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Three Junes Paperback – May 1, 2003

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,467 ratings

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NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An astonishing novel that traces the lives of a Scottish family over a decade as they confront the joys and longings, fulfillments and betrayals of love in all its guises.

In June of 1989 Paul McLeod, a newspaper publisher and recent widower, travels to Greece, where he falls for a young American artist and reflects on the complicated truth about his marriage....

Six years later, again in June, Paul’s death draws his three grown sons and their families back to their ancestral home. Fenno, the eldest, a wry, introspective gay man, narrates the events of this unforeseen reunion. Far from his straitlaced expatriate life as a bookseller in Greenwich Village, Fenno is stunned by a series of revelations that threaten his carefully crafted defenses....

Four years farther on, in yet another June, a chance meeting on the Long Island shore brings Fenno together with Fern Olitsky, the artist who once captivated his father. Now pregnant, Fern must weigh her guilt about the past against her wishes for the future and decide what family means to her.

In prose rich with compassion and wit,
Three Junes paints a haunting portrait of love’s redemptive powers.
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Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

This enormously accomplished début novel is a triptych that spans three summers, across a decade, in the disparate lives of the McLeod family. The widowed father, a newspaper publisher who maintains the family manse in Scotland, is chary, dogged, and deceptively mild. Fenno, the eldest son, runs an upscale bookshop in the West Village, and his most intimate relationship—aside from almost anonymous grapplings with a career house-sitter named Tony—is with a parrot called Felicity. One of Fenno's younger brothers is a Paris chef whose wife turns out pretty daughters like so many brioches; the other is a veterinarian whose wife wants Fenno to help them have a baby. Glass is interested in how risky love is for some people, and she writes so well that what might seem like farce is rich, absorbing, and full of life.
Copyright © 2005
The New Yorker

Review

“Enormously accomplished….rich, absorbing, and full of life.” -The New Yorker

“A warm, wise debut. . . . Three Junes marks a blessed event for readers of literary fiction everywhere.”–San Francisco Chronicle

“Julia Glass’s talent sends chills up my spine;
Three Junes is a marvel.”–Richard Russo, author of Empire Falls

Three Junes almost threatens to burst with all the life it contains. Glass’s ability to illuminate and deepen the mysteries of her characters’ lives is extraordinary.” – Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours

“‘
Three Junes’ brilliantly rescues, then refurbishes, the traditional plot-driven novel. . . Glass has written a generous book about family expectations–but also about happiness.” – The New York Times Book Review

“Gorgeous. . .‘Three Junes’ goes after the big issues without a trace of fustiness and gives us a memorable hero.” – Los Angeles Times Book Review

“’
Three Junes’ is a novel that bursts with the lives of its characters. They move into our hearts, taking up permanent residence, the newest members of the reader’s family of choice.”–Times-Picayune

“Fiercely realized. . .luxuriant in its emotional comprehension and the idea, or promise, that anything might happen.”–
Boston Globe

“Radiant…an intimate literary triptych of lives pulled together and torn apart.”–
Chicago Tribune

“Sophisticated . . . Engrossing . . . Catches the surprising twists and turns in family relationships, amid love, loss, hope and regret.”–Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“The sort of sparkling debut that marks a writer as one to watch.” –
Daily News

“The fluid, evolving nature of family history is at the heart of this assured first novel.”–Time Out New York

“This first novel treats family ties, erotic longing, small children and prolonged deaths from AIDS and cancer with a subtlety that grows from scrupulous unsentimentality.”–Newsday

“Formidable. . . The traditional novel of social relations is very much alive in
Three Junes. Virginia Woolf and Elizabeth Bowen, among other exemplars, would surely approve.”–Kirkus Reviews

“Brimming with a marvelous cast of intricate characters set in an assortment of scintillating backdrops, Glass's philosophically introspective novel is highly intelligent and well-written.”–
Booklist

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anchor Books; First Edition (May 1, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 353 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385721420
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385721424
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.12 x 0.72 x 7.98 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,467 ratings

About the author

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Julia Glass
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JULIA GLASS is the author of Three Junes, winner of the 2002 National Book Award for Fiction; The Whole World Over; I See You Everywhere, winner of the 2009 Binghamton University John Gardner Book Award; and The Widower’s Tale. Her most recent novel, the highly-acclaimed And the Dark Sacred Night, was published in 2014. Her essays have been widely anthologized. A recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Glass also teaches fiction writing, most frequently at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. She lives with her family in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
1,467 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the story and how it intertwined. They found the book enjoyable and well worth reading. The writing style was described as beautiful and poignant. Readers appreciated the interesting characters and strong character development. They felt the relationships were comfortable and loving. However, some customers found the pacing slow and difficult to follow at times.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

77 customers mention "Story quality"63 positive14 negative

Customers find the story engaging with its intertwining lives and complex relationships. They appreciate the well-developed characters and symbolism throughout the story. The story concerns a Scottish family beginning in 1989.

