Jewel

By: Bret Lott

Narrated by: Celia Weston

Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

In the backwoods of Mississippi, a land of honeysuckle and grapevine, Jewel and her husband, Leston, are truly blessed; they have five fine children. When Brenda Kay is born in 1943, Jewel gives thanks for a healthy baby, last-born and most welcome.

Jewel is the story of how quickly a life can change; how, like lightning, an unforeseen event can set us on a course without reason or compass. In this story of a woman's devotion to the child who is both her burden and God's singular way of smiling on her, Bret Lott has created a mother-daughter relationship of matchless intensity and beauty, and one of the finest, most indomitable heroines in contemporary American fiction.

©1999 Bret Lott (P)2011 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"Sweeping and beautifully written.... a parable for our age." ( The New York Times Book Review)

"Bret Lott's Jewel is a beautifully crafted first-person epic of one poor southern woman's personal duel with God.... This is a voice we don't want to stop hearing.... Some of the tenderest scenes of family love since those in Dickens...." ( The Chicago Tribune)

"Lott is one of the most important and imaginative writers in America today. His eye for detail is unparalleled; his vision - where he looks - is like no one else's in this country." ( The Los Angeles Times)

Beautiful story!

I absolutely loved this book. The narrator gave it such life! The characters were brought to life so beautifully that I laughed and cried through their hardships. Truly touched my heart!

Great Book and a wonderful narrator

This was lovely. As a mother of a child with special needs, this book resonated with me. It was both respectful and inspiring . The narrator was wonderful! Her performance added so much to the book.

JEWEL Review - narrator missed parts

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Narrator missed narrating the end of chapter 9. The part right after Jewel and Leston leave the doctors office. Though a short part, this missing piece gives insight into how the couple felt after receiving some info regarding the baby. I only knew as I followed along in a paperback.

Unnesesary & overuse of the phrase 'Nigga Women'

What did you like best about Jewel? What did you like least?

A well written story with a realistic glimpse of life with a mentally and physically challenged child in the 50's. My only real complaint is that 1991 people were aware of the strength of words and the continual, unnecessary and overuse of the words 'retarded & nigger" did NOT enhance the book or better define the characters, time or social atmosphere. It was a sad distraction from what could have been a wonder read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character is strong, reminds me of my grandmother. A woman who would have concurred the world on her own but appreciated the husband and the role he played as head of family in the home.

What about Celia Weston’s performance did you like?

Celia mastered the deep south accent and attitude of the 50's.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Hallmark could possibly make it worth a rainy day watch.

Any additional comments?

My review may seem biased but I am a 50 year old white woman raised in the south and still found this book offensive however; if you can push through to the end of chapter 6 where the mother FINALLY learns to speak without using the N word, its a good story.

This is abridged

I read this book the first time when my own “baby girl” was about 6 months old and I distinctly remembered a scene at the beach. And that was missing. I guess I will have to get the whole book somewhere . Anyhow. Yes, the racial language can be harsh at times. So is the term “Mongoloid idiot” . I feel like over the course of the story you see that Jewel realizes that people, be they BIPOC or DD are people. It’s an excellent story about self reflection, perceptions, strength, and overcoming. And knowing the burden itself is when we leave our children. I wish the audiobook had not be abridged. I feel very close to this character Jewel. It’s almost like the author reached into the soul and literally birthed her onto the pages.