Cold Sassy Tree

Cold Sassy Tree is a novel about a small southern town written by Olive Ann Burns. The novel takes place in the early 1900s. It is a funny, heartwarming and at times sad portrayal of life in the South.

The story is set around several generations of one family in the town of Cold Sassy. They are a prominent family in that small setting and go through their trials and tribulations in front of the entire town. This is a town where everyone knows your business and will talk about it behind your back. The patron of the family, Mr. Blakeslee puts the town, and his family, into a fit when he marries a much younger woman just weeks after his wife passes. As his daughters learn to deal with this new member of the family, and his grandson tries to find his own place, Mr. Blakeslee goes through some changes of his own.

Every character in this book, while flawed, has redeeming characteristics and is lovable. The reader cheers for each and everyone, and while we many not understand or agree with choices made, we hope that all turns out okay. In addition, there is a look into the Southern mindset when it comes to economics, the Civil War, slavery, and the changes that technology brings around the turn of the century.

Overall, this book was a very good read. I would recommend it. Happy Reading!