Olive Ann Burns (1924–1990)
Författare till Cold Sassy Tree
Om författaren
Olive Ann Burns was born July 17, 1924, on a farm in Banks County, Georgia, and attended school in Commerce, Georgia. She received a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1946. Between 1947 and 1957, Burns wrote for the Sunday magazine of the Atlanta Journal visa mer and Constitution. In 1956 she married the magazine's editor, Andrew H. Sparks. From 1960 to 1967 Burns wrote under the pseudonym Amy Larkin for the advice column "Ask Amy." In 1975, after being diagnosed with cancer, Burns began her best-known work, Cold Sassy Tree (1984). An entertaining story about a family living in rural Georgia around the turn of the century, it is loosely based on stories told to Burns by her own family members. Burns explained that her previous experience as a journalist was helpful to her in writing the novel, but that she never intended for it to be published. Three years into her writing Burns had recovered from the cancer but was determined to finish the novel. It would take several more years to complete. Cold Sassy Tree was so successful that Burns began a sequel when her cancer returned. In the final days of her life, she left instructions for the completion of the book. Leaving Cold Sassy was published according to her wishes. Burns died in July 1990. (Bowker Author Biography) visa färre
Serier
Verk av Olive Ann Burns
Taggad
Allmänna fakta
- Vedertaget namn
- Burns, Olive Ann
- Namn enligt folkbokföringen
- Sparks, Olive Ann Burns
- Födelsedag
- 1924-07-17
- Avled
- 1990-07-04
- Begravningsplats
- Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce, Jackson County, Georgia, USA
- Kön
- female
- Nationalitet
- USA
- Födelseort
- Banks County, Georgia
- Dödsort
- Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Dödsorsak
- heart failure
- Bostadsorter
- Banks County, Georgia, USA
Commerce, Georgia, USA
Atlanta, Georgia, USA - Utbildning
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Mercer University - Yrken
- journalist
novelist - Relationer
- Burns, William (brother)
Sparks, John A. (son)
Sparks, Becky (daughter)
Turn, Margaret (sister)
LeGrand, Jean (sister) - Organisationer
- Atlanta Journal
- Kort biografi
- Olive Ann Burns was a professional writer, journalist, and columnist for most of her life. For many years, she was a staff writer for Atlanta newspapers and the Atlanta Journal Magazine. She
was motivated to write her first novel, ''Cold Sassy Tree'' (1984), when she became ill with lymphoma. The book was an instant success and in 1985 it was added to the list of books recommended for teenagers by the American Library Association and the New York Public Library.
Medlemmar
Recensioner
Good story of a grandson who watches his grandfather marry a "skittish" younger woman (a survivor of trauma). Very memorable.
I think I cried through most of this book. Despite being a serious reader I had never even registered that Cold Sassy Tree existed until seeing it at the bookstore a few weeks ago. Read it. Loved it. Wanted more. So hubby picked this sequel-of-sorts for me and it's a perception changer...well, I knew this perspective was in me, but now it's working it's way out. The story continuance is what I went in for, but the author's way of living is what is going to stay with me.
Despite all the weighty happenings and judgement this story also feels light, almost as though you were living in Cold Sassy rather than turning pages anticipating the next bit of drama. I laughed, cried and caught myself talking a bit like Grandpa a couple times;)Looking forward to the sequal.
Listor
Carole's List (2)
Southern Fiction (1)
Great Audiobooks (1)
Five star books (1)
First Novels (1)
Family Drama (1)
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Statistik
- Verk
- 4
- Medlemmar
- 4,895
- Popularitet
- #5,133
- Betyg
- 3.8
- Recensioner
- 99
- ISBN
- 52
- Språk
- 2
- Favoritmärkt
- 9
Occasionally, this book will pop up on my radar and I’ve always been curious about it. It sounds like a sort of like a folksy southern family drama, which is something I tend to enjoy most of the time. The book generally continues to garner positive ratings, though I had noticed a few more recent reviews mentioned some issues with race and classism in the book.
As with any book published this far back, one is faced with the possibility- if not the probability- of encountering those issues. So, I decided that now was just as good as time as any to see what has given this book the staying power it has, especially as it is the only completed novel by this author.
I ended up with some mixed feelings about the novel. I can't say I agree that it is 'timeless', due to the aforementioned issues some recent reviews mentioned. It was a conflict, that is for sure. I felt pulled in different directions while reading the book.
I can see why many people were pulled in by the drama, and the 'folksy' charm, the coming of age elements, and the shocking revelations that come late in the story. There are some hilarious moments, some poignant moments, and it is ultimately a bittersweet, coming of age tale.
But, for me, personally, it fell flat for the most part. There are some difficult passages of abuse, animal cruelty, and even some of Will's comical shenanigans seemed a little mean spirited- then after all that, the ending wasn't exactly a happy one- but there is a suggestion of hope, so while it is sad, it also points to better times ahead for all concerned.
Overall, I have satisfied my curiosity. The story wasn't exactly what I was expecting, which can be a good thing, but maybe not so much in this instance. The story moves a bit too slow, only to have several huge developments take place all in the last quarter of the book, and the ending left me feeling a bit frustrated after having held on that long. All, that said, I've waffled about the rating. I liked parts of the book, while the rest of it was just okay....
So- 2.5 stars. It didn't have enough 'folksy charm' to round it up to a three- for me, at least.
3 somewhat reluctant stars… (mer)