"...It is a well-told family story with personal intrigues and family secrets, none of which are so outlandish that we don't have a few of them..." Read more

"...The characters are so well drawn and the backdrop of their individual lives is wonderfully interwoven over a period of three years...." Read more

"...The story concerns a Scottish family and begins in June 1989...." Read more

"...I was touched by his relationship with Mal and at many points in the book, I found myself smiling through tears...." Read more

68 customers mention "Readability"68 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging, with memorable characters and a rich story. The first two sections are excellent, while the third section is not as enjoyable for some readers. Overall, customers describe the book as a fine novel worth reading.

"...It was wonderfully well worth the time. This is not a book you can idly pick up and scan for a while, then return to it as time allows...." Read more

"...He is a man struggling with relationships, just like us all! This is a rich and delightful book that should leave most readers very satisfied." Read more

"...Told in three segments, the second is the most substantial, although it has a substantial number of similarities to THE BIG CHILL..." Read more

"Three Junes is a lovely read, one that begins strongly and only gets better. The story concerns a Scottish family and begins in June 1989...." Read more

60 customers mention "Writing quality"53 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style and find the plot captivating. They describe the author as a good writer with poignant prose that borders on poetry. The book is easy to read and interesting, making it a literary novel worth savoring.

"...unfolding of the characters themselves that moves the story along, beautifully, heartbreakingly...." Read more

"...The author simply but richly portrays her characters and, although there really are only glimpses into their lives, it is easy for one's imagination..." Read more

"Ms. Glass writes with gifted prose, which borders on poetry. She is at times insightful about her characters...." Read more

"...Her writing is simply beautiful and I believe gets stronger as the novel progresses...." Read more

56 customers mention "Character variety"46 positive10 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and well-developed. They appreciate the author's storytelling style and how the stories are woven together, with alternating viewpoints.

"...The author simply but richly portrays her characters and, although there really are only glimpses into their lives, it is easy for one's imagination..." Read more

"...The writing is beautiful and Glass gives us characters we can care about deeply...." Read more

"...dinner guests than they know about each other, it's an extraordinary gathering of characters." Read more

"I'm amazed and fascinated by the way the author weaved the stories of these characters, alternating viewpoints that often overlapped yet were each..." Read more

8 customers mention "Comfort level"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's comfort level. They find it tenderly and unsentimentally told about Fenno's life as a gay man. The book is described as heartwarming, funny, and delightful to read. Readers praise the well-drawn characters as compassionate and touching.

"...Fenno very tenderly and unsentimentally tells about his life as a gay man living in New York...." Read more

"...Realized how comfortable and loving the relationships can be between women and men who have that alternative life style." Read more

"...Touching and humorous, I fell in love with most of the characters, even the ones that I wasn't sure would even be likable...." Read more

"...Ignore the publisher's description, it's a book about the deep comforts of solitude and the sustaining, nourishing ways of friendship." Read more

16 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive13 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book slow and uninteresting. They say the characters are not well-developed, there is little action, and the ending is unsatisfactory. Many readers feel the book lacks excitement and has unnecessary ramblings that distract from the storyline. Overall, they are disappointed with the book's lack of interest and low quality.

"...They truly came alive to me. Not always likeable, but always 'real'...." Read more

"...Though , the last chapters were a little disappointing...." Read more

"...Not a lot of action, but eventually the reader becomes involved with the characters and it is hard to pull away from reading sessions...." Read more

"...I found it full of superfluous ramblings that had nothing to do with the story and caused my mind to stray so that when it came back to some..." Read more

15 customers mention "Difficulty to follow"4 positive11 negative

Customers find the book hard to follow. They mention it jumps around and is difficult to keep track of the story. Some say it's frustrating and a chore to finish.

"Found it a bit hard to follow at first, but later felt more comfortable with the writing style used...." Read more

"It was the most unorganized book I've ever read. The author skipped around from who was narrating and in what year, etc...." Read more

"...there really are only glimpses into their lives, it is easy for one's imagination to fill in the pieces...." Read more

"...characters were interesting individuals, but the sequence in the book made it hard to follow...." Read more

13 customers mention "Read pace"3 positive10 negative

Customers find the book's read pace slow. They mention that the plot doesn't hold their attention at times, and reading the overly long sections is painfully slow.

"...This book was well written. I have to admit that it was a slow starter for me, but I was hooked by the end of the first section...." Read more

"The book started slow and I wasn't sure that I liked it, but it picked up and then I couldn't put it down...." Read more

"...He's completely uninteresting and reading the overly long section is painfully slow...." Read more

