A slim novel, I read Three Days in June by Anne Tyler in one day. Its the story of Gail and Max, their marriage, divorce and life afterwards, told during the three days of their daughter’s wedding. It sounds like a simple story but there are hidden depths. Not a wasted word or phrase, this is a coming to terms with yourself as the years draw on. Gail Baines is not having a good day. Being told by her boss that she is being replaced, Gail drives home to find her ex Max on the doorstep holding a cat carrier. Their daughter Debbie is getting married tomorrow to Kenneth and tonight is the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Surrounded by memories, shared jokes, remembered disputes, and input from Debbie and Gail’s mother, the past cannot be ignored. Without you realising it, Tyler tells the story of this couple, both teachers, who have shared so much together but avoid talking about what tore them apart. Instead they talk about eggs, about the nameless cat that needs a home that Max is keen Gail adopts and Gail is adamant she won’t, about Debbie’s husband-to-be and his family, and interwoven throughout is the baggage of their marriage.
Just when the focus is one hundred per cent on Gail and Max – will Gail resign from her job, will Gail and Max drive each other nuts sharing the house, will they be nice to each other – Debbie arrives at Gail’s house from her pre-wedding beauty session and throws a curve ball. She’s just heard that Kenneth has cheated on her. Max is forgiving, Gail is furious. Max counsels caution and recommends giving Kenneth a chance to explain. Gail is terrified Debbie will accept his apology and marry him anyway. The subtext of Gail and Max’s reactions become clearer as the three days in June progress.
This is a story of marriage, love, sadness, mistakes and laughter, full of truisms of the kind Anne Tyler specialises in. ‘Sometimes when I find out what’s on other people’s minds I honestly wonder if we all live on totally separate planets.’ There is no complicated plot, just people being people; funny, awkward, messy, honest, tender, accepting. It’s a tiny gem.

Read my reviews of these other books by Anne Tyler:-
A SPOOL OF BLUE THREAD
CLOCK DANCE
FRENCH BRAID
LADDER OF YEARS
REDHEAD BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
VINEGAR GIRL

And read the #FirstPara of:-
DINNER AT THE HOMESICK RESTAURANT
BACK WHEN WE WERE GROWN UPS

If you like this, try:-
‘The Croatian Island Library’ by Eva Glyn
‘When All is Said’ by Anne Griffin
‘Natural Flights of the Human Mind’ by Clare Morrall

And if you’d like to share a link:
#BookReview THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-amB via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:-