Customer Reviews

Jewel

5 star:		(104)
4 star:		(89)
3 star:		(40)
2 star:		(32)
1 star:		(49)

 

 

Brett Lott's Jewel, despite its fine critical reception, languished in obscurity until Oprah selected it as one of the titles in her book club. The sudden attention had a twofold impact: thousands of readers who had never heard of Lott eagerly snapped up copies, and serious readers who were originally more inclined to pick up Lott's work instead shunned it as an "Oprah book." Since a good book is a good book - and Jewel IS good - I recommend that readers give it a closer look before deciding.

The novel begins in 1940's Mississippi as Jewel discovers that she is pregnant with "one last child." Her husband Leston reacts to the news with a gentle smile and affection, although her five children don't know quite what to make of it. Her oldest child James is almost old enough to enlist in the military, and her youngest, Annie, still depends on the comfort of a tattered blanket. Jewel worries about her children and their impending displacement by the needs of a new baby, but she cannot foresee how much the weight will be. Cathedral, a black woman who lives "out back" with her family and who has become a sort of friend (as much as a white woman and a black woman could in 1940's Mississippi), has an inkling. She prophesies that the coming baby will be Jewel's "hardship in life." When Jewel and Leston face the heartbreak that their beautiful Brenda Kay is not normal, Jewel tailors her entire life towards ensuring that her Down's Syndrome child is given nothing but the best. Through financial and domestic hardship, Jewel maintains devotion to her "baby girl" as the world around them changes over the decades.

Lott has created a compelling narrative voice in Jewel, a character whose honest, steadfast beliefs take her and her family through difficult times. Lott writes convincingly from her point-of-view, proving that one does not have to be a woman to understand one. Although occasionally the prose gets a little dewy, the novel is generally well-written, in a style that evokes the rhythms of the South. I recommend this book for readers who appreciate quiet, character-driven novels.

What a struggle this book was! Aside from the fact that Bret Lott is obviously a very talented writer, I had such a hard time moving through this story. I'm not sure what it was about Jewel that failed to excite me. Excellent writing skills and a decent storyline are both present; however, I could not enjoy myself. Something was definitely missing for me.

Jewel Hilburn is a good wife, bringing forth five strong, healthy children and making a comfortable home for her family. Although late in life, Jewel finds herself pregnant again -- a sixth child, the baby of the family, the apple of her eye. But five months after little Brenda Kay is born, Jewel notices something dreadfully different from her other children. God has blessed the Hilburn family with a special child, a Down's Syndrome baby, and one who will prove she is both the burden and joy of all their lives. The story spans an entire lifetime, beginning with flashbacks of Jewel's childhood and ending with Jewel in her 80s. For readers who enjoy epics and characters that grow up before you, Jewel, at least in that respect, will provide.

I am clearly stumped as to the drawback of this book (for me). Pages did not turn quickly, I was never excited to pick it up and return to the world of Jewel and her family. I will say the last few chapters of this book did evoke some emotion, but other than that, Jewel fell flat. There is an audience for this book; however, be aware that the story does not move quickly, paragraphs are overly descriptive, and there is not enough dialogue to push things along. If you are in a reading slump, bypass Jewel for something more exciting.

I bought this book on the recommendation from someone in my Down Syndrome Group. I loved the way the book was written...it kept me intrigued. It was so hard to put the book down. This book is about the love and dedication of a woman who does everything she can to help her daughter. I enjoyed this book so much!

I stuck with this book until the end,and I'm glad I did. Jewel offers readers the chance to look into the lives of ordinary people in an extraordinary situation-- caring for a Down's Syndrome child. The plot and the story were intriguing.
However, as a main character, I found Jewel extremely annoying. It seemed like she had children to satisfy her own ego, not to give out unconditional love. I thought she was very selfish. It was terrible the way she abandoned her other five kids. Bret Lott makes it seem like she had no other choice, that taking care of Brenda Kay was so hard that giving up the five others was inevitable. I couldn't get the warm fuzzies about Brenda Kay and jewel's mother/child relationship because I don't think Jewel WAS a good mother. Controlling and demanding, yes. Caring, no.
Also, this book was so heavy, weighed down with long descriptive phrases, renderings that made no sense, Jewel repeating herself again and again. There was not enough dialogue, and the action (or lack thereof) was insipid and SLOW. The first thing we learned in fiction writing in college is "SHOW, DON'T TELL." I ate up the few action scenes, as well as the family's backgrounds, like a greedy crack addict, dying for something out of Jewel's head.

The novel "Jewel" was a captivating read. I really enjoyed it. The beginning of the book was a bit slow, but you quickly get involved with the story and the lives of the characters. The story starts in the early 1940s, and ends in 1984. The main character, a womam named Jewel, is a headstrong, stubborn, but always caring and loving person. She struggled through her early life, after the death of her parents, and being sent to boarding school. A major issue for Jewel is trying to find out who her God really is. That is a major them throughout the novel, and is referred to many times. When Jewel gets older, she is blessed with a loving husband, and a healthy family. Life could not be more perfect. That all changes, however, when Jewel gives birth to her last child, a daughter named Brenda Kay. Brenda Kay was born with Down Syndrome. For the rest of her life, Jewel must live with the burden of taking care of Brenda Kay. Although life is difficult, Jewel never even thinks of putting Brenda Kay in an institution. That is the way Jewel is. By the end of the novel, the reader really comes tp admire Jewel. She made many sacrifices for Brenda Kay, but in the end she has no regrets about the way her life turned out. She is an excellent character, and author Brett Lott does an excellent job of letting us get to know her. I would recommend this book to almost anyone. Although the main character is a woman, I think men could relate to the story and the male characters (after all, the author is a man). Anyone who reads this book should be open-minded. In the 1940s, people with mental disabilities like Brenda Kay were looked down upon even more than today. Also, much of the book is about God, the Bible, etc. Don't be a skeptic, and you'll love it!

