Rating: 
Summary: Warm but never cloying, wise but not pedantic
Review: Apparently Julia Glass waited until middle age before writing Three Junes, and the book exemplifies the kind of wisdom that would simply be lacking in a younger writer. It is an elegantly structured novel primarliy about people dealing with grief and loss. Divided into three sections, like a triptych, Glass manages to simultaneously make each stand on its own as a complete work of fiction but also bring all three together in a way that makes the whole exceed the sum of its parts. And as a gay reader, it is refreshing to read about Greenwich Village queens who exist primarliy outside the cliches of a gay ghetto. My only reservation is that the emotional climax of the book comes too early--at the end of the middle section--with much of the final section feeling like denouement. Still, the final section is not at all boring because the characters, especially Fenno, are by that point so compelling. If your looking for a book with a great plot, you probalby will be bored by Three June, but if you're interested in a book that will provide you with some truths about you own life, then I suggest you check it out. It's well worthy of its National Book Award.
Rating: 
Summary: A Beautifully Written Story
Review: Julia Glass has written a luminous novel about family ties those we are born with and those we acquire through life. The novel is divided into three sections that each include the McLeod family memebers. In the first and most interesting section we meet Paul McLeod who is recovering from his wife Maureen's death on a trip to Greece in June . Paul's reminiscence of Maureen is poignant as he describes their meeting and early years of marriage together. The reader is treated to beautifully written passages about their rural Scottish home and the interactions between these two people. Paul is left wondering if he ever really knew his wife, certian that he loved her, yet regretting not having the courage to really know her. Part two of the story centers on Fenno, Paul's oldest son, who arrives home from NYC to attend his father's funeral. It is in this chapter we meet the rich, interesting characters in Fenno's life; Malachy Burns a music critic dying of AIDS, Fenno's lover, his neighbor and twin brothers Dennis and David and their families. Fenno keeps his emotions to himself and like his father, questions why he sometimes doesn't have the courage to connect in a real way with the people in his life. This is the longest section of the book and at times drags as Fenno philosophies about his life and relationships. The last section of the book is by far the weakest, with Fern Olitsky being the central character who ties into the McLeod's life in an intesting way. This scene is set in the Hamptons, at a beach house where a dinner draws Fenno, his brother Dennis, his ex-lover, Fern and a new man. The interactions are interesting, but this was disappointing as the rest of the book was superb and the ending just seems to drop off. This is a story that is meant to be read slowly, with wonderful imagery and details to characters and relationships, but ends somewhat weakly.
Rating:
Summary: Mild and Intelligent
Review: It has been said that Three Junes "rescues and refurbishes" the plot-driven novel, and it is easy to argue that the relatively mild-mannered main characters are pulled about by events that are not of their own making. Julia Glass makes particularly striking contrasts between many of the prominent male characters and the much more fiery and strong-willed women in their lives --generally their mothers and wives. Those who study the craft of writing will be impressed with the way the author weaves past and present action and first and third person narrative. While I recommend this book fairly strongly, particularly for its craft and introspection, I suspect some readers won't feel completely satisfied at the end as the book doesn't seem to build to a climax or tie up every loose end completely. For those who feel that literary fiction is always depressing, this book touches on tough subjects such as AIDS, childlessness and failed relationships while keeping an ultimately hopeful outlook. Those who liked the strong characters of Michael Cunningham's The Hours or the episodic narration of Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, will probably find this to be a fine novel.
Rating:
Summary: brooding and atmospheric
Review: I chose this book because I try to read all of the National Book Award winners, and I was a little surprised by its plodding, detailed format, but not disappointed. _Three Junes_ is split into three sections, and Fenno, the main character, plays a part in each one. The first section, "Collies," focuses on Fenno's father in Scotland and Greece; the second section, "Upright" is about Fenno's life in New York City (the bookstore he owns and the man he falls in love with); and the third section, "Boys," focuses on a woman whom Fenno's father met in Greece and now is meeting Fenno's accquaintance in New York as well. It is a little difficult to shift gears between the sections, but they are connected by thin strings of coincidence and fate, actions and reactions, so ultimately the reader can get comfortable again. Glass deals with some difficult subjects including infidelity, AIDS, and infertility with remarkable smoothness, and makes you really feel the characters' guilt, love, and confusion, as well as hope. It is hope, I think, that permeates the novel most of all. My only criticism is that I felt there were one or two minor subplots that weren't tied up sufficiently, and there also weren't too many ups and downs but just a slow crescendo of choices and misunderstandings. On the whole, however, this is a very rewarding book, and well worth the time it takes to get to know the characters and their environments.
Rating:
Summary: A FANTASTIC read!
Review: Julia Glass offers her readers a personal connection to the lives she unveils in this brilliant first novel. The writing style practically sings the stories of the three main characters. I liked this book as much if not more than I enjoyed Michael Cunningham's The Hours. The themes in both books are similar, but unlike the characters in Cunningham's novel, Glass provides the backdrop of the commonality of love, life, and relationships. I felt that I could have been any one of the main characters and that any of the supporting characters might have stepped out of my own life. You will appreciate the honesty in Glass' words as she reveals the merging lives of her characters. I found this book to be a quick read. Even more so, it kept me impatient at work, wanting to return public transportation or a lunch break just to read another few pages. Yet, because of its sensitive content regarding homosexual relationships, some may feel less of a connection with the book. I was also disappointed that some tangents went unclarified. This, again, is so similar to life--we don't have all the answers. It also leaves a sense of wonder and imagination in the reader. We can interpret these mini-story lines as we want. A FANTASTIC read!
Rating: 
Summary: Lousey !
Review: One of the worst books I've ever read1! I can't believe I wasted my money on it. Extremely boring, and lacking content. The style was most tedious -- like trying to keep up with a perpetual ping-pong game. Characters are shallow. Don't waste you time!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: A brooding but highly developed and captivating book. I enjoyed it far more than I expected. I put it on the same scale as Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd), Middlesex(Jeffrey Eugenides), and My Fractured Life (Rikki Lee Travolta).
Rating:
Summary: boooooooring
Review: After all the positive reviews, I was shocked to find that this book was completely lifeless and drab. I kept reading more to make sure it wasn't going to get better and then I just had to finish it because I had gotten so far. A major time waster, don't bother!
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting Book
Review: I really enjoyed Julia Glass' novel, The Three Junes. I enjoyed the intricacies of the interwoven nature of life and relationships. This novel does a wonderful job of weaving these complexities into an interesting story about families, both the ones we come from and the ones we choose. I liked the humanness of the characters and the curious misunderstandings about what has happened that we didn't even understand at the time. The way that people are capable of seeing only what they choose to and thinking they have the full knowing of the thing. This is a story that really explores people, their lives and how we know what we think we understand.
Rating:
Summary: Distinct and moving
Review: Written in three distinct sections, this well crafted and moving work deserves every award it has received. Author Julia Glass takes us so expertly into the lives of her characters that we feel we know them inside and out. With its colorful settings and masterful dialogue, THREE JUNES is by far one of the best choices you can make. Also recommended: BARK OF THE DOGWOOD and BIRTH OF VENUS
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