Rating: 
Summary: Subtle, thought provoking family dynamics
Review: _Three Junes_ is a story about a prominent Scottish family, their relationships with each other and the various people they connect with in their lives. The theory of the "three junes" signifies 3 separate and poignant summers in the character's lives.In the beginning of the novel, the shortest chapter introduces Paul, a recent widower attempting to reconcile the loss of his beloved wife and the lingering insecurities he has felt as a father to his children and the fidelity of his late wife. Some of these impressions are deeply subtle, and for some readers, this can be frustrating and unfulfilling. I feel, however, it is an adequate and realistic representation of how most family members relate to each other. Afraid to shake up supposed harmony, family members will go to great lengths to suppress disturbing impressions and the past. The next and more satisfying part of the novel is about Paul's oldest son, Fenno. Paul is still trying to come to terms with the young man's homosexuality, where his late wife knew early on in the boy's life where his true nature was. Fenno's story is the meat of the novel, rich and substantial. His life is a careful ballet to avoid "the plague" (AIDS) and his sacrifices are a heavy weight. The relationships he developes with his brothers, their wives, their children, his friends and lovers are bright, humorous and heartbreakingly real. A favor requested of Fenno by one of his brothers and sister-in law adds an aching dimension to Fenno's life as he struggles to fit in amongst the family reunion at his father's funeral. Here is where subtle family events are teasingly implicated, discussed but not entirely resolved. Again, my sentiments are that this is so appropriate, so reflective of how families actually behave. The last third of the novel was my least favorite, and I see this reflected in other's reviews. It would be tidy to validate the connection of Fern, a young, pregnant, widowed woman that Fenno meets through his friends and buisness associates. But, as the reader, we know the connection. The book's ending is reflective and suggestive. There is no great bang. Could there be? I understand the need for many to need that, and I craved it as well. But, here, again is another reflection of real life...it goes on, and neatly tied up loose ends are uncommon. After reading this novel, and the reviews, I feel it may be helpful to say if you don't want to read a cryptic, thought provoking, open-ended novel, this may not be for you. _Three Junes_ is subtle and unfortunately for those craving resolution and finality, this may be troublesome.
Rating: 
Summary: A moving and memorable novel
Review: Three Junes is a story about one Scottish family, their relationship to one another and to the people who touch their lives. The book is broken into three parts. Each part is either set in the month of June or alludes to the month June. This is a book about the interconnection between people. Each character, by virtue of their actions or, many times, their inaction molds the lives and personalities of others in the family. Chance meetings turn into life long friendships, connecting the characters through the Junes. It is human nature to want to belong, to something or someone. But all of us, at some time or another, find ourselves feeling like we are on the outside looking in. I think Ms. Glass did an exceptional job at showing this disconnect and the main character's struggle to connect with the people in his life. This is Julia Glass' debut novel and a National Book Award winner. I can't wait to hear more from her.
Rating:
Summary: Three Junes
Review: Readers may be reminded of Evelyn Waugh and, especially, Angus Wilson by the rich characterizations and narrative sweep that grace this fine debut about three summers in-and surrounding-the lives of a prominent and prosperous Scottish family. Recently widowed Paul MacLeod languishes through a guided tour of Greece in 1989, buoyed by a hopeful, not-quite-romantic relationship with a Daisy Miller-like American artist. This sequence is a rich blend of carefully juxtaposed present action and extended flashbacks to Paul's youth and wartime service, management of his family's highly successful newspaper, and conflicted marriage to the woman whom he adored and who was probably unfaithful to him. The second "summer" (of 1995) brings Paul's gay eldest son Fenno home from New York City (where he co-owns a small bookstore) for his father's burial, and his own roiling memories of compromised relationships with his two brothers and their families and with former lovers and mentors. Fenno's account of what he wryly calls "a life of chiaroscuro-or scuroscuro: between one kind of darkness and another" is the best thing here. The third summer, of 1999, focuses on Fern, the artist Paul had briefly encountered during his Grecian junket. Glass deftly sketches in Fern's history of romantic and marital disappointments (she seems to be fatally attracted to men who are gay, bisexual, self-destructive, or just plain undependable) as well as present confusions (she's living with Fenno's former lover). But the manner in which Fern is coincidentally re-connected with the surviving MacLeods is both ingeniously skillful and just a tad too contrived. Glass makes it all work, though the parts are not uniformly credible or compelling. Nevertheless, a rather formidable debut. The traditional novel of social relations is very much alive in Three Junes. Virginia Woolf and Elizabeth Bowen, among other exemplars, would surely approve.
