Brady UdallReviews

What a fun book to read! Rooting for Edgar all the way.

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.)

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].½

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 !

Golden Richards has 4 wives and 28 children and a construction company that is currently building an addition to a brothel in Nevada. While there, he meets his boss's wife and falls for her in a different way, but the relationship is never physically consummated. He still lives with guilt about his job and the longing to know the other woman better. Different children play a role in the story also, especially Glory and Rusty. The book is both humorous and sad, even including some suspense. It is an interesting look into the world of multiple wives and what that really means.

Loved this book. Great main character and loved the side characters. No one has a great life but there is hope.

Overall, I did enjoy this book though I would not read it again. It is the story of a man with four wives and how, even with the wives and many kids, he is not happy. It focuses on him and one of the kids mostly but does also delve into the wives a bit. To me it shows how when you appear to have everything, you can still be very unhappy. When you are always searching for something better, you cannot enjoy or appreciate what you have.

With an opening line like this - '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,' you were quickly drawn into this endearing tale. Despite the unlikelihood of surviving such an event, this book is captivating. After three months in a coma, Edgar wakes to find himself in a ward with other very damaged individuals and there he remains for close on two years. His only visitor, the Dr who resuscitated him, has since been dismissed. He is eventually transferred to a boarding school for Native Americans. The one major effect of the accident is Edgar has lost the ability to write. He can read but the words won't translate to the written page, so he is supplied with a typewriter. Arriving at the Willie Sherman boarding school armed with his typewriter and wearing a protective helmet he soon becomes the victim of bullies. He maintains contact with one of the other members of the hospital ward, who has his own demons. After surviving two years there, he is offered a home with a Mormon family. He thinks he has landed in his perfect life, feeling loved and cared for, for the first time. However, his past soon impacts on this happy episode and Edgar decides to pursue his quest of finding the mailman, to let him know he is okay, he did survive.
This is a lengthy but heart-warming story peppered with eccentric, flawed characters.

so far I love it.
OK, now I've finished it, 500 pages went by so fast. Loved the writing, beautiful descriptions of natural and unnatural events, funny and sad.

Quite the tale. We've had Big Love. We've had Sister Wives. This book's family is somewhere on the fringe of what they call fundamentalist Mormon life.

Golden Richards finds himself with four wives and twenty-eight children, living in multiple houses in Utah. While some men envy him and wonder what he's got that they don't, they don't know how it is for him. He has no room of his own, for one. He shuffles from one house to another, one bedroom to another, carrying his clothes with him. There is no regularity to the system, however. The wives get together to make the schedule and sometimes it falls apart. Especially when Golden is on the road, working on a construction job in Nevada.

In every way, in fact, Golden is not in charge. His first wife, Beverly, set the tone and made the rules. The four wives met together and managed the households, occasionally bringing Golden in for approval (which he always gave). There is no real sisterly love here, though. The wives eye each other with suspicion.

It is perhaps not too surprising, then, that when Golden's eyes light on the lovely wife of his boss, he doesn't confide in anyone about his yearnings. Well, yes, she's already married. But even if that were not the case, would he share?

Shift to the rebel. Tweenager Rusty cannot be controlled. He takes pleasure in breaking rules, wild midnight bike rides, and visits to a man named June, who, Rusty thinks, might be good for his mother. Never mind that his mother is already married - to Golden. Rusty can see that the relationship needs a little work. And Golden is hardly ever home.

The story is quite a combination. There is a great deal of humor, some deep aching pain, and even stomach-clenching fear. All families are different, regardless of how they are made up.

I listened to the audiobook and it was so entertaining that I immediately listened to it a second time!

Did not like this book at all. The last chapter was well written, maybe cause I finally got thru it!

What a glimpse into a life I could not imagine living. Udall does a good job of telling the story of a fundamentalist polygamist from different perspectives- Golden, the patriarch; the four sister-wives; and most poignantly, the overlooked 'trouble-maker' son, Rusty.

One of those quirky-main-character tales, but this one was a bit too dark and depressing for me.

"If I could tell you only one thing about my life it would be this: when I was seven years old, the mailman ran over my head."

Did you laugh? If so, this book is for you (also, you are a friend of mine). I have loved this book since it came out in 2001, back when no one much wanted to read about bad things happening to children. Worth it for the love of a Hermes typewriter.

I only made it through 40 pages, all describing one scene - 25 kids running amok in a big house after dinner. After two pages, it just got tedious and the humor fell flat for me.

This is one of my favorite authors, and this set of short stories is one more reason to love this guy. I esp loved the title story, "Letting Loose The Hounds". In a dry but funny way, he captures the essence of the spirit of his characters, and his stories always have somewhat of a surprise ending. Quirky, sarcastic, real and unforgettable.......

It was pretty good, the story of a Native American boy who had been run over by a mail truck, and his experiences in boarding school, foster care, etc. Udall creates a unique voice for Edgar, which I liked. However, I felt the book could have been improved by editing. Edgar tends to give exhaustive details, which makes sense given his character, but it was a bit much for me at times.½

A beautifully written, family drama. The strange thing is, I can't think of who I would recommend this to. I think the book would be a great book for a book group to read and discuss. I feel the reader must have some life experience to truly appreciate the story of Golden Richards and his family.

I started this book in 2013 and put it down. In the spirit of finishing and making sure I had given it every chance I picked it up again. Now I have given it time that I will never get back and I'm most irritated. This book drags on and on without giving you any opportunity to bind with any character. Although you only get to know a few of the characters, there is nothing interesting about them. The story is flat and had no real direction. I am not even sure why I gave this a second star. It's truly barely one star worthy.

Amazing. One of my favorite books of the year.

Another book that I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Even though the book did not end at all the way I wanted it to, it was a very enjoyable read. I've always been fascinated by the subject matter (though I could never be a sister wife) I was unsure about this book. While it started a little slow, it became engrossing quickly. The stories of the rich, flawed, unique characters drew me right in. My favorite character was Rusty, but I also felt a surprising kinship with Trish. A great read, one I recommend for anyone looking for something a little off the beaten path.

Not my usual choice of book. I am glad I picked it though.
Young Edgar Mint a half apache 7 year old boy nearly dies when he is run over by a postman on the Reservation where he lives with his Mum.
Edgar then goes to hospital, gets better then school, he then is adopted by a Mormon family.
This is the story of Edgars life from boy to Man, he meets lots of characters good and bad along the way.
He isn't very sharp but he isn't dumb her loves to type on an old type writer.
His mission in life is to seek out the Postman and tell him that he never died and is doing well.
He tracks down the Postman's widow and lives with her for a while.

Original well written nice story.½

Depressing, sad and brilliantly wonderful at the same time. Only picked it up to pass the time, but kept going throughout. How this isn't cinematized yet I don't know. Perfect for the screen.

This is a very good novel written with lots of humor and compassion, Udall is clearly some one who enjoys his characters with all their foibles intact and doesn't shy away from any behavior. The Lonely Polygamist tells the story of one man, four wives, and 20 children and provides many moments of laughter and tears.