Bret Lott has captured a woman's heart. Beautifully written, poignant, powerful, forgiving. Unless one has had a disabled person to care for, one can only imagine what that entails. I loved his descriptions, not only about Brenda Kay, but how he describes Jewel's relationships with Leston, James, and her daughters---the sacrifice of those relationships, and yet, the great wisdom and understanding of each member of the household about their relationship to one another! Though the book seems to get a little "bogged" down about half-way through (perhaps that is just what the author intended---sometimes our own lives get "bogged" down, unmanageable, chaotic, depressing, hopeless, but we continue the struggle), I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to be touched by the example of Jewel---her constant devotion, strength and energy, determination and dedication, tender love, wisdom and understanding, forgiveness.

I read this book in 2 days. I thought it was very interesting from beginning to end. I thought the whole family was a loving and very functional unit. It amazed me to no end when I read some of the poor reviews, wondering if these people read the same book. Jewel was a strong and forceful woman who could probably do anything if she put her mind to it. Leston was a warm and loving man in spite of the fact that he did not communicate in words his despair at the turn of their lives. I really believe that if one has a child like Brenda Kay, there is no other choice but to devote your whole self to bringing her though life. Given the loving nature of this family, the course of their lives made total sense. I just thought this book was great!

In 1943 in Mississippi, Jewel Hilburn gives birth to a child with Down's Syndrome, changing the course of her and her family's life. Jewel, who spent part of her childhood in an orphanage, is determined not to put Brenda Kay in an institution, even though she and the doctors know relatively little about how to take care of her. The cost is that she has little energy left for her husband Leston and her five other children. Eventually, she sees an article in Reader's Digest of a school in Los Angeles for children like Brenda Kay, and she is determined to overcome Leston's objections to moving to a place so far and different from their home. When they finally move, Jewel becomes involved in the school, while the rest of the family grows up, building new lives in this very different world. By the end, Jewel and Leston reconcile their choices and how their lives have been affected by Brenda Kay.

This book could have been one of those formula "triumph over adversity" stories that are frequently made into Hollywood movies. Instead, I found this book to be a rich character study that gave a realistic portrait of how people make do when faced with hardship. I'm no expert on Down's Syndrome, but I did spend a summer as a counselor for kids with Down's, and the characterization of Brenda Kay's behavior rang true to me. So did the way Jewel gradually adjusted her expectations to match Brenda Kay's abilities, so that she could take great joy in each small step, just as you would with any child. I found it especially interesting to see how Jewel coped at a time when there was less support for people with this syndrome, at a time when the syndrome was actually called Mongoloid Idiocy. Lott's lovely writing style and insightful but understated tone enhance the story. "Jewel" is an enjoyable and worthwile book to read.

As a father of a child with Down Syndrome, I can share my first-hand experience of what it is like to get the diagnosis within an hour of my son's birth. I can't imagine, however, receiving the diagnosis as it was given in 1943, that this girl is a "Mongoloid idiot, won't survive past two and should be institutionalized."

We know today that children born with Down Syndrome are educable, have many very special gifts and talents, and can make a way for themselves in this world. And advances in medical technology and treatment have lengthened the life span for people with Down Syndrome to the 50s and 60s.

This book elegantly depicts the relationship between Jewel and her daughter. I identified with her in so many ways, including the intense love I have for my 5-year-old with Down Syndrome and the pride I feel in his every accomplishment. This is an incredible view into the challenges a family can face when presented with a child with a disability, not just Down Syndrome. And Lott's accurate depiction of 'the way it was' demonstrates how far we have come, and how far we still need to go, to accept people with mental retardation in our society.

Some reviewers have given this book low marks because it was depressing. Certainly, parts were. But there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who have an immediate family member with Down Syndrome, and who I'm sure can relate to many of the emotions Jewel displays and the love she has for her daughter.

I had an uncle with Down's born to my affluent grandparents in 1930s New England. The societal pressure to institutionalize was strong - they complied and he lived that way until he died, in his 60s. Although he often came home for visits, I suspect my grandparents regretted their decision for the rest of their lives. I appreciated this book for the alternative point of view.

This family was one without sophistication and money but was in abundance of unity, pride and a sense of taking care of their own. The author enables us to journey along with this family through the sacrifices and choices they must make and the resulting consequences. At times a bit slow but never to a point where I wanted to set the book aside.

The language may offend some people but we are talking mid 1900s in the deep south. The story could have been told without the "N" word but to me, it authenticated it.

This book was, for me, a point of reference due to my own family's circumstances and choices. I'm not sure if people without a personal connection would find it to be as interesting and enjoyable.