Rating:
Summary: This is art
Review: Told in three sections, this book has not only an unusual form, but unusual characters as well. The reason for some people not taking to this novel could be the fact that it isn't your average page turner (thank God). This is literature and even more, it's art. Glass obviously set out to "create" something and was more concerned with the overall artistic effect, rather than having people flip through the pages just to get to the end. This is not a quick read, but it is well written and literary, something along the lines of "The Bark of the Dogwood" or some of C.T. Boyle's novels. And it is for this reason that it should be read for it's rare that we get a truly literary AND well-written novel nowadays. Would also recommend two other books which are stellar reads: "Water Music" by Boyle, and "The Bark of the Dogwood" by Jackson McCrae.
Rating:
Summary: Seeking the transcendental
Review: The writing is lovely, the structure a little heavy handed, but the book over all is satisfying as a study of grief and connectedness. If the book lacks anything, it is freshness, because any new discussion or rendition of grief and life's big questions requires a freshness of spirit and approach to attain the transcendental break-through that the intelligent reading public is clearly waiting for. The closest thing to I've come personally come to finding it is with the extraordinary and rather sly IN THE GHOST COUNTRY by Peter Hillary and John Elder, where a man's journey through grief runs paralell with a real-life adventure story -- very brave and very beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: Fine penmanship
Review: Tracy Hollis, A reviewer,
This is a really good book, some people dont like as they seem to not be able to get it. I understand the Three Junes. It is a fantastically well written book. Also recommended highly: Nightmares Echo, Lucky,Running With Scissors,Secret Life Of Bees
Rating:
Summary: Not Just a Super Love Story!
Review: Emilie Barker
April 2004
Exploring the matters of love and loss is a very difficult thing to do for some people. Especially when trying to untie the intricate bonds joining members of a complicated Scottish family. In this story, Julia Glass does this with grace and agility. Once I began this book, I couldn't seem to set it down! This was definitely a wild adventure that pulled together wonderfully in the end.
This outstanding story started out by exploring the roles of fate and destiny in bringing people together, as well as the communication gaps and closed emotions that often keep them apart, and it really does show this in three connected sections, in which characters interact over a decade. These people are entirely at home in their beautifully detailed homes and lands, which include Greece, rural Scotland, Greenwich Village and the Hamptons. Paul McLeod, the reticent Scots widower introduced in the first section, is the father of Fenno, who is the center character of the middle section. He is a reserved, self-protective gay bookstore owner in Manhattan. Both father and son have dealings with the third section's young artist, Fern Olitsky, who feels guilt from her husband's death that leaves her longing for beginning anew. Other characters are memorably individualistic. I say this because there are characters such as: a bitter music critic dying of AIDS, Fenno's emotionally hard to pin down mother, his sibling twins and their wives, and his insomniac lover. I would have to say that this book achieved its goal and in the end it tied together very nicely. The book really didn't leave that much out, I didn't think. It was very detailed, and I liked the way Julia Glass made you paint yourself a picture of what things really looked like. You could almost imagine being in the same room as the father of Fenno, and hearing his loud voice! I was very convinced about a couple of things in this book, but now I am even more convinced. I guess I can really relate to this book mainly because my family is a lot like the family Julia Glass described. I would have to definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to sit down for a good couple of hours to read this crazy novel! You really can relate to a lot of it, and you can see the description so vividly that you will dream of it the next time you take a nap or go to bed for the night. It really makes you think, and it most definitely makes you wonder about your own family. Of course, don't take these family things too seriously. After all, it really is just a book.
Rating:
Summary: beautiful and real
Review: One of the most beautifully written books I have read in many years! It's hard to believe this is Ms. Glass' first novel. This is not written for the masses -- like blockbuster films with lots of action and explosions to mask the fact that there is no depth or artistry involved. If you loved The Da Vince Code you will not like this book. However, if you enjoy books written with mastery of the English language and sensitivity to the human experience you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Awful
Review: This is an awful book. I got it as a present and force myself to finish it. Now I don't know what to do with it as I would not inflict it on anybody. Will probably recycle it.
Rating:
Summary: beautifully written
Review: I thought this was one of the most beautifully written books I've read in a long time. Every sentence was rich and well thought out. If you prefer books that are written and edited in a day, this is not for you. I did not find it difficult to "get into", yet I did not approach it with criticism in mind. I thought it was wonderful and such a pleasant change from the mass produced, grammatically incorrect, 8th grade reading level fiction that is out there today. Well worth reading.
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