In the past I've enjoyed Brett Lott's nonfiction, particularly essays that have appeared in Fourth Genre, but I was not particularly taken by this book. The biggest issue was that it lacked concision. It waxed way too long, especially in the second half where large segments of time were collapsed into a few pages or even sentences and then 15 minutes of experience with minimal action and lots of internal monologue took over 10-15 pages. I found myself skimming. I also would liked to have noted a tighter connection between the child that Jewel was and the adult she became. I fear that the reason the connection did not feel credible to me was that this was a male author and female narrator. In many ways Lott captured the essence of the maternal and wifely experience, but there was something missing, some thought process that I kept looking for but never quite found.

The book was given to me by a friend, and I always like to read books that others enjoyed, so I'm glad to have read Jewel, and I'm also glad to have the contrast between Lott's fiction and non-fiction.

Ah, the dynamics of relationship. What would you do to help your child? It took five months for Jewel to realize that her daughter wasn't developing at the same speed as her older five children, and another several years before she was able to get any help for the "Mongoloid idiot" she had birthed.

The author did a compassionate job of identifying the interactions of the family members to this child and to each other. His voice as a female was up there with the author of "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All" and his descriptions of the south rivals those of Mr. Burke. Those mosquitoes, those damned mosquitoes.

Lott does a terrific job with this book. The story essentially covers the entire life of the main character, Jewel, but the author does so in a way that is sensitive, believable, and never feels unfocused. I enjoyed Lott's perception and honest insight into human character.

At the very beginning, I struggled just a hair with some word choices at first (the "n" word, cracker, retard, etc.), but more because it offends my 21st C. sensibilities than because of the writing. It was appropriately used for the time period and characters' morality.

Contrary to what some others have said, I don't think the author hates Mississippi, nor did I find it in any way awkward that a male wrote in female first person. To the former criticism - I don't want to give away too much of the story, but the state relates more to other issues than to Mississippi itself (restriction and confinement vs. power and freedom, that sort of thing) and most any other place could have been chosen, just change the descriptions of what is oppressive about it. To the latter - this has been done and done and done, the book is outstanding, and author gender is irrelevant. From having worked with developmentally disabled people and their families myself, I can confirm that the mother is usually the one doing the bulk of the caregiving (like in most families), and therefore to suggest that the story should have been written from the father's point of view is to suggest an entirely different book.

Much is made about the siblings' relationships in other commentaries. I will say this didn't bother me much. The main character, the mother to them all, is so wrapped up in the disabled child that, after the disability is revealed, she is rather obsessed about that child. The author does not say that this is okay or good, it simply is. And in that relationship is a certain level of uninvolvement as far as the other children, which I think the author makes the reader aware of mostly by omission. I think it's an exaggeration to say the other children are perfect with their sister, but they do reflect the loving and accepting attitude their parents have. Also, it is made clear they didn't get away with much, and I doubt a bad attitude would have been tolerated.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys novels about human character and condition, and the struggles each of us face as we journey through life.

First off, I love the voice of this writer. I had to keep looking at the author's picture on the inside back flap to convince myself that Bret Lott was, in fact, a man. Jewel, the main character, travels from Mississippi to California, back to Mississippi and back to California, spanning more than 6 decades of her life and marriage. More joy and happiness in this novel might have let me give it 5 stars. It's not a "down" novel by any means, but there was much angst and real life sorrow and submissions, amidst quiet smiles and peaceful security. Themes in this book are marriage, children, racial tension, poverty, and living with disability.

I really enjoyed this book. This novel is one of those sagas that follows a family over the course of much of the 20th century. The character of Jewel as a woman, wife, and mother of a special needs child was a great heroine to think about and sympathize with. I found the complex relationship she had with her husband fascinating and insightful. It takes a close and realistic look at how men and women deal with with hardships in a family. The under girding theme of God and His hand, though never completely understood is threaded through this novel; though this book is not to be lumped into Christian Lit genre...I really like that. Brett Lott is a Christian who does not write Christian novels, but because an author can not separate his firm beliefs and his writing the spiritual and God-directed questions are always going to be present. Leif Enger, and his fabulous book , Peace Like A River, is a great example of this type of author and book. In Jewel, the protagonist is simply a believer in God, another important character has spiritual giftings, and Jewel, when faced with horrible hardships does what every believer does: questions the goodness and relevance of God.
I will say, I never really end up enjoying sagas as much I like them in the beginning because there is always a "dragged out point" in the narrative. There is always a point after very detailed and poignant writing where the author is forced to then fast forward and sum up a few decades and for me it throws cold water on the magic of the story he has achieved in creating so for. It happened for me in Thorn Birds and in Roses. So there was that section of about 75 pages where I found myself speed reading to "just finish the thing". However, this books ends beautifully with some absolutely excellent scenes that examine family and marriage relationship.
Recommend for nearly any reader who enjoys insightful books with real developed characters with a close look at family dynamics.

