Rating: 
Summary: Not my cup of tea....
Review: I normally read mysteries, but since Three Junes had such great reviews, I thought I would try it. I was so disappointed. The book was so hard to get through. The book is partially based on flashbacks, but those became confusing. I often lost track of time. I never fully figured out the ages of some of the characters or what time frame that particular part of the book was written in. One of the reviews written on the book stated that Three Junes was full of life...HAHA. The only reason the book progressed was because of numerous deaths. Each new section began with a death. I finished the book feeling extremely depressed. Even mysteries that include murders and suicides are never this depressing. The only part of the book I enjoyed was the first section, Collies. The people were happy and seemed to have a purpose. I also enjoyed the visuals of Greece. After reading this book, I would love to visit the Greek island described in the book....it sounds so mysterious and calm. The third section did not have any relevance to the rest of the book. The first two sections were about Fenno and his family....the death of his parents, his mother's obsession with Collies, his own sexuality, and the relationships with his family. The third section was based on one of Fenno's lovers, Tony. I was officially lost. I believe that Julia Glass has a wonderful ability to write, but she should stop trying to write a classic. She needs to develop the book more and perhaps make it more lively. It was so depressing! I don't think I will be interested in trying another of her books, though. If you decide to read this one, make sure you have a funny, upbeat book to follow it up with.
Rating: 
Summary: TERRIBLE
Review: This is the worst book I have read in a long time. It is boring, disjointed, and goes nowhere. Part 1 started off okay. Part 2 went downhill and I thought it would never end. Part 3 -I expected that section to develop the lives of Fenno's brothers and their families. WHY FERN? WHO IS FERN? Who cares?
I could hardly wait to get to the end and throw the book out. I won't even give it away to a friend. How in the world could this book ever have received rave reviews and awards?????
Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: The first part of the book held my interest and I cared about the character. The second section, "Upright" is just plain too long and boring. I really don't want to hear every detail about Fenno, a very uninteresting character. I'm about ready to quit the book. Can't imagine how it became a best seller.
Rating: 
Summary: Three Junes
Review: What a wonderful book. These are characters that you know in your life. Who feel what everyone feels at various times.
It made me laugh out loud and cry many tears. A lovely story that keeps the readers attention, making one think as you turn each page. Three Junes is one I will read over and over.
Rating: 
Summary: Good read
Review: I liked this novel a lot. There were a couple of lines I wanted to try to remember, which is rare for me, as I usually read fast and then forget, no matter how great the novel. Good treatment of family relationships.
Rating:
Summary: If these characters really existed...
Review: I would want to meet them all. This is one of those books you finish wishing it could have lasted longer. (Don't listen to the negative reviews--the readers must have eaten some bad haggis sometime.) I didn't give it five stars because I did get slightly confused in the second part where I had trouble figuring out who was where when (read it to see what I mean). But that is a minor complaint, really. Just enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Hardest reads!
Review: I'm sure that Julia Glass has a real talent and decriptive ability, but for the average person, this was a complicated, hard to follow epic. I found it disjointed and felt as though I was left hanging at the end. It was a very unfulfilling conclusion. I do feel that Ms. Glass's decriptions were brilliant and feel as though I can picture all that she wrote about it. Good luck to all who attempt this novel. It was not well received in our ten person Book Club.
Rating:
Summary: Like Steeping Tea, Gets Richer and Deeper with Time
Review: As I finished the first section of "Three Junes" I felt deep disappointment: I didn't want it to end, I wanted to go further with Paul as he continued the grief process for his wife, Maureen. I was curious about the "supportive cast" as well. What would happen to them all, post Greek holiday? I was mildly annoyed to find the next section had my least favorite character as its protagonist. Because Ms. Glass writes with such beauty, I continued on in spite of the initial distaste. What I found was as I read further, I actually found myself caring deeply about these people. I had a startling "a-ha" moment when I realized what happened for me in relationship to my feelings about Fenno paralleled the feelings Fenno had for his relatives and friends. As he turned his corner, I sighed remembering my own turned corner... and it became richer also as the result of his corner. Intriguing and compelling. There are also some beautiful tidbits along the way, turns of the pencil such as "proud pilot of an improvised life" and "I hate it when people talk about twists of fate", Anna liked to say. "When it comes to life, we spin our own yarn, and where we end up is really, in fact, where we always intended to be." The integration of characters crossing into each other's lives is another subtle nuance. I was reminded of Miles Drentell (character from "thirtysomething") remarking "People are like magnets." I wonder if Ms. Glass was a fan of that show?
Rating:
Summary: who gives these awards???
Review: Award material? I don't think so. Maybe I should start writing books with controversial subject matter. Who but a gay man wants to read about a gay man's affairs and lusts? I wish the reviews and summary had told me what I was going to read before I -in haste- bought this book. I didn't even bother to finish the book, and I am left with a bad taste in my mouth for having tried. Not only does the book delve controversially, but it also proceeds at an exceedingly dull pace (in Book Two). The characters I like most are a tube of lipstick and a parrot...does that deserve accolades? Where are these book award judges living? Mars?
Rating:
Summary: Wish I'd left it in the store
Review: I picked up this book with it's golden seal of approval in haste before a flight departure. I wish I had not bought the book. At the start, the book had some interesting bits, and I could have said at one point that I enjoyed it, but to read the second of the three stories was awful. Case 1: A plodding pace and a character who's life seems to only breathe occasionally. ugh. Case 2: The gay lifestyle does not fit my idea of pleasant reading, with it's deep lust, unrest, turmoil, and the ever present fears and realities of AIDS. For some, possibly this is normal, but I would rather have been told up front that the book was largely narrated by a gay man with many of the accompaniments of that lifestyle; as it is I think the book summary and reviews lead unsuspecting readers into this dark world without fair notice.
I do not understand how this book received several rave reviews and the book club award. I agree with so many other reviews that point to shortcomings that should not have been met with top accolades.
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