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Three
What's the greatest sacrifice you would make for love?
Maya and Ilan have an unusual marriage: Maya will tolerate Ilan's chronic infidelity as long as he includes her in the affairs. Initially, Maya finds these unorthodox threesomes as arousing as they are disturbing - but when her writing career takes off and she becomes more independent, Ilan feels threatened, and opts for sexual experimentation of another kind: one that plays on Maya's fear and ultimately threatens her life.
Meanwhile, Maya is drawn into a relationship with a fateful third character. When her new liaison begins to mirror her marriage to Ilan, Maya discovers that her lover, seemingly a stranger, knows far more about her past than she has revealed.
Brave, daring and deeply erotic: 3 is a compelling chronicle of obsession and power.
'Julie Hilden does what few writers can dare to. 3 is smart, sexy, strange and impossible to put down.' Dani Shapiro
Maya and Ilan have an unusual marriage: Maya will tolerate Ilan's chronic infidelity as long as he includes her in the affairs. Initially, Maya finds these unorthodox threesomes as arousing as they are disturbing - but when her writing career takes off and she becomes more independent, Ilan feels threatened, and opts for sexual experimentation of another kind: one that plays on Maya's fear and ultimately threatens her life.
Meanwhile, Maya is drawn into a relationship with a fateful third character. When her new liaison begins to mirror her marriage to Ilan, Maya discovers that her lover, seemingly a stranger, knows far more about her past than she has revealed.
Brave, daring and deeply erotic: 3 is a compelling chronicle of obsession and power.
'Julie Hilden does what few writers can dare to. 3 is smart, sexy, strange and impossible to put down.' Dani Shapiro
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First published July 29, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 1, 2014
I have always wondered when reading a book that indulges in some sexual gymnastics or kink or whatever, just how much the author separates him or herself from the contents. Is the activity something they have experienced, always wanted to, frowned upon?
So when I saw this book mentioned on Julie Hilden’s bio on her column at http://verdict.justia.com/, a very interesting blog related to court decisions, my eyebrows shot up and I had to scrape them off the ceiling. Hilden graduated from Harvard and Yale Law School and also holds an MFA in creative writing so the writing is quite competent. She writes frequently on First Amendment issues, and I have enjoyed her columns.
I don’t know what to make of her book, however. It’s about a wife who marries Ilan with the understanding up front they will engage in threesomes. Following their marriage her obsession with him leads to all sorts of self-destructive behavior. This not the kind of book I usually read, nor like to read, and nothing in this book made it more appealing. I don’t enjoy reading about self destructive behavior; sex with guns and razor blades has no appeal at all and frankly, if I had my druthers, Ilan would be locked up. My wife is sensible enough that if I pulled a stunt like that she’d pull a Lorena Bobbitt. Billed as erotica; it’s not.
Hilden has also written a memoir (a Bad Daughter) which apparently details some of her less fortunate romantic choices. I wish this book had left me with a clearer picture of what a woman should not do, given the outcomes here. Her romantic adulation of Ilan struck me as bizarre. I’m no prude and would willingly indulge in all sorts of fantasies (well when I was younger perhaps, now I’m just happy to be able to tie my shoelaces and those velcro ones look appealing) but nothing that involved razor blades. On the other hand, I learned from a description of her memoir that Hilden carries the same gene that led her mother to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s.
But, maybe it’s just the rush to indulge in writing about S&M given the meteoric rise of Shades. I have no idea how to rate this book. Writing is good (4), content is totally unappealing (1). It would be a very interesting book to discuss with the author, however, so I guess a (3).
So when I saw this book mentioned on Julie Hilden’s bio on her column at http://verdict.justia.com/, a very interesting blog related to court decisions, my eyebrows shot up and I had to scrape them off the ceiling. Hilden graduated from Harvard and Yale Law School and also holds an MFA in creative writing so the writing is quite competent. She writes frequently on First Amendment issues, and I have enjoyed her columns.
I don’t know what to make of her book, however. It’s about a wife who marries Ilan with the understanding up front they will engage in threesomes. Following their marriage her obsession with him leads to all sorts of self-destructive behavior. This not the kind of book I usually read, nor like to read, and nothing in this book made it more appealing. I don’t enjoy reading about self destructive behavior; sex with guns and razor blades has no appeal at all and frankly, if I had my druthers, Ilan would be locked up. My wife is sensible enough that if I pulled a stunt like that she’d pull a Lorena Bobbitt. Billed as erotica; it’s not.
Hilden has also written a memoir (a Bad Daughter) which apparently details some of her less fortunate romantic choices. I wish this book had left me with a clearer picture of what a woman should not do, given the outcomes here. Her romantic adulation of Ilan struck me as bizarre. I’m no prude and would willingly indulge in all sorts of fantasies (well when I was younger perhaps, now I’m just happy to be able to tie my shoelaces and those velcro ones look appealing) but nothing that involved razor blades. On the other hand, I learned from a description of her memoir that Hilden carries the same gene that led her mother to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s.
