as the narrator of the story. Because the readers of this novel are mostly in the age range of twelve to sixteen, they can truly relate to Will Tweedy's point of view. Will also gives the novel a sense of immaturity, being that, like Will, the town of Cold Sassy, Georgia is just now experiencing new changes.
The novel Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns strongly deserves to be preserved over time. It certainly entertains and enlightens readers by taking them back to a time in history much different than today. People will definitely be enjoying this book for years to come.

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Summary: Cold Sassy Tree Review
Review: Cold Sassy Tree Review

Cold Sassy Tree is a well written piece of literature that Olive Ann Burns wrote. Her characters all well described by the main character, Will Tweedy. Will was a fourteen year old boy who was not mature at all. At the end of every chapter, Burns leaves you hanging and you want to keep reading. Will Tweedy was an excellent choice for the point of view. You see the small town, Cold Sassy, Georgia, in a teenage boy's eye who craves for adventure. However, the story and descriptions of people would be told differently if someone else told the story. For example, in Will's eye, Rucker Blakeslee, Will's grandfather, was a very kind, generous man but in the eyes of another he would be a horrible old man that married a young girl that was young enough to be his daughter. Will tells the story in a way his grandfather does not look bad, but if you read the book, Rucker is not as great as Will sees him as. Burns wrote the book in the "Southern language." It is hard at times to figure out what the character is trying to say, but, the book would not be the same is Burns did not use the type of language that she used. Cold Sassy Tree really makes you think about the time period then, 1900s, and the time period now. I recommend this book to anyone above thirteen and anyone who has lost somebody close to them.

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Summary: Unforgettable
Review: My mother had been after me for 10 years to read this book and I kept putting it off because from the cover it looked 'boring' and the title 'strange'. I recently relented and was so richly rewarded (and felt rather silly for my literally judging this book by its cover). This is one story that will always stick with me. Burns' characters (except for Will's parents, his mother in particular) were so gorgeously brought to life, her landscape of Cold Sassy so vivid, that I never wanted it to end. I so wish that Ms. Burns had been able to publish more. A true literary gem.

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Summary: Boy howdy, I loved it
Review: Who can fail to love this wonderful novel, full of warmth, humor, and honesty, of life in a small, turn-of-the-century Georgia town. Told by Will Tweedy, a 14yo child whose Grandpa Rucker forms the spine of the novel. The story begins with the death of Grandpa Rucker's wife, a saintly woman beloved by all, and there's a lovely scene of Grandpa asking his grandson to cut all the roses from the garden and help him stick them into burlap sacking to make a blanket of roses under which to bury his wife.
After that touching scene, readers - not to mention family members and townsfolk and church people - are shocked to find Grandpa marrying Miss Love, the town's young and beautiful milliner less than a month later. And it's suspected that Miss Love has A Past.
A beautiful coming-of-age story unfolds as Will becomes the confidante of Miss Love and his grandfather, and he learns life-changing lessons about love, life, death, and the meaning of true reverence, and the smallness of some minds.
Wonderful, memorable characters, wonderful life lessons, wonderful set pieces. And absolutely top-notch dialogue.

Rating:
Summary: Cold Sassy Tree Review
Review: Cold Sassy Tree Review

Cold Sassy Tree is a well written piece of literature that Olive Ann Burns wrote. Her characters all well described by the main character, Will Tweedy. Will was a fourteen year old boy who was not mature at all. At the end of every chapter, Burns leaves you hanging and you want to keep reading. Will Tweedy was an excellent choice for the point of view. You see the small town, Cold Sassy, Georgia, in a teenage boy's eye who craves for adventure. However, the story and descriptions of people would be told differently if someone else told the story. For example, in Will's eye, Rucker Blakeslee, Will's grandfather, was a very kind, generous man but in the eyes of another he would be a horrible old man that married a young girl that was young enough to be his daughter. Will tells the story in a way his grandfather does not look bad, but if you read the book, Rucker is not as great as Will sees him as. Burns wrote the book in the "Southern language." It is hard at times to figure out what the character is trying to say, but, the book would not be the same is Burns did not use the type of language that she used. Cold Sassy Tree really makes you think about the time period then, 1900s, and the time period now. I recommend this book to anyone above thirteen and anyone who has lost somebody close to them.

Rating:
Summary: Unimaginative
Review: As a lover of books, I began reading this book with great expectations. However, I found the story noncompelling, the writing unimaginative, and the characters uninteresting. I must confess I do not understand the nationwide obsession. I have read far better glimpses into small-town Southern life.

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Summary: Warm sassy surprise....
Review: I had been on a terrible dry spell for about a year in my book choices. Everything I opened was crap. This book was recommended to me by a family memeber. Considering the luck I was having, I didn't have any real high expectations. So, what a pleasant surprise when it turned out I LOVED this story!

