I liked it. It's a shame that it wasn't finished before the author passed away. :/ ( )

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. ( )

Yes, this is the *unfinished* sequel to Cold Sassy Tree, and no, it's not as good as the first book, but how could it be? It's unfinished. Olive Ann Burns, the author, died before it was finished. Her neighbor, friend, and transcriptionist, Norma Duncan, along with the book's editor, cobbled together the finished chapters and the author's extensive notes to create what they could of the sequel. It's followed by notes and reminiscences of the editor that detail Burns's efforts and struggles to finish the book, as well as many glimpses into the author's personal life. Really, the book is part sequel, part biography.

Had Leaving Cold Sassy been finished, I'm not sure I would have liked it as much as Cold Sassy Tree. Adult Will Tweedy annoyed me, and I don't think I got to know Sanna Klein well enough to warm up to her and who knows if that would have happened with a completed book. Burns's writing is just as wonderful as always, however, and I was definitely still interested in the lives of the characters I'd gotten to know in the first book.

What deterred me from fully embracing the overall book was the way it was structured, which has nothing to do with Burns's writing, but detracts from the overall product nonetheless. Because this is an unfinished sequel, naturally it ends abruptly. That could have been ameliorated, I believe, by creating a transition between the ending and the editor's section. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the editor's piece; I found it very interesting and heartwarming. Still, the two parts are stuck together in a confusing manner.

All that said, Olive Ann Burns, by all accounts, was an amazing woman, and her warmth and goodness certainly come through in both parts of this book. I very much enjoyed reading about her writing process, and it was heartwarming to read about her brave struggle and positive outlook on life. ( )

Cobbled together with the author's intended chapters for the working title of Time, Money and Dirt, followed by her thoughts, then a remininscence from her editor of both Cold Sassy, and this novel. Good, certainly would have been great had the author lived to rewrite and polish it. ( )

I really enjoyed this 'unfinished' sequel to Cold Sassy Tree. I only gave it 3 stars because it ends abruptly. But I love the story of Cold Sassy Tree, so much fun, and so many entertaining characters and situations! It was interesting to see the main character, Will Tweedy, ten years after the ending of the first book, and see where his life was headed, even though there was no ending because of the author's death. ( )