But, maybe it’s just the rush to indulge in writing about S&M given the meteoric rise of Shades. I have no idea how to rate this book. Writing is good (4), content is totally unappealing (1). It would be a very interesting book to discuss with the author, however, so I guess a (3).
November 20, 2015
This book is both beautiful, and disturbing. I will tell you up front that this is definitely not for the faint of heart. Most of the depictions are extremely graphic, which makes the gut-wrenching 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, spiraling into the almost fatal. Ilan wants to take Maya into deeper, darker places.
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 innumerable 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 appalled.
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, spiraling into the almost fatal. Ilan wants to take Maya into deeper, darker places.
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 innumerable 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 appalled.
August 17, 2014
I've just finished and 5 stars is the only rating i can even consider.
The blurb on the back of the book more or less tells you the storyline, but what it doesn't tell you is this is written in first person POV which makes everything starkly intimate. The writing is lyrical and sparse not over laced with decription, but this makes it also lush and emotive. As the relationship between Maya and her husband Ilan unfolds the reader is taken on a dark and dangerous journey filled with obsession and control, I felt much the same as when i read The Ages of Lulu which has a similar theme (of power and obsession)and ultimately made me question which one of the couple was the weak one? which one actually had the control, the ability to make the other stop and think about their destructive yet seemingly balanced relationship. I didn't feel uncomfortable reading this despite some of the dark things that took place, by coincidence I had the same reaction with The Ages of Lulu, so this is how I know this is 5 star read for me. I think many readers would find it pushed their boundries a little too far, it's not a romance, but more erotica in the same vein as The Ages of Lulu and Story of O. This is a story I will come back to, there is for me more to understand. I loved it!
The blurb on the back of the book more or less tells you the storyline, but what it doesn't tell you is this is written in first person POV which makes everything starkly intimate. The writing is lyrical and sparse not over laced with decription, but this makes it also lush and emotive. As the relationship between Maya and her husband Ilan unfolds the reader is taken on a dark and dangerous journey filled with obsession and control, I felt much the same as when i read The Ages of Lulu which has a similar theme (of power and obsession)and ultimately made me question which one of the couple was the weak one? which one actually had the control, the ability to make the other stop and think about their destructive yet seemingly balanced relationship. I didn't feel uncomfortable reading this despite some of the dark things that took place, by coincidence I had the same reaction with The Ages of Lulu, so this is how I know this is 5 star read for me. I think many readers would find it pushed their boundries a little too far, it's not a romance, but more erotica in the same vein as The Ages of Lulu and Story of O. This is a story I will come back to, there is for me more to understand. I loved it!
July 29, 2013
This book was good enough to get me through an hour-long wait at the doctor's office, but I didn't think it was worth much more than that. The characters are easily to dislike and not easy to understand (and I say this as someone who enjoyed The Story of O). The reader doesn't ever fully understand the female character's obsession with this man, who frankly sounds obnoxious, controlling in a non-sexy way, and doesn't even come off as very intelligent. The woman comes off as weak and totally helpless before the people she has sex with. I'd love to read a book about someone with similar sexual proclivities that actually has a strong female and a caring male. If you're looking for something in this vein, I'd recommend "Story of O," "Pussy, King of the Pirates," or maybe just a Violet Blue erotica anthology.
May 8, 2010
Page 35: "I believe people betray themselves." So here: to our flaws, the beginning of our own little tragedies, our fractured lives.
August 13, 2019
Anyone who knows anything about erotica knows that it is, at least, in abundance. Simple smut is readily available and punchy porn, even more so. There are scads of nicely written erotic short stories, but this is something more difficult to find. Julie Hilden's 3 is beautifully written and more than just an erotic novel. It is literature; lyrical, delicate, sensual and haunting. It is, from the start, impossible to put down.
According to 3's back cover, it is a modern day Story of O. This isn't the first time that a piece of erotica has used this tag, but in Maya there is the same selfless love and willingness to give up anything as her offering. And so, like O, Hilden's Maya knows love through sacrifice, submission and degradation. As a result of the intense love she feels for Ilan, she agrees to accept his infidelity, as long as she is always there. The result of this bargain is a series of one-time encounters with various women, all of whom physically resemble Maya. As Maya realizes her own power, Ilan is threatened and that is when their sexual adventures take a frightening turn. Even as she is disgusted with herself, she is aroused.
