Author: Julia Glass

I don’t know where I got this book but when I pulled it off the shelf the title intrigued me. Were we talking about three women named June? Did the story take place over three Junes? The book cover was of no help.

As it turns out the story takes place in June but over several different years. The first section tells the story of Paul, a recent widower, who is on a tour of Greece. The main story though is his life with his wife and their three sons – Fenno and the twins Dennis and David.

The second section takes place six years later, after the death of Paul. This story focuses on the life of Fenno, a gay man living through the AIDS pandemic in New York City. Up to this point I could hardly put the book down.

The last section was a disappointment. I expected the back story of Dennis and David but that was not the case. It takes place four years later and, although it ties in a few ends from the earlier stories, it hardly seems to fit.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Rosalind Laker

There is so much in this book, set in Holland in the 17th century. Francesca Visser is the daughter of a painter (I don’t think he was real) and longs to pursue a painting career on her own. Both Rembrandt and Vermeer were contemporaries of her father and they figure into the story. There is even a reference to the painting which is the subject of the book The Goldfinch.

Tulips and the tulip trade also play a big role in the story. Tulip mania had ruined a number of fortunes and the search for unique colours and flowers leads to some of the mystery behind the characters. At the time of the story France is threatening to invade Holland for a second time.

But generally, this is the story of three young women and the struggles they encounter in their search for love.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Shannon Moroney

One month after her marriage, while she was out of town, the author’s husband committed two acts of brutal sexual assault. This is her story of dealing with the trauma of her situation, her relationship with her husband, and how she found a way to heal and help others in similar situations.

The book is an easy read and, in hindsight, it is laying the ground for her work in restorative justice.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Margaret Atwood

I’m not a huge Atwood fan but when I saw this series on Netflix I knew right away that I wanted to read the book. Our library was still intact at that time and I was surprised that we didn’t have a copy of the book on the shelf. On my last trip to Texada I was looking on the bookshelf there and found a copy that I probably purchased at one of the thrift shops or the library sale.

The novel, based on a true story, has details filled in from Atwood’s imagination. In 1843, Grace Marks was convicted for her involvement in the murder of two people. Her partner in the crime was sentenced to death by hanging but Grace’s original sentence was commuted to life in prison. She spends the next 29 years in the penetentiary with a bit of that time spent in the lunatic assylum. The thing I most wanted to know was whether or not Grace was guilty as from the very start there were many people who thought she was innocent. I will have to live with the fact that I’ll never know for sure.

Through the book, Grace is pictured as sewing a variety of quilt blocks. Each section of the book starts with a sketch of a quilt block and I definitely see an Alias Grace quilt in my future. Those quilt blocks bumped my rating from 4-stars to 5.

Goodreads Rating: * * * * *