The Newest Anne Tyler
Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June reads like a novella. Short and to the point. But there is a definite back story. So, the book has elements of a novel. The entire story takes place in about 72 hours. And the opening pages are a bit of a misdirection. Even though the daughter, Debbie, is a bride-to-be on the cusp of saying vows, her parents Gail and Max are the main characters.
Point of View in Three Days in June
The saga which makes-up Three Days in June is told by Gail Baines. Gail is almost more than middle-aged, divorced and possibly fired or maybe just quit. And she carries secret guilt. She freaks out over the possibility of her future son-in-law cheating on her daughter just before the wedding.
The first of the three days in June follows Gail’s job loss and the potential disruption of the wedding.
Day 2 of Three Days in June
Debbie gets married with angst from her mother and a totally different attitude from Max. He is the forgive and forget type of person. This personality lends a lot to the back story. It is not always the male that cheats on a marriage.
Secondary characters add to the wedding scenes. Indeed, the families are the center of the plot instead of the bride and groom. Gail’s mom, Joyce, provides a good contrast in personalities. And Max is a keeper.
Final Day
In the final day of Three Days in June, Max and Gail re-connect. More flashbacks from Gail bring forth the pain of infidelity from both sides. Anne Tyler expertly writes of the trials and pains of adultery. Guilt and remorse from the cheater’s side and forgiveness from the betrayed spouse.
The writing is deep. Three Days in June looks at the possibility of conciliation long after a marriage breaks apart. Anne Tyler does a good job explaining the complexity of a relationship in the aftermath of a broken marriage. She offers hope and an olive branch for those who have made the biggest mistake of their life. Once again, the author strikes gold with her writing.