7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strange feelings..., June 9, 2005
This review is from: Three (Paperback)
This book is both beautiful, and disturbing. I will tell you up front that this is definately not for the faint of heart. Most of the depictions are extremely graphic, which makes the gut-wrencing scenes even more so.
There are two central themes here, and they are sex and obsession. The title implies that the central focus is threesomes, but this subject actually takes up a negligible amount of the book. Actually, threesomes are only the beginning. Soon, the intimate life of the main characters, Maya and Ilan, become more and more intense, spiralling into the almost fatal. Ilan wants to take Maya into deeper, darker places sexually, and this eventually turns into simulated rape, razor blades, and even guns.
Despite how horrific some of this can be, what really has the most impact here is Maya's emotions, and her willingness, and even enjoyment, of letting Ilan do these things. At times the reader thinks she truly does love him very deeply, but at other times it seems as if it's only an obsessive dependence. You'll wonder if she does these things because she really wants to, or only does it to make him happy. Ilan's real feelings for Maya are always in question.
The story is beautiful, almost stream-of-conciousness, and the feelings Ms. Hilden evokes with her amazing writing had me enthralled. The emotional impact it had on me was amazing, and at times I found myself surprisingly angry and horrified with the events.
But for all the horror, it is strangely erotic, although I wouldn't call this an erotic novel. Because of all Maya goes through, it had me nearly praying for a truly intimate and caring scene between Maya and Ilan. And there are unnumerable sex scenes.
This book has so much gut emotional impact, and beautiful writing, but I would only recommend it for those who don't mind possibly being shocked or apalled.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and Compelling, September 1, 2003
This review is from: Three (Paperback)
This book was not what I expected at all. The writing is compelling and it touches on some really dark subjects with an unexpected warmth and dimension.
This book is not really about threesomes, nor would I call it erotica although I see that it's listed as such and the bookjacket seems to give that idea.
This story is about the darkness inside of people, the places that exist beneath the surface, lurking in the shadows, waiting to unfurl.
While it seems at times that the darkness lies inside of Ilan, and he surely has some, it's really with Maya. Maya who loves and yet hates what Ilan is to her, what he evokes from her, the depths to which she's allowed herself to go because of him and yet when he's gone, the darkness isn't and she's left to confront and process her own part in the trauma he's wrought in her life.
The book is beautiful in a completely unique way, the writing is wonderful, the story is haunting and gut wrenching. It's an amazing and worthy read.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THREE is a definite charm!, July 29, 2003
This review is from: Three (Paperback)
Julie Hilden's Three is described as a "modern-day Story of O." I will have to agree with the aforementioned comparison. This is one of the darkest stories of love, sex and obsession that I've read in quite a long time! When Maya discovers Ilan's infidelity, she makes the conscious decision to allow him to engage in all sorts of exploits with other women. However, there's a catch: Maya has to take part of said exploits. The threesomes are as tantalizing as they are disturbing, and Maya is reluctant to admit that she's relished the experiences. But then Ilan becomes intimidated with Maya's thriving journalistic career and the sexual games become dangerous - possibly fatal. The novel's disarming twists give a whole new meaning to the word "threesome." The ending floored me.
Three is a unique and sinister love story. The comparison with Story of O is well deserved. There are elements of S&M in this novel - and said elements are the undertones of the story. Also, the character development is excellent - Ilan and Maya are two of the most interesting characters ever written. This is a drop-everything-you're-doing-and-read-this-in-one-sitting novel. I savored the last pages with gusto because I hated to see it end. After all, erotic/psychological thrillers this good are scarcely written these days. Hilden is a great author and I look forward to reading her other books with utmost anticipation.
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