In this captivating, critically acclaimed novel, "a seamless union between teller and tale" (The Boston Globe), Bret Lott creates a matchless portrayal of a mother's devotion to the child who is both her burden and God's singular way of smiling on her.
It is 1943 in the backwoods of Mississippi. In the land of honeysuckle and wild grapevine, Jewel Hilburn and her husband Leston -- whose love for his wife is the surest comfort she's ever known -- are truly blessed. They have five fine children who embrace the world as though it were a sumptuous table set for a feast; and when Brenda Kay is born, Jewel gives thanks for yet another 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 illuminate our lives and set us on a course without reason or compass.
All too soon, Jewel knows that something is wrong with Brenda Kay; her every moment, every breath is taken up with caring for her daughter, with setting things straight. Leston's optimism is failing as fast as the Southern postwar economy. And the physicians Jewel calls "crack doctors" insist that no one can fix a brain born without the gift of common sense.
Against a stunning tableau reminiscent of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the uniquely talented Bret Lott traces the intricate changes among the members of the Hilburn family as Jewel deepens her quarrel with God, taking hold of the hardships that come her way. Jewel sees one hope for them; they must travel to a new life in the Promised Land of California....
We will wait a very long time before another writer matches the intensity and the beauty of this mother-daughter relationship. Jewel stands as an unforgettable masterwork, in which Bret Lott has created one of the finest and most indomitable heroines of contemporary American fiction.
It is 1943 in the backwoods of Mississippi. In the land of honeysuckle and wild grapevine, Jewel Hilburn and her husband Leston -- whose love for his wife is the surest comfort she's ever known -- are truly blessed. They have five fine children who embrace the world as though it were a sumptuous table set for a feast; and when Brenda Kay is born, Jewel gives thanks for yet another 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 illuminate our lives and set us on a course without reason or compass.
All too soon, Jewel knows that something is wrong with Brenda Kay; her every moment, every breath is taken up with caring for her daughter, with setting things straight. Leston's optimism is failing as fast as the Southern postwar economy. And the physicians Jewel calls "crack doctors" insist that no one can fix a brain born without the gift of common sense.
Against a stunning tableau reminiscent of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the uniquely talented Bret Lott traces the intricate changes among the members of the Hilburn family as Jewel deepens her quarrel with God, taking hold of the hardships that come her way. Jewel sees one hope for them; they must travel to a new life in the Promised Land of California....
We will wait a very long time before another writer matches the intensity and the beauty of this mother-daughter relationship. Jewel stands as an unforgettable masterwork, in which Bret Lott has created one of the finest and most indomitable heroines of contemporary American fiction.
Similar Books by other authors...
Used availability for Bret Lott's Jewel
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
June 2008 : Library Binding
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 1-4395-0067-3 / 978-1-4395-0067-5 Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2000 : Hardback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott Publisher: Fromm Intl Availability: Amazon More details... |
December 1999 : Library Binding
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-613-17319-8 / 978-0-613-17319-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Topeka Bindery Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
December 1999 : Hardback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-7838-8590-3 / 978-0-7838-8590-2 (USA edition) Publisher: G K Hall & Co Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1999 : Hardback
| Title: Jewel (Oprah's Book Club) Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-671-03823-0 / 978-0-671-03823-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Atria Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
May 1993 : Library Binding
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 1-56054-930-0 / 9781560549307 (USA edition) Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company. Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
July 1992 : Hardback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 1-56054-398-1 / 9781560543985 (USA edition) Publisher: Thorndike Pr Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
November 1991 : Hardback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-671-74038-5 / 978-0-671-74038-2 (USA edition) Publisher: Atria Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA WorldCat More details... |
Paperback Editions
March 2000 : Paperback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-7838-8591-1 / 978-0-7838-8591-9 (USA edition) Publisher: G K Hall & Co Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
December 1999 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-671-04257-2 / 978-0-671-04257-8 (USA edition) Publisher: Pocket Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1999 : Paperback
| Title: Jewel (Oprah's Book Club) Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-671-03818-4 / 978-0-671-03818-2 (USA edition) Publisher: Washington Square Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA WorldCat More details... |
1999 : Paperback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-671-03850-8 / 978-0-671-03850-2 (USA edition) Publisher: Pocket Books Availability: Amazon More details... |
November 1992 : Paperback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-671-74039-3 / 978-0-671-74039-9 (USA edition) Publisher: Washington Square Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1991 : Paperback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott Publisher: Washington Sq. Press Availability: Amazon More details... |
1991 : Paperback
| Title: JEWEL Author(s): BRET LOTT Publisher: POCKET BOOKS Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 1990 : Paperback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott Publisher: Grosset and Dunlap Availability: Amazon More details... |
Audio Editions
January 2001 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-7927-2435-6 / 978-0-7927-2435-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Chivers Audio Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 2001 : Audio CD
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-7927-9982-8 / 978-0-7927-9982-5 (USA edition) Publisher: Chivers Sound Library Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
February 1999 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-671-04308-0 / 978-0-671-04308-7 (USA edition) Publisher: Audioworks Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
2001 : Unknown
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Publisher: Chivers North America Availability: Amazon More details... |
June 2000 : Turtleback
| Title: Jewel Author(s): Bret Lott ISBN: 0-606-19056-2 / 978-0-606-19056-5 (USA edition) Publisher: Demco Media Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
2000 : Unknown
| Title: Jewel Author(s): ISBN: 1-79272-435-7 (UK edition) Publisher: Chivers North America Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
© 2009 FantasticFiction
Questions? Comments? Corrections? Please email webmaster@fantasticfiction.co.uk
Questions? Comments? Corrections? Please email webmaster@fantasticfiction.co.uk

