The Three of Us: A Family Story

by: Julia Blackburn

Published by: Pantheon Books (July 22 release)

Reviewed by Knevits Stephens

This is a memory of Julia, her father Thomas, and her mother Rosalie. Julia tells of heartbreak, a broken home, wanting to be loved, and of loss and reconciliation.

Thomas was a poet, alcoholic, and addicted to prescription pills. Once Julia was born he has a big problem with fidelity. He could get violent towards Rosalie but never hurt Julia except once by mistake. He taught Julia poems that they would recite together.

Rosalie was a painter, very sociable, sane, and flirtatious. She thought of Julia as a sister rather than her daughter. Her own sister committed suicide when they were younger. She would use Julia as her protection from Thomas when they fought because she knew he’d never hurt Julia.

Rosalie was married to Thomas for sixteen years then they got a divorce. Although Julia had always favored her father over her mother, she stayed with her mother who took in lodgers since they had a spare room. These lodgers were usually single men who Rosalie would hook up with. She would share alcohol and sex tips with her daughter.

In Julia’s teen years, they had a big falling out over a man. All these years there were fights and accusations towards each other. Sure they kept in touch and wrote to one another but it was never the mother/daughter relationship it should have been.

Rosalie was diagnosed with leukemia and told she’s dying. She goes to live with Julia her last month on earth. Julia gets time to ask her mother about all kinds of things from over the years.

They finally start to form a bond. Julia was by her mother’s side holding her hand, giving her kisses, and her mother even calls her “daughter” for the first time ever.

I was in shock when reading this memoir. It tells of being loved and wanting to be loved. Living in a broken home and just wanting to be accepted. With heartache and loss, you soon find that the past stands still as the future moves on.

Armchair Interviews says: The book is full of photos, poems, faxes, and journal entries.