The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint: A Novel

Book Description

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. As formative events go, nothing else comes close.

With these words Edgar Mint, half-Apache and mostly orphaned, makes his unshakable claim on our attention. In the course of Brady Udall’s high-spirited, inexhaustibly inventive novel, Edgar survives not just this bizarre accident, but a hellish boarding school for Native American orphans, a well-meaning but wildly dysfunctional Mormon foster-family, and the loss of most of the illusions that are supposed to make life bearable.

What persists is Edgar’s innate goodness, his belief in the redeeming power of language, and his determination to find and forgive the man who almost killed him. The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint is a miracle of storytelling, bursting with heartache and hilarity and inhabited by characters as outsized as the landscape of the American West.

Customer Reviews:

Laugh-out-loud funny!.......2007-09-21

This is one of those books that, if the first sentence hooks you, you'll be hooked until the end....but if it doesn't hook you, you might find it kind of painful to get through. Happily, I count myself in the former category. This book made me HOWL with laughter in some places, cringe in terror at others, and overall just root for Edgar Mint to come out unscathed - as if such a thing is possible.

One of the things I took away from this book is how none of us escape life unscathed, but that it is possible, nonetheless, to go through life bearing our scars in such a way that we are still capable of love and compassion. Many of the people Edgar careens into along his journey are unable to do so, yet somehow, despite the many, many horrors of his life, he manages to retrain a measure of grace towards others. Yet he is no naif, blindly believing the best of everyone even in the face of contradictory evidence. Indeed, his replusion/fascination with Barry is proof that he knows the depth of humankind's capacity for evil.

This was a very enjoyable read!

** To clear up a misconception some other reviewers have had: it's not a Catholic Church where he plays bingo, but an ORTHODOX church (Russian, I presume), where the priests are permitted to marry and have children.

Best book I've read in years.......2007-09-02

I devoured this book. It was very easy to become engrossed in this story. I've thought on it for the past week since I've read it. You know a book is great when you feel genuinely impacted by the tale. Thank you Mr. Udall. I can only hope you continue a long and prosperous writing career.

A MIRACLE OF A READ ~~~~~~~~~~~.......2007-08-04

THE MIRACLE LIFE OF EDGAR MINT

I am so happy I found this book! What a treasure! What a different type of writing and story line. I have never read a book such as this. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.

Edgar Mint narrates his story starting at the age of seven when he is injured drastically in a freak accident. The book is broken down into four different phases of Edgar's life -- his time spent in St. Divine hospital, his time spent at Willie Sherman, a horrible, horrible school where they send delinquent Indian kids, his somewhat happy time in Richland with a "real" family, and his final destination, Stony Run, where Edgar's story comes to an end.

This book is written so well and in such a unique way. In one sentence, Edgar is telling the story in the first person, the next, the story carries on in the third person. I found this endearing and different and PERFECT for this book. It was a fun way to read this wonderful story.

Edgar's story is mind-boggling. In his short life he meets so many different types of people, some good, some bad. Edgar has a tough life, but he keeps on keepin' on. He survives an accident that should have killed him. While at St. Divine he befriends the men who are in his room and some of them are a part of his life in the future. He is called the "miracle boy" and everyone at the hospital looks out for Edgar and cares for him.

Once he leaves the hospital he is sent to Willie Sherman, a school for JD Indian kids. This phase of the book was probably my favorite, although Edgar is treated brutally by the other students there. These kids are mean, rough, and alone in the world, no one cares about them. They pick on Edgar constantly and the living conditions are awful. Edgar turns into an accomplished thief and turns hard himself just to survive. However, deep down, you know he is still a good person.

The book goes on to Edgar's stay with a Mormon family in a community called Richland. Their way of life -- a normal, loving family -- is so hard for Edgar to imagine and believe. He is awed by everything in the home, from the family, their friends, their family meals, the pink rugs in the bathrooms -- he didn't know a world such as this existed.

The final phase of the book, Stony Run, is the end of the story and I do not want to spoil that, so I will not comment.

You simply must read this book. It is a winner, one of the best books I have read in a long time. You will fall in love with Edgar Presley Mint, just as I did. It is a different type of book, great story line, wonderful and different characters, excellent writing. You will appreciate your life and be thankful you got the opportunity to visit Edgar's mixed-up, sad, funny, warm, horrible, sweet life. ENJOY! And then tell all your friends and family about this winner.

Thank you!

