Three Junes by Julia Glass Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Three Junes
Book Review: COMPASSIONATE WITH A HINT OF FLAIR TO CHARACTERIZATION
Summary: 5 Stars
Three Junes is a novel written in three sections, covering the three summers in the life of a Scottish family, where significant events are displayed over a ten year period.In the First part entitled COLLIES, we are transported to Greece where the elder Paul McLeod a newpaper publisher is mentally recuperating after his wife's death and where, in his lonliness he meets Fern an American artist whom he is somewhat attracted to.
In the second section entitled UPRIGHT, which is my favourite section, we are given an in-depth look at he McLeod family and this is narrated by Fenno one of the sons who is gay and runs a bookstore in Manhattan. The other sons Dennis who David who are happily married, one living in the family home of Tealing where he does his veterinary work and the other lives in France with his wife Veronique.
Glass showcases the lives of this family as they come for their father's family in Tealing Scotland. This section was very arresting to my mind which I consider the nucleus and focal point of the entire book. Joy and tears reign looking back at the old times and reminiscing about the past lives of their lost parents, friends they used to know. There is a lot of compassion here too causing you to start rallying around this family who sometimes does not know if they are going or coming, but they are lovable nevertheless. Featured in the book too are quite a lot of Fenno friends all artist in their own right.......photographers, music reviewers, writers, book lovers and the beat goes on.
In the third section entitled BOYS, this is the shortest section yet and this is when Fenno meets Fern, his father's former lover in long island.
This is a wonderful contemporary novel to be savoured and not rushed through. If you have a partiality for the arts and travel, please read this book or make it a wonderful gift for a friend. It was much more than I expected and I am a lot richer for having read it.
It deserved a wonderful five stars for this first novelist. Thank you Julia Glass.
Book Review: Good but not great
Summary: 3 Stars
Overall, this was an enjoyable and easy book to read. The relationships presented were interesting, though I felt at times lacked authenticity. Fenno the central character had both depth and appeal and the central section focusing on his life was the highlight for me. The other characters were wooden in comparison. I was also disappointed with the third section of the book. It seemed like an 'add on', and I wondered if the book would have been more complete without it.Book Review: FENNO !
Summary: 5 Stars
I did not think I would end up rating this book a 5 / 5. Having just finished LARRY'S PARTY by CAROL SHIELDS I found the main character in the first section of 3 Junes to be too similar to LARRY and I was bored. BUT I adored Fenno and his life and friends and family and loves. And This book is so very very rich. Especially the 2nd part - which could have stood on its own ... and maybe should have ;-) ?!
Book Review: Author - do some research
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is riddled with mistakes that some basic research by the author could have been prevented. Flying from New York to the west coast of Scotland then you'd land at Glasgow Airport and not Prestwick Airport. Julia Glass has obviously just looked at a map of Britain and thought Prestwick Airport is nearer to Dumfries & Galloway than Glasgow is so I'll have Fenno flying into and out of that airport. In the third section when Dennis (who is a chef with his own restaurant in France)is visiting Fenno he goes into raptures at "Maize - brilliant! - or corn, yes that's what you call it". We call it corn in the UK as well Julia and it is quite common in the supermarkets and has been for years. Philadelphia cheese has also been sold in the UK since at least the 1970's yet processed dairy products is anew concept to Dennis. Personally, I think these type of mistakes are unforgiveable. Don't get me started on how un-Scottish the McLeod family is. To me, they were more of a cliched upper middle-class English family.Book Review: An Outstanding Debut
Summary: 5 Stars
Julia Glass has woven a fine mesh of rich characters, intricate plot and intimate details into a story that I hated to put down. One of the critics I read indicated that they wished there were "Four Junes" so that this novel wouldn't have to end quite yet. I heartily agree. At first the three stories seem separate from one another, but as you get pulled into the fine intricacies of these peoples' lives, you realize that they are all intertwined, and in such fascinating ways. I adore these sorts of stories, and Ms. Glass has done this one to perfection.