Summary

Part 4, “Angel in the House,” is told from the point of view of Embeth, Congressman Levin’s wife, who has been a minor character in the novel up to this point. The section begins on the morning of Embeth and Levin’s thirtieth anniversary party. The previous year she had been sick from chemo on their anniversary, and Levin had promised her a big party the next year, even though she does not want one and even though he is busy with the election. It is days before his reelection, and Levin must fly to DC for the day with his assistant Jorge. He leaves in the morning, and as soon as he goes an imaginary talking parrot named El Meté appears in the room and starts harassing Embeth. She is exhausted and in a bad psychological place. She cannot sleep and is still...