Pam

The BEST yet!!.......2007-07-02

The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint has been easily the best book we have read for the book club. It combines an amazing story with the deep thoughts of life. The ending is outstanding and made me realize that I actually loved Edgar. I emotionally hoped and prayed for Edgar to get what he needed and wanted. When he did finally find his needs, I was overwhelmed. I can only think of a few books that pulled me in emotionally to the story and characters. 'The Miracle Life Edgar Mint' is a testament to written word. I still ponder why the author broke traditional style by adding third and first person writing in places. It tripped me up in the beginning, but soon I was able to follow the flow of Edgar being himself and Edgar viewing himself from outside. There isn't a single book like it.

Innocence and Courage Help Edgar to Rise Above Tragedy.......2007-05-03

This sharply funny, often deeply tragic novel is narrated by a remarkable young man: Edgar Presley Mint whose extraordinary tumultuous life summons up the epic novels of Dickens. Born on an Arizona reservation to an alcoholic Apache girl and her cowardly white cowboy wanna-be boyfriend, Edgar's life is already on a course for disaster. At the age of seven, the course of Edgar's life is changed when the mailman's jeep accidentally runs over his head, leaving Edgar on the verge of death. But his miraculous survival propels Edgar on a journey that will not end for almost thirteen years. Abandoned by his alcoholic mother, without family and friends, Edgar slowly recovers in the hospital. As he regains his strength, Edgar is befriended by his fellow patients, Ray, an alcoholic mourning the death of his wife and sons and Jeffrey, a drug addict. But eventually Edgar becomes healthy enough that he must leave the hospital. Shunted to a boarding school for delinquent Indians, Edgar is thrust into a Darwinian environment where the biggest and the strongest kids torture the weaker children. Edgar becomes the favorite victim of Nelson, a hulking teenager who runs a mini-empire of thugs who rob and torment other kids on Nelson's whim. Edgar survives only through his wits and quickness, becoming Nelson's most successful thief to forestall torments. Eventually, Edgar escapes to a Mormon foster home which holds new terrors and torments. Through all his experiences, Edgar retains an innocence and strength of character that amazes the reader. His matter-of-fact accounts of even the most horrible events are touching.

Book Description

A gifted but troubled physician, Blue Calhoun runs a thriving medical practice from his Nob Hill mansion in San Francisco while raising his son alone after an unthinkable tragedy. Then one day a female fugitive with a gunshot wound appears in Blue's surgery. Even though she holds a pistol aimed at his heart, the desperation in her eyes awakens Blue's compassion. Reluctantly he is drawn to her fragile beauty, her nerves of steel and the mystery surrounding her circumstances.

Isabel Fish-Wooten has spent most of her life on the run, but everything changes when she forces a stranger to save her life. Yet her rescue comes with an unexpected price. As Isabel recovers from her wounds, she finds herself touched by this remarkable man and yearns to reach out to him and his rebellious son.

From danger-filled back alleys to the glittering ballrooms of high society, Isabel and Blue confront the violence and corruption that threatens their newfound passion. Theirs is an unforgettable quest to discover a rare and special love, and the precious gift of a second chance at happiness.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Read.......2007-02-01

This was a good one but it lacked in the middle. Started off with a crime then it seemed that part died in the middle until the last few chapters of the book. Then it was like oh yeah forgot about that.

This Is A Pleasing Story..........2005-12-17

This is the first novel I've read by Susan Wiggs. I read her book "A Summer Affair" as the reviews were good and she showed up as a popular romance novelist. I was really pleased upon finishing the book to find it was a real gem of a story.

I liked first and foremost that neither the heroine, Isabel nor the hero, Blue were the typical leads you read about. Instead, she was a woman who came from the slums of a workhouse, was abandoned by her family and became a person of her choosing. She traveled the world and did as she wanted in order to make a life for herself she never had as a child. This sense of adventure and wonder made her interesting, appealing and lovable to all who met her. In turn, Blue was a family man - surrounded by a honest and true son, warm parents, female siblings and friends he met during the war. Blue was dedicated to helping the poor and infirm and was the beloved town doctor.

I liked that they met after Isabel was shot in a dangerous event down at the docs and she held Blue at gun point to help her recover. Suspicious activity occurred at the docks and questions arose around Isabel over who and what she really was. In time, events unfolded to show Blue that mourning the loss of his first wife was right but, so was moving on to a new life. Blue found through Isabel that learning to laugh, love and enjoy life again was the best thing to do. Isabel in turn learned that she didn't have to move to a new location each season in order to constantly leave her past behind. She understood finally that seasons of joy can be never ending and that love can make the past go away.