"A slow read." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2002
    This book isn't my standard cup of tea, but the reviews were so universally good, I decided to give it a try. It was wonderfully well worth the time. This is not a book you can idly pick up and scan for a while, then return to it as time allows. It is a well-told family story with personal intrigues and family secrets, none of which are so outlandish that we don't have a few of them littering our own closets. Because she needs for us to know the Scottish McLeod family well in order to propel the story along, Julia Glass takes a lot of time and pages to get us acquainted. For the reader who requires action to move a story along, this is a bit of a test, because it is the unfolding of the characters themselves that moves the story along, beautifully, heartbreakingly. It is easy to become impatient with Fenno, our main character and mini-hero, because he seems so paralyzed by his life, but read on and you will come to appreciate the many fine qualities of his character and those of his well-meaning family. I felt very satisfied upon finishing this - and ready for a trip to Greece (subplot)!
    187 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2004
    As someone who reads very quickly, I generally have to read quite a few books before uncovering a book that makes an impression on me. There are very few books that make me stop and reflect upon either a great writing style or a great story line. This book has both. The characters are so well drawn and the backdrop of their individual lives is wonderfully interwoven over a period of three years. The author simply but richly portrays her characters and, although there really are only glimpses into their lives, it is easy for one's imagination to fill in the pieces. Fenno was a wonderful central character, a (...)man without the obnoxious affectations that one generally encounters both in literature and, sometimes, in real life. He is a man struggling with relationships, just like us all! This is a rich and delightful book that should leave most readers very satisfied.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2014
    Ms. Glass writes with gifted prose, which borders on poetry. She is at times insightful about her characters.
    However, I gave this novel 3 stars because the story is a mishmash. Told in three segments, the second is the most substantial, although it has a substantial number of similarities to THE BIG CHILL (copying or great minds think alike?). A number of innuendos are never resolved.
    In the first and second segments, Ms. Glass shows us family members through one another's eyes, and their perceptions are frequently contrary to the current reality. A son depicted as lazy actually becomes an industrious, successful worker, and so on. Because of their failure to know their most intimate life companions, they end up living their lives at great distance.
    The third segment is a mystery as to why it's there. The characters are vacuous, two are repulsive, and for the most part have little relevance to parts 1 and 2.
    This was Ms. Glass's debut novel, and she showed great promise because of her prose.
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2002
    Three Junes is a lovely read, one that begins strongly and only gets better. The story concerns a Scottish family and begins in June 1989. Paul McLeod, recently widowed, takes a tour to Greece, contemplating his future, his past, his family. Jump ahead six years and we are in Scotland, where Paul's three sons are preparing for his funeral. Jump again four years, to Eastern Long Island, a weekend get together with two of Paul's sons and Fern, a woman Paul met on his trip to Greece. It is hard to do justice to this novel in a few pithy sentences. The writing is beautiful and Glass gives us characters we can care about deeply. Their lives are complicated, but without any melodrama or pyrotechnics. Her writing is simply beautiful and I believe gets stronger as the novel progresses. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful novel and highly recommend it. Enjoy.
    35 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2003
    Before reading "Three Junes", I had read several light, summertime reading novels, so when I started this novel, I was thrown for a loop through no fault of the author's. At first I thought this book was full of cumbersome language that was hard to navigate. After giving this book a second chance I discovered that every word written on every page is there for a reason and the author weaves us into the tapestry of this story with effortless skill. This truly is a literary novel; one to be savored like fine wine or wonderful chocolate.
    Quite simply, I fell in love with the McLeod clan. The first section of the novel is dedicated to the patriarch of the family, Paul McLeod in the wake of his wife Maureen's death. We are introduced to his children, the oldest Fenno and the twins, David and Dennis. Paul McLeod is a proud proper sort of man whose Scottish roots run very deep. I literally felt the love Paul had for his life and all its facets even if he wasn't able to express it to his children. He admires all of his sons even though they choose not to join the family business and each follow their own path. The section dedicated to Paul ended much to soon and I was left grappling for more.
    I disagree with some of the reviews I have read that say the middle section that is told Fenno's point of view is too long. Fenno very tenderly and unsentimentally tells about his life as a gay man living in New York. I was touched by his relationship with Mal and at many points in the book, I found myself smiling through tears.
    The last section of the book tries to tie up all the loose ends, but doesn't really succeed. I felt happy and relieved about certain aspects at the end, but again was left wanting more.
    Even in the face of death by Cancer and AIDS, this book is filled with so much life that it overflows. It is a wonderful multi-generational book that feeds the soul.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Cathryn Hill
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to put down
    Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2019
    Glass’s writing is superb. In Greece, in Scotland, in New York I felt as if I were breathing the same air and seeing the same sites as the characters. Three stories, told from three perspectives, come together in a way that is believable and heartwarming. The characters are multi dimensional, and their struggles reflect well both the every day and the more momentous challenges we all face with family and friends.
  • Ruth Roxburgh
    3.0 out of 5 stars A good holiday read
    Reviewed in Australia on January 24, 2015
    A very enjoyable novel. A good holiday read.
  • Cathrine
    5.0 out of 5 stars FENNO !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2004
    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 ;-) ?!
  • Bernbaby
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed this story
    Reviewed in Canada on September 18, 2016
    Enjoyed this story. The story lines very loosely tied together but you had to be paying attention to get the tiny details that tied it together. Smart book.
  • moniek baars
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I expected
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2015
    Not as good as I expected, there was, how do I say this in English? Something wrong with the band and glue