“The Third Angel” by Alice Hoffman

Truly, Alice Hoffman is a fairytale-teller.

Her stories are grounded and other-worldy concurrently. I have yet to read something of hers that was not a thrilling amalgamation of both. She manages to be entertaining and clever, without the sappy, too obvious ministrations of other plot-driven writers.

Alice Hoffman has written a wondrous book that encompasses the lives of the five leading female characters, their lovers, and their children.

We meet two generations of women. Almost unbelievably, we hold our breath as they all tangle together, sometimes consciously, sometimes not.

Hoffman’s stories are as from from prosaic as you can imagine.

Lucy, Daisy, Bryn and Frieda’s stories all converge in London. Either peripherally or directly their lives are destined to entwine. It is compelling to see from the reader’s unblemished perspective how their lives will be affected.

How amazing to meet someone as a child, who will be in your children’s future, and yet be unaware of it. Hoffman’s gift of seamlessly manipulating a timeline is readily apparent when the lives of the next generation – the offspring – merge. Paul, Maddie, Allie, and Stella’s actions have far-reaching effects, some of which we are aware of as we watch their parents’ lives unfold.

None of the standard introductions for Hoffman. The tangled web is remarkable. As we delve deeper and are shown whence these characters come, it makes us miss a heartbeat as we watch them intermingle.

As children, as adults, as mothers, and as lovers, these characters all infiltrate one another’s lives. Each meeting has far-reaching consequences and the inevitability of fate dangling just beyond an apparently random encounter.

A chance meeting of Lucy Green’s in Hyde Park will prove to be with the woman, who will be her future son’s adopted grandmother. A ghost in the ethereally tangible hotel is the catalyst in the lives of Lucy, her daughters, Frieda, Bryn and many more. Even the hotel rabbit moves from person to person within this maze.

Hoffman accomplishes these maneuvers without guile. The incredible plausability is a testament to her craftiness. Every time you did not see the twist coming, which is thankfully often, you are delighted.

Despite the sadness and the seemingly inescapable truth of death, the story rings true. Her analogy of the three angels is insightful.

Frieda’s father, the doctor, says it is all in front of us. We have but to look and Hoffman opens our eyes.

The women agree, “ Love can be complicated or it can be simple”. The plot of “The Third Angel” may seem complicated, but, in contrast, relishing it is simple.