Love and intimacy scenes were limited in this book - only a few and minor at that. When a book is this well written - strong characters, positive and witty dialogue and interesting plots - the love scenes take on less importance. I really liked this writers strong descriptions and in depth detailing when describing locations, events and emotions - it really draws you in. These characters grew on you as the book went on.

The side characters of sisters, friends and family were also warmly told and that made for a richer story line. Everyone was so likable that you really wished to meet them! You know an author has done a great job when you wish other characters in the book would be developed too and that through other stories you can meet the main characters again one day to see where they are at.

I will buy more novels by this author and hope for additional characters and stories that stay with you long after the last page has turned. Happy reading!

A New Season.......2004-11-01

Annotation: Blue Calhoun is one of the best doctors in San Francisco. But he has turned to be a bitter, sad, and heart broken man. He meets Isabel Fish-Wooten, a runaway, who has no knowledge of her past. Blue saves her life from a gunshot wound and is sceptable of her. She wins the motherly love of his son. She tries to open up his heart again but neither is sure what is to come.

Author Bio: Susan Wiggs published her first novel, "I Still Have This-CL", at the age of eight. After getting degrees at Harvard, and SFA, she soon after became a math teacher. Her first book was published in 1987. She is still a teacher and is a frequent workshop leader and a speaker at writer's conferences. She is a recipient of two RITA awards. Her novel, "The Charm School", was voted one of RWA's favorite books of the year. She also has several RT awards, the Peninsula RWA Blue Boa, the Holt Medallion, and the Colorado Award of Excellence.

Evaluation: Dr. Blue Calhoun could have any women is the Victorian city of San Francisco. He is so overly heartbroken of his wife's death ten years before. He meets Isabel Fish-Wooten, a women who never stays somewhere for more than one season. She helps him and his son to reconcile their hatred for each other and learn to talk about his mother's death. Isabel is a strong, passionate, eager woman. She is too scared to fall in love as well as Dr. Calhoun. They know they love each other, but will he let himself love again? Will she leave when the season changes?

I think this book was a great romance novel. It is my first novel I've read by Susan Wiggs. I am sure to read more of her books in the near future.

A Summer's read........2004-08-18

This was a fairly interesting story. Interesting in that Blue and Isabel met in an unusual way in 19th century San Francisco. Isabel was an interesting character in that she was alone as a single woman in that time and making a way for herself in the world despite a terrible past.

Lucas was deep and withdrawn and wanted Blue's good opinion. It was interesting to note that his father thought Lucas should have know he loved him by the mere fact he was his son, but Blue had a difficult time voicing his love and approval of his own son whom he loved deeply.

This was not as good as some of her books but it's a quick read and enjoyable.

I enjoyed this book!.......2004-07-31

This is my third Susan Wiggs and although not my favorite it was worth buying and reading. What really brought out the book for me was the character of Isabel. This tortured heroine was strong and brave even when bad things were happening around her. She makes the story. I also liked Blue, but I wished Susan didn't have the second story line with Blue's son and the girl he liked just because it look away from the romance of Blue and Isabel. I also wished there was an epliogue, but there wasn't. If you like this book you should read The Drifter and The Hostage by this author.

Foxfire 3: Animal Care, Banjos and Dulcimers, Hide Tanning, Summer and Fall Wild Plant Foods, Butter Churns, Ginseng, and Still More Affairs of Plain

Average customer rating:

Foxfire 3: Animal Care, Banjos and Dulcimers, Hide Tanning, Summer and Fall Wild Plant Foods, Butter Churns, Ginseng, and Still More Affairs of Plain

Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0385022654

Missionaries of the State: The Summer Institute of Linguistics, State Formation, and Indigenous Mexico, 1935-1985

Average customer rating:

Fascinating Story

Missionaries of the State: The Summer Institute of Linguistics, State Formation, and Indigenous Mexico, 1935-1985
Todd Hartch
Manufacturer: University Alabama Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Mexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0817315152

Book Description

An account of American missionary activity abetted by Mexican nationalists.

Lázaro Cárdenas, president of Mexico 1934–40, is widely remembered as the most nationalistic and populist Mexican executive and was demonized by foreign investors scandalized by his nationalization programs, particularly in the oil industry. Less well known are his efforts to ‘Mexicanize’ indigenous populations and to reduce the power of the conservative Catholic hierarchy by encouraging anti-clericalism and Protestant evangelical activity. Common aims therefore united Cárdenas and Cameron Townsend, an American Protestant missionary.

