Three-legged Horse

by Ann Hood

From critically acclaimed author Ann Hood, comes a riveting third novel about a young woman's attempt to break obsessive ties and gain independence.

Genres: Fiction

293 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Ann Hood is the editor of Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting and the bestselling author of The Book That Matters Most, The Knitting Circle, The Red Thread, Comfort, and An Italian Wife, among other works. She is the recipient of two Pushcart Prizes, a Best American Spiritual Writing Award, a Best American Food Writing Award, a Best American Travel Writing Award, and the Paul Bowles Prize for Short Fiction. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Reviews

[Monica Tomasello · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this dysfuntional family story and I'm looking forward to reading more by Ann Hood.

[Eric Klee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few books by Ann Hood, enjoyed the stories, and her writing style, so I decided to go back to one of her earliest novels now and read THREE LEGGED HORSE. The title refers to the name of the main character Abby's musical trio. The group breaks up and they go their separate ways. The story takes place in the late 70s/early 80s (I can't remember which). It's not a book I would normally pick up to read, but since it's by one of my favorite modern day authors, I thought I'd give it a try.

Without her band Three Legged Horse, Abby now finds herself wondering what to do. She's a woman of the 70s and has a precocious (and annoying) daughter named Hannah. Hannah was fathered by Zach with whom Abby is smitten and will do anything for, including giving up her own life and happiness. The problem is that Zach is never around. He wasn't around for Hannah's birth, he moves to different cities and states for his job as an artist, and then beds several women. He comes back to Abby every once in awhile, just to string her along. He loves her, but he loves to be with other women, too. And Abby is holding out for that one day that he'll come back for good.

Eventually, Abby seeks the help that she needs and, in doing so, she leaves Hannah with her mother in New York City. Her mother, Deidre, is a soap opera actress...and over-the-top. Think of Debbie Reynolds in "Will & Grace." She's really the best character in the book, and delivers the funniest lines. When finding out the name of her granddaughter for the first time: "Hannah? You named that sweet little thing Hannah? Hannah's an old lady's name. Or a farmhand. 'Fetch the water, Hannah.' It's horrible." Or when describing Hannah's appearance to Abby: "That child looks like something out of a Dickens novel. Don't you ever bathe her?" I love it.

As other reviewers have noted, the characters aren't really likeable in this novel. It's true. But that doesn't mean it's a bad story. We're not supposed to like Abby, Zach, or Hannah. And probably not even Deidre. But we're given insight into these people's lives, and I feel like I really got to know them, even if I didn't like them, thanks to Ann Hood's excellent writing and character development.

It's not my favorite of Hood's novels, but it was well written and a good read.

[Elaine Griffith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reflecting back on the books I’ve read before I began goodreads.
Don’t remember back to much I’d read here. It must not have been too memorable or awful- sorry to say.

[Lynn Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction

[gaudeo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having sat on my bookshelf for decades, this book is part of my campaign to read things I anticipate then being willing to part with. How well this book fits that description. Hood is not a bad writer overall. Her characterization of the adolescent Hannah is spot-on, but Hannah is the only sensible character in the book. The other primary character is her mother, Abby, whose decisions frankly baffle me. Her proclivity for falling into bed with men who are not her husband is not built into her character well enough for me to understand why she does it--unlike the same proclivity of her husband, whose frequent absences lead understandably (if maddeningly) to serial affairs with other women.

I would not be so focused on these particulars of these characters if there were more to them than their sex lives; but the only other thing that might round out Abby as a character is her music. The book begins promisingly enough, as the reader begins to feel how much playing violin (or "fiddle") in a band means to Abby. But shortly, the band breaks up, and for a good chunk of the book her music seems to leave her thoughts altogether, thus undermining her supposed love for playing.

All in all, I don't recommend this book. And I'm happy that I can put it in my discard pile at last.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I had just finished Like Water for Chocolate. I was struck by a parallel in the two books: Tita and Abby both have a long and difficult love for the man their hearts burn for, and a choice for a loved but 'nerdy' lover. Each chooses the passion -- with opposite outcomes. This one could be called a woman's coming of age story.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is about a woman whose husband comes in and out of her and their daughter's life. When her band, Three-Legged Horse breaks up, she tries to make things right in her life. The book was okay, but I was so frustrated with the main character that it ruined my enjoyment of the story.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty sappy story, like a Lifetime TV movie.

[Romelle Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read most of her books. She's from RI and includes New England in her stories

[Elysabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of this one. Slow pace, shifting narrative, weak female characters. Frustrating overall.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicely written, but the story didn't grab me.