[A pre-numbered label was used to register this book. No additional comment provided.]

[This appears to be a textbook version of the novel, with additional short stories and stuff in the back.]

Ah, Cold Sassy Tree. I have a bit of a history with this book, which has now become a joke among my friends, who attempt to find me copies whenever possible. On the bright side, I have a remarkably high catch rate with this particular title.

For my 35th birthday, fellow BookCrosser 6of8 plunked a huge, gift-wrapped box down in front of me. It contained 35 copies of Cold Sassy Tree and its sequel, Leaving Cold Sassy. This was one of those books. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Thanks, guys.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - this is what I thought of the book when I read it back in 2005:

Will Tweedy was 14 years old and living in Cold Sassy, Georgia, in the summer of 1906 when his grandpa came home one day to announce he was marrying a woman half his age, not three weeks after the death of his first wife, Will’s grandmother. The town, of course, is scandalized, and continues to be so as the story wears on. This is more of a “slice of life” depiction than much of a story – the author starts with a setting (the town of Cold Sassy) and a premise (Grandpa’s new bride), and meanders through clever little anecdotes and asides for a while until the author decides it’s time to end the story and starts killing off characters. This is not a bad story, just a fairly standard one. I don’t have very strong feelings about it either way. The constant backcountry dialect got kind of old, but I feel that way about all books narrated in dialect so that’s not exactly serious criticism. On the other hand, I could hear all the characters in my head with no problem. In the end, if you like this era of historical fiction, you’ll enjoy the feeling of living in Cold Sassy; if you prefer more plot-driven stories where everything happens for a reason, you might want to skip this one.

After a little snarfing, I introduced my mother to Little Free Libraries with this release.

I dropped off a few books at the Hessel Blvd. Little Free Library while visiting my Gran who lives nearby and recognized the bookcrossing sticker so I had to grab this! I will read it and release it.

Cold Sassy Tree is good. It has death, love, scandal, incest, religion and a lot of humor! I told my friend who is considering teaching it that it may be difficult for readers, especially teenagers now, to identify with. Being a small town farm kid with an old/sentimental soul, I did. I enjoyed it and may share this copy with my teacher friend, if she wants it.

My friend who teaches did not need this copy so I am leaving it at the college I work at on the free bookshelf near the library entrance on the 3rd floor.

If you find this book, it is yours to read, keep or release! Please leave a journal entry so that I can follow this book's journey! Happy reading! - book8