With the support of Cárdenas and like-minded Mexican officials, Townsend formed the Summer Institute of Linguistics, or SIL, a training school for Protestant missionaries who undertook to learn indigenous languages and to translate the Bible into those tongues. The official justification of this project was that the Indians’ new vernacular literacy would serve as a bridge to learning Spanish and thus to assimilation into the larger national population. If at the same time Townsend’s linguists also served as evangelists of a fundamentalist form of Protestantism, so much the better; in doing so, the SIL effort would undermine the Catholic hierarchy, which was seen as a rival of the Mexican state and its plans for secular national development.

This unusual yet enduring alliance of a national government not known for friendship to foreigners and an unlikely collection of North Americans who united scholarship, political savvy, and religious zeal is this book’s topic. The author relates the development of the SIL from its close association with official Mexico in the early 1930s to the late 1970s, when a growing anti-SIL alliance led by a new generation of Mexican anthropologists induced the Mexican government to curtail its support for the SIL.

Hartch contributes objectivity to a topic that has been dominated by the polemics of either SIL supporters or opponents, recognizing the self-interest that actuated all parties, but also acknowledging that SIL, whether or not it meant to, empowered and enriched many indigenous communities through the provision of literacy.

Todd Hartch is Assistant Professor in the Department of History, Eastern Kentucky University.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating Story.......2006-09-23

I really enjoyed this book. It tells how a group of American missionaries worked closely with Mexico's socialist and anticlerical government for 50 years to translate the Bible into over 80 indigenous languages that previously lacked any written form. The reason the government helped the missionaries was to undermine the influence of the Catholic church, its main political rival, and to bring civilization to the "backward" Indian tribes. The author argues that although the missionary linguists won several thousand converts and helped launch a large Protestant movement in Mexico, they actually helped the indigenous groups reaffirm and even strengthen their ethnic identities. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in modern Mexican history, indigenous groups, or Christian missions.

International Affairs Review: Vol. 15, No. 1, Spring/Summer 2006

Average customer rating:

International Affairs Review: Vol. 15, No. 1, Spring/Summer 2006

Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Civil Rights & Liberties | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

International | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

China's Quest for Energy Security

ASIN: 1419645447
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Book Description

In This Issue:

Sudan War Crimes and the ICC
Security vs. Fundamentalism in Uzbekistan
Promoting Peace and Development in Haiti
China's Growing Energy Crisis
Improving Global Oil Secutity through the IEA
Strengthening Weak States in Central Africa
Interview: Ambassador Jawad Discusses Nation-Building in Afghanistan
Book Reviews: Deadly Connections, Unsilencing the Past, and The Market for Force

Average customer rating:

Eh
Gripping!

A Summer Affair
Ivan Klima
Manufacturer: Chatto and Windus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0701131403

Customer Reviews:

Eh.......2007-07-09

I have to strongly disagree with the other reviewer. I found this novel singularly uninteresting and pedestrian. A middle-aged man, bored with his family life and insecure about his professional accomplishments becomes obsessed with an attractive younger woman; they have an affair during which he destroys his family and his career to be with her, and then she kills herself.

Not only have I read this story before, but there was nothing in this telling to make me want to read it again. After the first few chapters, I skimmed it, just in case things went differently than I expected.

They did not; and I don't even want to have this book on my shelf anymore.

Not recommended (as if that weren't obvious).

Gripping!.......2000-01-20

I luckily stumbled over Klima's books while living in Berlin, from where I made frequent trips to Prague. If you have ever visited Eastern Europe you will find some special enjoyment in reading this powerful novel.

Average customer rating:
An Audience for Einstein (2006 EPPIE Award Winner)
Mark Wakely
Manufacturer: Mundania Press LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books
Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Perfect Shot (Young Adult Fiction)

The Quarry Cave

The Giver

The Book Thief (Readers Circle)

The Takers (Oz Chronicles, Book 1)

ASIN: 1594260966

Book Description

Professor Percival Marlowe is a brilliant, elderly astrophysicist who's dying, his greatest achievement still unfinished and now beyond his diminished means.

Doctor Carl Dorning, a neurosurgeon, finally discovers a secret method of transplanting memories from one person to another, thanks to Marlowe's millions.