This is a story about a 14 year-old boy living in small-town south at the turn of the century. Though I know she wasn't old enough, I'd swear Burns lived this story; she was that descriptive. I really got the feel of the small town southern town and living. The boy had very strict, deeply religious, well-intentioned parents. The boy got plenty of comic relief from other family members, friends,busy-body neighbors, and most of all, a goofy Grandfather.

Grandpa gets married three weeks after Grandma dies to a young "northerner," and becomes the scandle of the town. You think the motives for this whirlwind marriage are clear until the very end, and it's a fun journey getting there. I even had a tough time trying to decide if I liked this couple all of the way through this story, which made it a page turner for me.

The family interactions are a little over the top. I wondered more than once who really talked this way? And there were a couple of narratives by the boy done while he was spying on Grandpa and his wife that I thought were down-right creepy.

But all-and-all, it was an enjoyable, fun read. And possibly the best part of all of this is, my dry spell is over. Along with this one, I've been reading some darn good books lately!

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Summary: A Cold Sassy Read
Review: borrowed Cold Sassy Tree from my mother-in-law. The title just caught my attention, and has been doing so every time I see or hear it for a couple of years now. So, when I realized she owned it, I decided to break down and read it.

I am very glad I did. It was wonderful. Superb. Brilliant.

Cold Sassy Tree took me back in time to a place oddly familiar. Cold Sassy could really have been my own back yard in my hometown (Eastern KY). The people all brought real people to mind, and the atmosphere of the novel kept me flipping pages, praying for more. They even tempted me to try apple pie with cheese (though I haven't given into that temptation yet). Mostly, the book made me think of my grandparents. I wish they had kept journals how the narrator in this book did.

It was a fabulous read, and I have no complaints whatsoever.

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Summary: As southern as fried chicken...
Review: Cold Sassy Tree is centered around a boy named Will and his family. It begins with Will's grandpa (Enoch Rucker Blakeslee)saying to his family that he proposed to the milliner of his store, Miss Love Simpson. Even though the family thinks that it will be a long engagement since Rucker's wife died three weeks ago, he elopes and the entire town is scandalized.

This is a wonderful book- something happens on every single page. All of the characters seem real, and they're guaranteed to make you laugh. Read this- trust me- you'll love it!

Rating:
Summary: Review of Cold Sassy Tree
Review: Cold Sassy Tree is rich with emotion, humor, and tenderness. Olive Ann Burns creates a well written script for the characters to follow. I thought Burns did a great job throughout the whole novel with Will Tweedy. As a teenager myself, I could relate to him. Will is a fourteen year old teenager growing up in a small town. Burns doesn't portray Tweedy as a sophisticated adult, but not terribly immature either. He has his problems throughout the novel and he likes to bend the rules a little bit. On a day that Will is suppose to be mourning for his grandmother, he sneaks off to go fishing. He nearly gets killed by an oncoming train, but safely survives by leaping between the tracks. Will arrives back at the house with everyone in Cold Sassy there to greet him. He becomes somewhat of a celebrity.
Burns also does a good job enacting Rucker Blakeslee. She presents him as a grandfather and the owner of a general store in Cold Sassy. He is a free spirited southerner who loathes the gossip. He acts according to his own ways instead of the towns. He announces his intentions to marry Miss Love after his prior wife has only been dead three weeks.
The book revolves around the marriage between Rucker Blakeslee, and Miss Love Simpson. Will learns this marriage is one of convenience. Miss Love tells Will she married Rucker to obtain the deed to his house. Rucker is much older than Miss Love and his daughters are a little nervous to hear what the town gossips are going to think about this marriage. A turning point in their marriage is when Rucker takes Miss Love on a trip to New York. When they arrive back in Cold Sassy, Rucker has developed a greater love for Miss Love than before. He asks her for a real marriage, but she has something to confess. She tells him that her father raped her when she was a child and fears no man would want her. Eventually, the two fall deeply in love.
At this point, the mood of Cold Sassy Tree begins to darken. Will's uncle, Camp, commits suicide Rucker desperately needs someone to replace Camp's job at the store. He asks Will's enemy, Hosie Roach. Shortly after Hosie begins to work at the store, he marries Will's long lost love, Lightfoot McLendon. There is much turmoil. Another dark moment is when the store is robbed and Rucker is beat up. He survives but later catches pneumonia. He dies shortly after he becomes ill.
Cold Sassy Tree was written in the first person point of view. This was a good choice by Burns because it gives the book a better feel. The reader can imagine being right there in Cold Sassy. Burns also does an excellent job writing the language throughout the book. She provides a clear feeling of understanding in the novel. She uses apostrophes such as "I don't know'm" and "I s'pose." You can just hear them talking. I think Cold Sassy Tree is a good piece of literature. The dialect and the way the book is presented, really sets the tone and enables the reader to think and draw a mental picture of the novel.