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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Olive Ann Burns is an excellent story teller. Told from the eyes of a young teenager we learn about the good, the bad and the ugly of life in a small rural southern community. Filled with gossip, bigotry, hypocrisy and contempt for those who are different. We see how people let difficulties ruin their lives or how they rise above them. An interesting look at human nature and the early 1900's in southern US. We see the difference between people who choose to try to understand the experience of others and appreciate life and those who let bitterness destroy their lives and those around them.
I loved this book about life in Cold Sassy, Georgia in 1906. Will Tweedy is fourteen year old and the favorite of his grandfather. E. Rucker Blakeslee is an eccentric man who owns the local store and lives life on his own terms. Barely three weeks after the death of his wife, Grandpa Blakeslee scandalizes the town of Cold Sassy by marrying Miss Love Simpson, who had moved to Cold Sassy to make hats in his store. Not only does Grandpa Blakeslee completely disregard social mores and the wishes of his two daughters, but Miss Love Simpson is half the age of her groom and almost a Yankee--she was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. During the next year, Will Tweedy is one of the only residents of Cold Sassy who approves of the marriage and the reader sees the relationship from his viewpoint. Will Tweedy also grows up a lot during the year chronicled--he was run over by a train, had his first kiss, learned to drive a car, and learned a lot about life, religion, social class, and prejudice. A charming coming of age story that should appeal to all readers.
This was great for it's genre. Why didn't I have to read this in high school? Although it has been pointed out to me that it may have been assigned for summer reading one year. I hate assigned reading- bah!
3.5 stars rounded up. This book is so hard to describe. It was written in 1984, so a decade before I born, about a time over 100 years ago, in a place far away from my upbringing. At first I hated it: I thought it was glorifying "the olden days" where white supremacy and misogyny reigned (I still think parts of it do). But then the story grew on me, as Mr. Blakeslee, the patriarchy of this wealthy family in small town Georgia, was revealed to be the only truly sane and loving adult in his family. He was not as he first appeared (though I still find it despicable that men in the early 1900's were incapable of doing housework and cooking) and he had such a gentle and authentic side to him.
The story itself takes place in 1906 in southern Georgia and it was inspired by the author's father who was 14 years old in 1906. The book centers around a 14 year old boy wrestling with death (a very present reality back then), love, family, and faith. He gets most of his advice and affirmation from his grandfather but finds himself in a pickle when his grandma dies and his grandpa marries a woman 30 years his junior, just 3 weeks after his wife passed. As you can imagine, the entire town, filled with pious church going "Christians," is enraged at the "disgrace" and ends up protesting in both large and small ways, overt and passive-aggressive. The main character Will is so endearing and tries to remain the peacemaking force in his family while his mother and aunt are hysterical over the drama their father brought upon the family.
This story made me laugh, cry, and ponder - everything from faith and love to life and death. It was beautifully written and enjoyable, especially the last third. It was very slow halfway through when there was a long and meandering camping trip but after that trip was over, the plot picked up again.
The story itself takes place in 1906 in southern Georgia and it was inspired by the author's father who was 14 years old in 1906. The book centers around a 14 year old boy wrestling with death (a very present reality back then), love, family, and faith. He gets most of his advice and affirmation from his grandfather but finds himself in a pickle when his grandma dies and his grandpa marries a woman 30 years his junior, just 3 weeks after his wife passed. As you can imagine, the entire town, filled with pious church going "Christians," is enraged at the "disgrace" and ends up protesting in both large and small ways, overt and passive-aggressive. The main character Will is so endearing and tries to remain the peacemaking force in his family while his mother and aunt are hysterical over the drama their father brought upon the family.
This story made me laugh, cry, and ponder - everything from faith and love to life and death. It was beautifully written and enjoyable, especially the last third. It was very slow halfway through when there was a long and meandering camping trip but after that trip was over, the plot picked up again.
I loved the characters in this book and learning about the culture of this town. I'm not quite sure why but this book was a page-turner yet at the same time it just wasn't suspenseful enough for me. There are many questions that I want answers to, so I may have to read the sequel.
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The author has a gift for making characters come alive. However, I kept waiting for more to happen in the story.
Again this was from the male teenager point of view. I liked it but didn't love it. The southern aspect was fun. I usually can't stand this time period so the fact that I thought it was ok probably means it was great
When I first read this book in the fall of 2012, I really enjoyed it, but it didn't particularly stick with me. When it was chosen for our RS book club this month I decided to listen to it instead this time around since there are other books I am entrenched in at the moment. The audiobook version read by Grover Gardner is spectacular, and although the story is hilarious, heartwarming, and entertaining in its own right, Gardner truly makes it come alive with his engaging narration. He was spot on with the Georgia accents and I loved his inflection and intonation. I love the themes of acceptance (or lack thereof) and faith, and feel that Burns described perfectly the ins and outs of Southern small town life. Definitely in my favorites now.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism
This is a very entertaining book, with characters you would like to adopt as your true family.