Miguel Sanchez, a homeless boy, agrees to become the recipient of Marlowe's knowledge and personality in this unorthodox experiment, enticed by Dorning's promises of intelligence, wealth and respect, but dangerously unaware that his own identity will be lost forever.

What results is a seesaw battle for control of Miguel's body, as Marlowe learns to his dismay what his lifetime of arrogance and conceit has earned him.

And when Marlowe stumbles upon the shocking procedure Dorning used in desperation to succeed, the professor does what he must to defeat Dorning and redeem himself at last.

Download Description

Professor Percival Marlowe is a brilliant, elderly astrophysicist who's dying, his greatest achievement still unfinished and now beyond his diminished means. Doctor Carl Dorning, a neurosurgeon, finally discovers a secret method of transplanting memories from one person to another, thanks to Marlowe's millions. Miguel Sanchez, a homeless boy, agrees to become the recipient of Marlowe's knowledge and personality in this unorthodox experiment, enticed by Dorning's promises of intelligence, wealth and respect, but dangerously unaware that his own identity will be lost forever. What results is a seesaw battle for control of Miguel's body, as Marlowe learns to his dismay what his lifetime of arrogance and conceit has earned him. And when Marlowe stumbles upon the shocking procedure Dorning used in desperation to succeed, the professor does what he must to defeat Dorning and redeem himself at last.

Book Description

In this study of Job, Rohr calls to each reader to let go of old certitudes and goals, and place faith and trust radically in God alone. --Spiritual Life

Customer Reviews:

Suffering and spirituality.......2007-02-04

The way of perfection on the spiritual path is hard and narrow, with few willing to persevere. Painful circumstances, those that are self-induced or materialize for reasons that are beyond our control, jeopardize our security and primary attachments to persons, places, and things, all of which ultimately disappoint us (if only because they're losable). The pain of suffering and loss gets the attention of the mindful soul in a way that goads it to contemplate that which endures in the midst of all that fades and passes. Reaching for the fixed point is reaching for God, for Spirit, for one's God-self. In this book, Richard Rohr names and defines the mystery of the sacred process that leads us to God and our own center simultaneously. The book helps inform the reader with a Judeo-Christian perspective on suffering, which declares that suffering is not a virtue in its own right, but can be utilized by God in drawing us closer, via spiritual surrender, spiritual abiding and spiritual consciousness -- toward our true identity in God. Few books or authors address this reality more clearly or authentically. Highly recommended for spiritual sojourners and those lost and reeling in the midst of personal suffering and pain.

A compelling journey.......2006-11-11

Ever since I first read C.S. Lewis's `The Problem of Pain', half a century ago, the search for answers has been part of my life. Richard Rohr has taken me in a new direction. Job and the Mystery of Suffering does not provide quick-fix answers, but offers instead a journey into the Pascal mystery. I found it an intriguing invitation and not an easy one to comprehend. A second, more thoughtful reading is yielding a much more meaningful understanding for me. The place of Job in human thinking is portrayed with an honesty that will appeal to many readers. One can identify readily with the great range of his expressions - rage, despair, pleading and impatience - but his unyielding trust through it all is well underlined as the book unfolds. I regard Job and the Mystery of Suffering as one of my better acquisitions.

Amazing.......2004-04-07

This book, outside of the Bible, has been the most inspirational book I have ever read. I had to read it for a class, so I approached it grudgingly. Yet now every other page (literally, I'm not kidding) is dog-eared with highlighted and underlined sentences. This book is amazing and I think every Christian should read it. Non-Christians would probably enjoy it to as it deals with probably the largest block to faith: the problem of suffering.

Clear View.......2000-07-07

Richard Rohr has a clear view about suffering. Through Job, Richard, explains away our misconceptions about suffering and leads one into a contemplation of Gods view of the human condition.

Re-view Suffering.......2000-05-12

Richard Rohr's writing is clear and concise. This is an "easy read", meant in only the best way. It is not so deeply theological that one needs training to decode the message. For a topic as difficult as this, he helps the reader review suffering. The title is truly appropriate since bad things do happen to good people - as Job indeed was good yet suffered intensly. Rohr does an excellent job disecting the book of Job and revealing his (and our) relationship with God within the pain, not apart from it.

JOB AND THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING: SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS

Average customer rating:

JOB AND THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING: SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS
RICHARD ROHR
Manufacturer: The Crossroad Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OZT8MC

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books