Cold Sassy Tree (1984)

A fine, southern read.

Reminded me of a Mark Twain Huckleberry Finn/ Tom Sawyer. Lots of interesting episodic hijinks with a boy living in Georgia. Thoughtful observations from his Grandfather - a man who doesn't always seem easy to take (or always do the right thing). ( )

I could not finish this book. I forced myself to keep reading/skimming until I got to chapter 17. One of the ladies at my book club said that if I liked "Gone With the Wind," I would enjoy this book. Umm. No. Sadly, this is not the case. You know that scene in Gone With the Wind where the city of Atlanta is burning down? I wish someone would toss this book in the fire too...

( )

Digital Audiobook performed by Grover Gardner

Thirteen-year-old Will Tweedy narrates Burns’ historical novel which takes place in the small Georgia town of Cold Sassy Tree circa 1906. It starts when his grandfather, E Rucker Blakeslee elopes with Miss Love Simpson. It’s a scandal, given that Blakeslee’s wife was buried just three weeks prior, that Miss Simpson is only half Blakeslee’s age, and even worse, Love is a Yankee!

Oh ,what a treat this novel is! The characters are richly drawn, and cover the gamut of personalities. I was completely engaged in the story from beginning to end, laughing aloud several times as I watched the residents engage in gossip and speculation. Change is a constant theme … from the personal relationships to the introduction of automobiles, the citizens of Cold Sassy Tree manage to adjust, sometimes with grace and other times with more than a little consternation.

Will is a wonderful observer with the curiosity of a young boy, especially when it comes to relationships between male and female adults. I loved the pranks he played and the tall tales he wove. And was touched by the tenderness of his first love.

Grover Gardner does a marvelous job performing the audio. He has a lot of characters to interpret and does a great job of Will Tweedy and Grandpa Blakeslee. He even does an acceptable rendition of the female voices. ( )

The cornpone humor and outrageous characters grew on me as I got further into this story about 14-year-old Will Tweedy, his recently widowed Grandpa and Grandpa's young bride, Love Simpson. As Southern literature goes, this was more on the 'Hee Haw' end of the spectrum but it still had some touching insights into human nature and sincere affirmations of faith. ( )

Setting is Georgia in the early 1900's. The first 60 pages is a slow go. I didn't think the author would ever go beyond the Granny dying. The only thing that kept me going was the Southern way of talking. I would have loved to have heard this book on audio!
Story is told by a young boy Will Tweedy and tells about his relationships with his family, esp his grandfather E. Rucker Blakeslee. After Granny dies, Will Tweedy's grandfather remarries within 3 weeks. She's much younger and a Yankee which sets the tongues wagging in this small town of Cold Sassy Tree. Besides this ruckus, the story also dwells on all of Will Tweedy's laughable antics and they are many.
I probably would not have read this but it was a book club book, but having said that, I am glad that I did finish it. ( )