This coming-of-age novel, set in 1906 in a small southern town, is as real as life. At times sad and often funny, it's sweet and sentimental without being syrupy.

The story is told by Will Tweedy, who was 14 the year his grandmother died and Grandpa eloped only three weeks later with a pretty young thing half his age. The whole town is scandalized by the sudden marriage and Will's aunt and mother, Grandpa's daughters, are hurt and mortified. Making matters even worse, the bride is a Yankee, and the Civil War, which robbed Grandpa of his arm, is still a current event to many Southerners. The bride stands strong against the scorn and gossip -- in public at least. As Will helps the new bride with household chores, a friendship develops between the two, and as he drives the newly weds around the countryside, he develops an understanding of their true relationship. Will matured that year as he absorbed Grandpa's philosophy on how to treat others and his unorthodox views on religion, and learned about love and death and living life to its fullest.

I listened to the audio version of this book and I can't say enough good things about the reader, Tom Parker. His narration is as wonderful as the story itself. I'm not a huge fan of audio books, but in this case I don't see how I could possibly enjoy reading the printed book as much as I enjoyed listening to Parker read it to me. ( )

Will Tweedy was 14 years old and living in Cold Sassy, Georgia, in the summer of 1906 when his grandpa came home one day to announce he was marrying a woman half his age, not three weeks after the death of his first wife, Will's grandmother. The town, of course, is scandalized, and continues to be so as the story wears on. This is more of a "slice of life" depiction than much of a story - the author starts with a setting (the town of Cold Sassy) and a premise (Grandpa's new bride), and meanders through clever little anecdotes and asides for a while until the author decides it's time to end the story and starts killing off characters. This is not a bad story, just a fairly standard one. I don't have very strong feelings about it either way. The constant backcountry dialect got kind of old, but I feel that way about all books narrated in dialect so that's not exactly serious criticism. On the other hand, I could hear all the characters in my head with no problem. In the end, if you like this era of historical fiction, you'll enjoy the feeling of living in Cold Sassy; if you prefer more plot-driven stories where everything happens for a reason, you might want to skip this one. ( )

an excellent story appealling to any age group ( )

One of my favorite books. Try to find the old cassette recording by "John Boy" Richard Thomas... the perfect voice for Will Tweedy. ( )

Enjoyable from what I remember from my freshman year of high school. ( )

This was book drew probably the biggest group we ever had. Several people came because this was their favorite book. We never saw many of them again!

Good discussion.

Good southern literature. ( )

This is a beautifully written book. The story is moving and sensitive. The characters are well-developed and you care about them. The plot is interesting and the pace is quick without being rushed. This book is well-worth your time. ( )

The writing style is reminiscent of "To Kill a
Mockingbird" and it is a sheer delight to read. Yes, it is written in
dialect, exactly the way people talked in that place and time, but it was
familiar to my tongue and ear and I really enjoyed it. It was almost like
listening to my grandmother speak again. I'm really glad I stumbled across
it at booksfree because I had all but forgotten about it and it was more
than worth a re-visit. It gets a full five stars because it's a good'n. ( )

It took me a while to finally get around to this. I bought it at a library book sale after a complete stranger pointed it out and recommended it to me.

The narrator, Will Tweedy, is 8 kinds of adorable. He somehow keeps the story light-hearted and fun even though there are several deaths throughout the story. The grandfather is also quite awesome, as is Miss Love. In fact, the little town itself seems to be a character in its own right, which is good since the novel is named after it.

Books like this have made me more and more fond of first-person point-of-view. When it's done only so-so, to me it is worse even than a so-so third-person p.o.v. book; but when 1st person is done well, such as in this book, it can pull you into a character and story more than its 3rd-person counterpart. That, at least, has been my experience.

