Kate Zambreno

A ripple of a shock went through the New York literary world when relative unknown Julia Glass won the National Book Award this year with her debut novel, "Three Junes." The book buzz behemoths of the year--Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex," Alice Sebold's "Lovely Bones" and Jonathan Safran Foer's "Everything is Illuminated"--weren't even nominated. So what's so magical about this drama, centered around the transcontinental Scottish McLeod family, that was written by a freelance editor and mother while at her kitchen table? Focusing on a trio of intersecting lives that unwind over a decade in three summer months--a recent Scottish widower, his gay son touched by AIDS in Greenwich Village and a pregnant American artist--the stories in "Three Junes" are connected, and then blended, and then torn apart, and then rebuilt, by family. This rich and engrossing tale of love, loss and renewal is absolutely marvelous.

Julia Glass reads from "Three Junes" on May 7 at 6pm at Chicago Public Library, 400 South State, (312)747-4300; and on May 8 at 7:30pm at Women & Children First, 5233 North Clark, (773)769-9299.

(2003-04-30)

Also by Kate Zambreno

Tip of the Week
Just who the hell is this Jonathan Safran Foer? For a while all you could hear about was his brilliant first novel, "Everything is Illuminated," featuring the exploits of the eponymous protagonist.
(2003-04-22)

Baby, if you've ever wondered
A Chicago comedy troupe prepares for an aural stage
(2003-04-22)

Tip of the Week
The almost mythical Los Angeles, in which Nina Revoyr sets the "Southland" of her novel, has navigated the hard labyrinth of history in which races and generations intersect in the still-changing Southern Californian neighborhoods.
(2003-04-15)

Culture clash
The boys are wearing eyeliner and bobbing to a female DJ making intense ambient sounds out of her laptop, while videogame graphics play on a projector...
(2003-04-15)

Tip of the Week
(2003-04-09)

Pulp nonfiction
(2003-04-09)

Dr. Sex
(2003-04-02)

Button it up
(2003-03-26)

Sew fine
(2003-03-12)

24 Hour Party People
(2003-03-12)

Tip of the Week
(2003-02-19)

The Mourning After
(2003-02-19)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment