Sweet Texas Angel

For the last story to read, I picked Sweet Texas Angel. Sweet Texas Angel is about Kay, a student who abandons nursing school to become a household helper. Every Saturday, she visits her very sick mother who has lost her memory and takes care of her as well. Kay feels extreme pressure with so much on her plate. Along with taking care of several people, Kay has one night stands and builds a sexual relationship with the father of the family she is taking care of, Lee. Lee is a married business man, but this does not stop him, or Kay. Lee shows no remorse in his adultery with Kay. He shows full interest in her while leaving his wedding ring on, not feeling any guilt. Kay has an abortion before meeting Lee but this also does not seem to alter her views on being with Lee or hold her back. As a reader, I saw Kay as a character yearning for attention, whether it was from the wrong person or not. Kay knew how wrong it was to sleep with Lee and how much it would destroy and hurt the family, but did it anyway.

I believe McGlynn touches upon many themes in this story. First, he observes sacrifice. Kay sacrificing her nursing career as well as aborting her baby. This story also ties in a lot of religion which I believe connects to sacrifice, as well as sin and fate. The theme of religion creates many questions for me as a reader whether or not to connect “everything happens for a reason” to this story or were these things obstacles for Kay. For example, Kay “sins” with her relationship to Lee. But, she did not plan on dropping out of nursing school, but because she did it led her to Lee. Was leading her to Lee fate, or was it a sin for her to avoid? Was God testing her?  

McGlynn leaves his readers with a lot of questions, which is thought-provoking, but then again frustrating. We as readers all interpret the story differently from what we have experienced in our own lives. Personally, these stories are very long and drawn out and I do not really like how the author leaves us questioning and almost creating our own story.