If you like stories of Southern charm, small-town quirks, and pre-WW1 life, you'll probably enjoy this book. ( )

absolutely love this book. One of my top 10. ( )

This book infuriated me at times. I felt bad for Miss Love, wanted to slap Rucker's daughters, and even though I usually hate family drama novels, read this front to back. Somehow the frustration of the characters made me feel better about my life. It's a good southern novel that addresses all kinds of things, my favorite being the social taboos of marrying a younger woman so soon after your wife dies. ( )

One of the few books that I have read twice. Get ready to cry. 15 year old boy tells about his grandpa's life with his second wife. It is excellent. ( )

3014 Cold Sassy Tree, by Olive Ann Burns (read 22 Sep 1997) This is the story of a 14-year -old boy in Sassy Tree, Georgia, in 1906 who is a cross between Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield. It uses Southern pronunciation spelling but this was not annoying and I found the story quite compelling--especially the events of July 5, 1906, when Will Tweedy was on a railroad trestle and was almost killed. I found this an engaging read, though some of the moralizing was shallow. But the morality of 1906 is comforting, despite the hypocrisy of some. ( )

An enjoyable read of small southern town lives. The culture of love and respect that was portrayed is sadly neglected in this day and age. ( )

Like old men at the checkboard, Olive Ann Burns spins a wonderful yarn in her book, Cold Sassy Tree. Told from the perspective of Will Tweedy, a teenager in the fictional town of Cold Sassy, Georgia, during the early 1900’s, Cold Sassy Tree is a marvelous snapshot of small-town Southern life during the turn of the century.

The story revolves around Will’s grandfather and his sudden marriage to a Yankee woman (Miss Love) three weeks after his wife’s death. In a town where anyone’s business is everyone’s business, this turn of events was nothing short of scandalous. Men and women were expected to properly mourn their spouses’ deaths – and remarriage to a “God fersaken” Yankee just added salt to the wound. In addition to her Yankee roots, Miss Love was a suffragette, an “old maid” and tradeswoman – in short, the exact opposite of a genteel Southern woman.

Did Will’s granddaddy marry Miss Love because he wanted a housekeeper (as they told everyone), or did he love this woman before his wife even set foot into the grave? Cold Sassy was awhirl with gossip, and through Will’s eyes, this story is delightful and entertaining.

I attended college in Macon, Georgia, and many of my classmates were from small towns like Cold Sassy. I often went home with these young women and was exposed to the small-town life of many Georgia places such as Thomaston, Tifton, Barnesville and Lovejoy. “God’s honest truth,” I attended the Chitlin Hoedown in Yatesville and looked upon a Confederate War memorial in more than one town square. I watched young men around a campfire in their re-enactment Confederate uniforms and added “bless her heart” and “ya’ll” to my vocabulary. Back then and now, I am fascinated with this culture, which is why I enjoyed this novel so much.

Reading Cold Sassy Tree evoked such wonderful memories of my younger years – and the trip down memory lane was certainly worth the short time I spent reading this book. Lovers of Southern humor and popular fiction will enjoy Cold Sassy Tree. Furthermore, I am looking forward to reading its incomplete sequel, Leaving Cold Sassy, written while Burns was on her deathbed and published posthumously. I am sure it will be as quaint and representative of Georgia life as its predecessor. ( )

A fun and funny little book about a family and a town's adjustment to a respected widower's flashy younger wife. It's not particularly special, but entertaining and poignant at times. Good if you're looking for a quick read with a little bit of substance. ( )

This is a beautiful book - a coming of age story set in the south at the turn of the 20th century (or thereabouts; it's been a while since I read it). Wonderful characters, and a touching look at one family and their trials and tribulations. Highly recommended. ( )

Picked this up years ago at an airport news stand, and found it to be just right for light reading during my trip. ( )

Now, these are good old home people all with a heart of gold and the rest of the human attributes of these good times (early 20th century), But kind and caring and pleasant. Enjoy.

E. Rucker Blakeslee, proprietor of general store and barely a widow of three weeks eloped with Miss Love Simpson. She was a woman half his age. His grandson (14 yrs old), Will Tweedy seemed to be the best listener and seemed to love them both with understanding. Miss Love said she would be the housekeeper and Rucker signed over the house and furniture to her. He was really in love with her and she couldn't express her love, as her father had raped her when she was 12. His son-in-law bought the first automobile in that county and Rucker went to New York, comming back with a better one. His two daughters couldn't accept Miss Love.