She is a good storyteller although this book is a bit of a departure from her normally "magical" stories. The book tells the story of 3 women backwards in time. Using this method is clever as we are first presented with characters who we may not like initially but about whom we discover endearing aspects to their characters later on in the novel. In a way, this shows us that in life, we are often quick to judge and once you see a person in a different light, you may well change your first opinion of them.
The big question of course is "Who is the Third Angel"?
After much discussion, we agree that maybe the Third Angel is any act of kindness amongst humanity. The story has important instances where an act of kindness changes another person's course in life. For example, the gift of the dog for Lucy.
We agree that the middle story about Frieda was the most enjoyable, especially the picture that Hoffman paints of the relationship between Frieda and her father, the doctor. Other characters are not as developed and we feel perhaps Hoffman was rushed into finishing the book. We thought the story of the Blue Heron was a bit overused although the choice of the blue heron may have something to do with the fact that Hoffman herself is a breast cancer survivor. In Native American tradition, the blue heron brings a message of self-determination and represents a pillar of strength.
If you'd like to read more of Alice Hoffman's books, Patty's suggestions are "Seventh Heaven", "Here on Earth" and "Blackbird House".
We rate the Third Angel 7 out of 10 because it was an enjoyable read and it makes you reflect on everyday life.
Our next book is Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
