Three Days in June, Anne Tyler, author; J. Smith-Cameron, narrator
This is a brief novel, but it is written with the classic tenderness, humor and clarity of Anne Tyler. Each sentence speaks volumes. This author is one of my favorites and she does not disappoint in this novella that deals with maturing, the job market, relationships, social interaction, temptation, infidelity, secrets and forgiveness, among other things.
Gail Baines is suddenly a woman who is forced to discover who she really is and what she really wants out of the rest of her life. Change is coming, and she either adapts or gets left behind.
She is facing a new reality. She has just discovered that although the Director, Marilee, is retiring, and Gail is next in line for the top position, she will not be promoted, but instead, she will be passed over. She is about to be replaced and forced out of the job to which she has devoted herself, actually expecting, one day, to be the Director. Defying Marilee’s pleas for her to return and not to be so upset and disappointed, she turns and exits the school building.
Gail will not be the new sheriff in town. There are new people in charge, and they want a more modern, younger staff that is socially adept and will deal more successfully with the parents and problems of the Ashton School. Gail is, apparently, thought to be lacking in people skills. After her initial shock, sadness and frustration about the events facing her, she begins to wonder about herself and how she has behaved her whole life. Is she difficult? Has she been found wanting in social situations? As she begins to recognize her own possible mistakes and shortcomings, as she reviews her past, she also begins to change. Thus, those around her also change in the way they react to her.
This happens to be a terrible time for Gail to learn this life altering news about her future prospects. This is the weekend of her daughter Debbie’s wedding. There are three festive days of non-stop celebration approaching. Gail does not feel like celebrating! Does she ever? When she gets home, her ex-husband unexpectedly arrives early for the wedding weekend. Not only does Max arrive, but so does a cat he is in the process of helping to rescue. Gail is stunned. This cannot be happening. Her future son-in-law, Kenneth, is allergic to cat dander. Max wants Gail to adopt the cat, but how can she adopt a cat and also welcome her daughter when she visits? Will she bring cat dander home to her husband? Will he be able to visit?
Well, the cat is with Max, and Max can’t go to Debbie now, so they are both going to stay with Gail. She insists that she will not adopt the cat. Max must take the cat with him when he leaves.
The weekend comes and goes and the wedding is a successful event. She finds that the cat is pleasant to have around. In addition, she and Max, though they have been apart for more than two decades, appear to be getting along very well. As Gail is begins to wonder if everyone doubts her people skills, she begins to think about how she really treats people. She begins to see herself in a new light; she begins to change. As a result, the people around her also change in the way they react to and treat her. The three days of celebration and reunion have a tremendous influence on 61-year-old Gail and 65-year-old Max. Now that their daughter is moving on with her life, independently of her parents, how will they move on?
I really enjoyed this book. It very naturally and easily confronted the issues we all have to deal with as unexpected happy and unhappy events change our path in life. Do we go gently into that dark night, or do we go laughing with pleasure looking forward to what awaits us?