Book Review - Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

I was in the local library and came across Cold Sassy Tree. I was reading the back cover and at first, the story did not seem interesting to me. It's a tale about life in a conservative Southern town in Georgia named Cold Sassy.

I decided for some reason (and I'm glad I did) that I should try something and read the book. I was finishing up the book last week and I was a bit depressed that the book was actually ending when I discovered there's a sequel named Leaving Cold Sassy Tree, which will be my next book.

The narrator of Cold Sassy Tree is Will Tweedy but the story is mainly about his beloved grandfather who marries a much younger woman only 3 weeks after his wife passed away. In a town like Cold Sassy in the early 1900's, grandfather's action are scandalous and the entire family is placed in a difficult situation.

The woman who he marries, one Miss Love Simpson, is a strong independent woman who is disliked by Will Tweedy's mom, his aunt, and much of the town for accepting the marriage proposal. It also doesn't help that Love is not originally from Georgia, but up north - a Yankee.

Grandpa is the most popular and one of the wealthiest man in town. He doesn't care what the rest of the town thinks of his actions as he thinks he knows what's best for him. Will admires his grandfather greatly but does learn that even he has a secret weakness.

Will Tweedy also has some of his own adventures as young teenager where he is discovering the beauty and charm of women and girls.

The most thought provoking idea in the book is what grandpa says the meaning of the following phrase in the Bible "Asketh, and you shall receive".

Overall, the book is tremendous and I hope the sequel will be just as good. I've also heard that it was turned into a TV Movie but it may not do justice to the book.

Ratings: 4 candles out 5