This is where the similarities with O end and why 3 is compelling as a modern day Story Of O. It is the road O might have taken if it had been written today. 3 is not the story of a woman being whipped and beaten to tears. Nor is it the story of a woman having her body used by the nameless and faceless at the whim of her lover. There is no Chateau in Hilden's tale. Maya's torment is self-imposed. She is never held captive, but by her own heart. She knows that she can leave, but what would life be without Ilan? And in that question lies Maya's fear and this story. The reader who picks up this book simply to re-live the Story Of O, with all of the sadomasochistic play, may be disappointed. But let me make it clear that 3 is anything but disappointing. Hilden's Maya feels real and the pain and confusion of her journey, genuine. 3 isn't just thrilling, invigorating and erotic, it's empowering. It is a success.
According to 3's back cover, it is a modern day Story of O. This isn't the first time that a piece of erotica has used this tag, but in Maya there is the same selfless love and willingness to give up anything as her offering. And so, like O, Hilden's Maya knows love through sacrifice, submission and degradation. As a result of the intense love she feels for Ilan, she agrees to accept his infidelity, as long as she is always there. The result of this bargain is a series of one-time encounters with various women, all of whom physically resemble Maya. As Maya realizes her own power, Ilan is threatened and that is when their sexual adventures take a frightening turn. Even as she is disgusted with herself, she is aroused.
This is where the similarities with O end and why 3 is compelling as a modern day Story Of O. It is the road O might have taken if it had been written today. 3 is not the story of a woman being whipped and beaten to tears. Nor is it the story of a woman having her body used by the nameless and faceless at the whim of her lover. There is no Chateau in Hilden's tale. Maya's torment is self-imposed. She is never held captive, but by her own heart. She knows that she can leave, but what would life be without Ilan? And in that question lies Maya's fear and this story. The reader who picks up this book simply to re-live the Story Of O, with all of the sadomasochistic play, may be disappointed. But let me make it clear that 3 is anything but disappointing. Hilden's Maya feels real and the pain and confusion of her journey, genuine. 3 isn't just thrilling, invigorating and erotic, it's empowering. It is a success.
October 4, 2017
‘Three’ by Julie Hilden is disturbing yet erotic. As the central couple, Maya and Ilan, travel through and negotiate the sexual rules of their marriage, the power balance queasily shifts. Newly-wed Maya sets out to please her husband physically, he being the more sexually experienced of the two, and finds within herself a need to be controlled. She becomes a participant in Ilan’s philandering through her involvement in the threesomes he arranges (on condition the women involved resemble Maya herself). When the experimentation proves arousing to Maya, alongside her writing career taking off, Ilan is the one left vulnerable and seeking a new form of sexual adventure, taking their sexual liaisons to erotic extremes. Through the psychological twists and turns of their marriage and relationships with others, breakdown and calamity seem inevitable outcomes.
Erotic but much more than erotica, Hilden’s writing is sensual and evocative, leaving an impression on the reader after the last page has been turned. This makes for a compulsive read.
The sexual experimentation described in the novel is an integral part of a plausible relationship and its development. It may have been interesting to hear first-person accounts from both partners, inter-leaved or sequentially, Maya’s character and motives seeming much more developed than Ilan and whatever drives him, but that is a cavil.
Erotic but much more than erotica, Hilden’s writing is sensual and evocative, leaving an impression on the reader after the last page has been turned. This makes for a compulsive read.
The sexual experimentation described in the novel is an integral part of a plausible relationship and its development. It may have been interesting to hear first-person accounts from both partners, inter-leaved or sequentially, Maya’s character and motives seeming much more developed than Ilan and whatever drives him, but that is a cavil.
February 11, 2021
Interesting from the point of view that the woman has no clue why she is absorbed in an S & M relationship. Does a good job of description and yet it was oddly non-stimulating, even the "vanilla" eroticism. She was a good writer, but I finished it not getting any insight into her involvement or the meaning of some of the events. I think it was more about obsession and who understands that?
January 16, 2021
Icy sexy empty hororshow
April 13, 2009
It wasn't so much dislike that made me give this only one star. It was more disinterest. There was an interesting hook to start the book: a woman catching her husband with another woman. Okay, I'm intrigued. And back cover copy told me that said wife would agree to an "open" marriage of sorts. That's why I picked it up! The author has already won me halfway over because I picked up the book. But, it takes more than that to keep me interested.
The prose was written well. The book had a literary look and feel to it. And, even though it may seem like I have a bias against modern literary fiction, I really don't. Some of it is interesting, and some of it isn't. This one wasn't. The characters were bland. They weren't sympathetic at all. I didn't like any of them, and I didn't dislike them either. I just turned pages. Pretty soon, I didn't care enough to continue to do that. I didn't care about their motivations. The sex was boring, even though it was supposed to be illicit and exciting. It wasn't the words that made the sex boring, it was the lack of interest in the characters.
A lot of people enjoyed this book, and that's great. Anything that is positive feedback for an author is a good thing. For me, though, this was a disappointment. I probably won't be trying any of her other fiction.
