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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
2.5 stars but rounded up because I chuckled a couple of times. There were times when this seemed longer than it needed to be. It is also a good thing that I can read "aloud" to myself as I am reading so I can hear the words in my head; it really helped me with the dialogue.
Entertaining, but a little slow for me. I had a hard time really getting into it--especially in the beginning. The ending was a little dissatisfying. Overall I'd say I liked it though. The southern accent was fun to read and it had some fun characters. Not a must read, but a good one to turn to when you have nothing else.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
On July 5, 1906, scandal breaks in the small town of Cold Sassy, Georgia, when the proprietor of the general store, E. Rucker Blakeslee, elopes with Miss Love Simpson. He is barely three weeks a widower, and she is only half his age and a Yankee to boot. As their marriage inspires a whirlwind of local gossip, fourteen-year-old Will Tweedy suddenly finds himself eyewitness to a family scandal, and that’s where his adventures begin.
I made the mistake of assuming this book was primarily about the love story of Mr. Blakeslee and Miss Love. What it is is a nearly perfect portrait of turn of the century Georgia. Told from the perspective of Mr. Blakeslee's beloved and devoted grandson Will Tweedy, the language colors the story like leaves in the autumn. I admit I have a soft spot for southern novels and this one was so beautifully written. I had to start marking my book up right from the beginning. Towards the end of the book I thought, "If ______ happens I'm going to throw this book across the room!" Welp. It happened and I did and I'm still giving this book five stars. I love Will Tweedy. I love E. Rucker Blakeslee. The writing was so exquisite I wanted to begin again the moment I was finished. This is going on my top recommended list for sure.
I have to say, Will's recollection of his grandmother's passing and funeral hit so close to home I laughed and cried. I thought about my own Grandma and my own Grandpa and watching him grieve. This book came into my life at a most opportune time.
I made the mistake of assuming this book was primarily about the love story of Mr. Blakeslee and Miss Love. What it is is a nearly perfect portrait of turn of the century Georgia. Told from the perspective of Mr. Blakeslee's beloved and devoted grandson Will Tweedy, the language colors the story like leaves in the autumn. I admit I have a soft spot for southern novels and this one was so beautifully written. I had to start marking my book up right from the beginning. Towards the end of the book I thought, "If ______ happens I'm going to throw this book across the room!" Welp. It happened and I did and I'm still giving this book five stars. I love Will Tweedy. I love E. Rucker Blakeslee. The writing was so exquisite I wanted to begin again the moment I was finished. This is going on my top recommended list for sure.
I have to say, Will's recollection of his grandmother's passing and funeral hit so close to home I laughed and cried. I thought about my own Grandma and my own Grandpa and watching him grieve. This book came into my life at a most opportune time.
This book is described as being like To Kill a Mockingbird. That is mostly correct in that both show off the eccentricities of a small town in the South.
However, Cold Sassy Tree lacks a very important aspect that To Kill a Mockingbird has: a moral compass that fights against the norms of racism, sexism and classism (if that’s a word). In TKAM, this comes in the form of Atticus Finch. Cold Sassy Tree does not make any sort of effort to respect all races, all sexes, and all classes. Unfortunately it was hard for me to look past the endless references to what a woman’s work is and what a black person’s work is.
However, Cold Sassy Tree lacks a very important aspect that To Kill a Mockingbird has: a moral compass that fights against the norms of racism, sexism and classism (if that’s a word). In TKAM, this comes in the form of Atticus Finch. Cold Sassy Tree does not make any sort of effort to respect all races, all sexes, and all classes. Unfortunately it was hard for me to look past the endless references to what a woman’s work is and what a black person’s work is.
I enjoyed this book. I had never read this writer but gave it a go based on the description alone and it was a good read. Light hearted with a few sad moments intermingled. So goes life. And life that is worth living has its ups and downs. Is highly recommend it and may try others by this writer in the future.
I'm not sure I loved it, but I did really enjoy this one.
This was the first book read in a long time that I was hated to see end. I loved the characters, the reality of how it was in the South in the early 1900s, how everything from racism, the women's movement, how men and women related at the time was woven into the story. I rad this as an an audio book and thought the reader was incredible. I would 'read' it again tomorrow.