Presented to: Brady Udall
For: The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint
In The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint Brady Udall writes of a world where miracles happen and religion has the power to change people. The title character, Edgar, has enormous physical, social, and cultural hardships, but he maintains a natural innocence and morality that enable him to persevere.
Through Edgar's experience in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Udall draws an easily recognizable portrait of everyday Mormons--people who still have struggles in spite of their belief in Christ and membership in His Church. In this novel, the Church exists as part of the relevant cultural setting and not as a religion that needs explanation, justification, or additional proselyting tools.
Throughout Edgar Mint, Udall employs vivid, evocative descriptions that conjure the visual images, sounds, smells, and moods of the situations that make up Edgar's miracle life. Udall doesn't shrink back from describing the horrors of Edgar's life, but he also never takes on the tabloid and voyeuristic view prevalent in much of today's entertainment.
The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint extends the possibilities of Mormon literature into new arenas and does so with quality storytelling and unforgettable characters.