Brady Udall

This was another book that did not live up to the premise of its (totally awesome) title. In fact, I found it so boring that I've apparently put off reviewing for two weeks.

What I expected was an exploration of polygamy, emotions, and the idea of being lonely when surrounded by people. Maybe also, being a Jewish woman from the eastern half of the country, and therefore having very little exposure to Mormons and known to FLDS, I have a bizarre fascination with them.

What I got was a quality author acting like he could get away with the most basic of midlife crisis plots by adding a couple extra wives. With four wives and a potential fifth, a mistress, a mob boss, an anarchist bomber and 20-somthing children, you'd think that at least some of the supporting characters would have something in the way of character development. Unfortunately, it was mostly a bumbling, completely unsympathetic putz of a main character and the son cast in his own image with no characterization of the remaining cast.

On the other hand, Udall's use of nuclear experimentation as a foil for interpersonal dynamics worked beautifully (if not a little on the wordplay side of things.)… (més)

First Line: “… If I could tell you one thing about my life it would be this: when I was seven years old the mailman ran over my head”

Edgar Mint is a half Native American, half white child. His father abandoned his mother before Edgar was born. His mother, an alcoholic, deserts Edgar after his accident while he is recovering in the hospital.

Because, although grievously injured, after three months in a coma, Edgar recovers, although he is unable to write. He is sent to an Indian orphanage where he is ignored by the adults and abused by the other, full-blooded Indians.

He is periodically approached by the megalomaniac doctor who saved his life, and who has since been dismissed by the hospital, lost his license and become a drug dealer.

Two Mormon missionaries befriend Edgar and eventually get him placed into a Mormon foster home. Although idyllic on the surface, there are dark currents underneath.

Throughout it all, Edgar undergoes continual abuse and yet maintains his core, moral self. He believes his purpose in life is to find the mailman who ran over him and let him know that he is alive.

This is a very strange novel. I enjoyed the complexities of the quirky characters, most who have both good and bad aspects, but the Native Americans seem to tip toward the dark side. Was there a decent Indian in the entire story? The friend that Edgar cherished at the boarding school was Indian, but it calls to mind the saying from the Indian wars exterminations that “the only good Indian is a dead Indian.”

I did not read closely enough before choosing this book, and thought the author was a Native American. Instead, he is white and Mormon (which definitely informs the story). Nor did I realize that I had previously read one of Udall’s books, [The Lonely Polygamist].… (més)

Loved this one! Very original and quite different from anything I've ever read. And I always admire an author whose not afraid to kill off his best characters. And while Golden is unarguably the main character, it's his son Rusty(the family terrorist) who steals the show for me. Golden spends most of his time whining about how hard it is to keep 4 wives and 29 kids happy. He's a man who spends to much time thinking about his problems and not enough time taking action to resolve them. Now Rusty on the other hand, just a boy of 11, tackles life's difficulties head on. Rusty Is Da Man ! Sadly, his actions cause his own death. But hey, at least he gave it his all !… (més)