Onvan : Jewel - Nevisande : Bret Lott - ISBN : 671042572 - ISBN13 : 9780671042578 - Dar 535 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 1991

This is a heart-rending book; one that touches so effortlessly on the depths of pain and happiness that the human spirit can endure. It is a beautiful, thoughtful story; one with the message of the hope that is found through perseverance, forgiveness, and finding the joy in even the most trying of situations, even those that become a life-long commitment.

This story is not only about Jewel, although a large portion of it follows her journey as a cast-off orphan to a mother of five and lifelong caregiver to her mentally-challenged daughter. But it is also about a husband who sacrifices home, children who sacrifice a normal childhood and a mother's attention. It's about the effects of racism in the deep South and about the individual's struggle with faith; in God, in themselves. In short, this novels delves into so many facets of our existence that we surely question, struggle with, seek to find peace with, in our own lives.

The description is heavy at times, unnecessary in some places (especially in my impatience during the final chapters); however, it is exquisite writing nonetheless and literary fans will surely appreciate it.

This was a novel that broke my heart and mended it at the same time and left me feeling wholly satisfied at its conclusion, sad to part with these beloved characters. Well worth the time and effort!

A beautifully written narrative of a brave woman who faces real challenges of being a woman, a wife, a parent, and a contributor to the world. It spans an entire life with deeply moving emotion. It's unforgettably inspiring; I loved it.

Jewel was one of the first Oprah Book Club Books. I was draw to it because the author is a Christian. Often Christian fiction is not well written, but Lott writes beautifully. This takes place in the backwoods of Mississippi during WWII and is the story of Jewel and Leston Hilburn. They have five children, work hard to provide for them and are getting by. Jewel finds herself pregnant with a sixth, Brenda Kay, whom she realizes at six months is not meeting the developmental markers. Brenda Kay is a "mongoloid idiot", a term we do not use today. She is a Down Syndrome child. This is the story of a Mother's love for her child and how that impacts the family so greatly. Jewel shares her childhood which has also had great influence on who she is. Lott describes situations so well, I can see them in my mind. Our book club will be discussing this tomorrow.

I guess when I'm looking at what makes a good read, it's that even if the people are pretty ordinary under normal circumstances, they're put in circumstances that are somewhat extraordinary. This book, to me, was too, well, ordinary. It's not that I didn't admire the characters. I did--very much. I think Jewel and her husband are wonderful people who raise a good, strong family. But this could be the story of anybody with a Downs Syndrome child in the 50s-70s. This could have been my aunt and uncle and my cousin, Hugh, and although I admire them tremendously, I'm not sure their story warrants a novel. I had trouble being motivated to keep going. I'm sounding heard hearted, maybe, what with the topic of this novel, but if you want to read a novel on the same theme, I'd recommend "Riding on the Bus With My Sister" as a more riveting read.

This wasn't the kind of book that I just longed to pick up when I wasn't reading it but I enjoyed it when I was. It took me long time to read but that may be because of the state of my life rather than the state of the book. This was a "day in the life" kind of book where there wasn't a whole of adventure or drama but rather a window into a unique woman's life, the challenges she faced and how she dealt with them. Jewel is a strong woman who sacrificed a lot for her daughter. Sometimes I thought she let the rest of her family, including her husband, suffer while she attended to the needs of her special needs daughter. But I think Jewel realized that too, but knew of no other way to play the hand she was dealt. Which is what made the book so interesting.

Good story about a woman predestined to have a difficult life. I think we find that life is what you make of it. Even though Jewel suffered difficulties, she never allowed any of them to break her.