The prose was written well. The book had a literary look and feel to it. And, even though it may seem like I have a bias against modern literary fiction, I really don't. Some of it is interesting, and some of it isn't. This one wasn't. The characters were bland. They weren't sympathetic at all. I didn't like any of them, and I didn't dislike them either. I just turned pages. Pretty soon, I didn't care enough to continue to do that. I didn't care about their motivations. The sex was boring, even though it was supposed to be illicit and exciting. It wasn't the words that made the sex boring, it was the lack of interest in the characters.
A lot of people enjoyed this book, and that's great. Anything that is positive feedback for an author is a good thing. For me, though, this was a disappointment. I probably won't be trying any of her other fiction.
December 24, 2012
the American "Story of O," Hilden's work, transported to upscale New York City and Yalies, is tightly written and demonstrates an artist's ability for twist of plot/narration. representing a year's work of effort and refinement through the generally-regarded as rigorous MFA process, 'Three' is a return on investment for time and money on the part of the reader. not everyone reads erotica, but if you are a reader willing to read a book in the genre, Hilden advances her specialty, and the stepping stones of her advancement are clear.
tight, taut prose; an ace mind behind the authorial voice; and certainly not least, the frisson that Hilden is well-regarded in the legal profession before achieving as well in this, her second public area of expertise. if you are wondering what frilly underpants exist beneath those black judicial robes (this is a metaphor *cough*), one will enjoy this professional work in a genre overrun with dollar-for-word count contracts.
tight, taut prose; an ace mind behind the authorial voice; and certainly not least, the frisson that Hilden is well-regarded in the legal profession before achieving as well in this, her second public area of expertise. if you are wondering what frilly underpants exist beneath those black judicial robes (this is a metaphor *cough*), one will enjoy this professional work in a genre overrun with dollar-for-word count contracts.
July 30, 2011
its a good read very easy and open. its at times alot self asbsorbing, the maya character is greatly explored but she is very confused, and needy. it kidn of sums up the scars that are left from broken childhoods that this modern society has to suffer in the forms of dperession,slef abuse and sexual excess. ilan tries to fulfill his need for intimacy by sex, where he can control women, to compensate for the utter lack of control he felt when his mum was ill. maya in turn craves the devotion that was denied her by parents. a good book nontheless.
December 11, 2012
I was first a little pissed at this book, my friend gave it to me because she said it was crazy and hard to read. However, I found it to be the opposite. What made me mad was the fact that she chose to stay for all the foolery and fuckery in the story, however, if she would have left then there wouldn't have been a story. I thought I had the whole thing figured out and then I got a surprise and couldn't wait to hit the end of the book. If you don't mind kinky stories then you nay find this interesting. I like that book way more than I thought i would.
May 27, 2015
It's a very nihilistic take on Story of O.
The lead character, Maya, was never truly invested in what was going on b/w her husband and her. She just floated along until her husband committed suicide.
Yet, even her husband's suicide did not immediately "activate" her "awakening". It takes her to almost being killed to do that.
Would not recommend if one is interested in a "softer" read. It's very very depressing!
The lead character, Maya, was never truly invested in what was going on b/w her husband and her. She just floated along until her husband committed suicide.
Yet, even her husband's suicide did not immediately "activate" her "awakening". It takes her to almost being killed to do that.
Would not recommend if one is interested in a "softer" read. It's very very depressing!
January 2, 2013
This book is almost impossible to rate. I read it years ago, yet it still stays with me in some ways. It must have had some impact on me, right? I can honestly say that I've never read a book like this one. It's all sorts of messed up, dark, confused and completely implausible. Yet, I'm ok with all of that in fiction. If you want to try something different and are ready to let your judgements go, then try out 3.
December 1, 2007
Interesting premise -- sexual obsession, suicide, fantasies... but I couldn't get past the choppy, dispassionate prose. Couldn't figure out if it was stylistic or just bad writing. Guess that means it was bad?
Too much S&M to make it appealing to me.
Too much S&M to make it appealing to me.
February 9, 2009
I absolutely loved this book. One of my favorites by far, I happened to stumble upon this book not knowing what I was getting myself into, and fell in love. A very well written novel, and a very sexual one, surprisingly enough. Please... this is a must read!
June 23, 2013
You remember that time you suggested to your partner that you wouldn't mind a threesome? Well sometimes it's not all wine and roses... This is sexy, dangerous and provocative. Julie Hilden is great fun and very sexy and thrilling at the same time.
January 11, 2015
Not what I expected. An "open" marriage is not what these people had. The husband made all the choices, the wife none. How could that be considered "open"? It was a story of obsession and overbearing control. Yuck.
April 8, 2007
Found this in the clearance section for a reason.
August 27, 2007
very odd love story. but strangely erotic
June 24, 2012
Erotic story of blood-play, suicide, narcissism, threesomes, and more. It is a quick and interesting read if you like things a bit edgy.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews