One sentence summary
A woman from rural Mississippi struggles to find her identity and navigate the challenges of motherhood and love in “Jewel,” a heartfelt and emotional novel by Bret Lott.
Book genre
Fiction, Southern literature, women’s literature.
Main topic of the book
The main topic of “Jewel” is the journey of a young woman, Jewel Hilburn, as she navigates her struggles with motherhood and finding her own identity in the rural South during the 1940s and 1950s.
Key ideas
- The importance of family and community in shaping our identities and values.
- The challenges and sacrifices of motherhood.
- The complexities and power dynamics in relationships.
- The impact of societal norms and expectations on individual choices and freedoms.
- The value of perseverance and resilience in facing life’s challenges.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part One: Childhood – Introduces the readers to the main character, Jewel Hilburn, and her family. It follows her childhood and her close relationship with her father.
- Part Two: Marriage and Motherhood – Jewel marries Leston Hilburn and becomes a mother to five children. She is faced with the challenges of raising a family on a farm and struggles to find her own identity and purpose.
- Part Three: Loss and Grief – Jewel experiences multiple losses and tragedies, from the death of her father to the loss of her children and husband. She must find the strength to carry on and redefine herself.
- Part Four: Finding Her Way – As Jewel’s children grow and leave home, she begins to question her life and choices. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery and reevaluates her relationships and her purpose.
- Part Five: Mother and Child Reunited – Jewel’s past comes back to haunt her when her long-lost daughter, Brenda, returns home after being adopted as an infant. Jewel and Brenda must navigate their complicated relationship and confront the secrets of their past.
Key takeaways
- The significant role of family and community in shaping our identities and values.
- The struggles and sacrifices of motherhood and the complexities of parent-child relationships.
- The continuous search for one’s identity and purpose in life.
- The impact of societal norms and expectations on individual choices and freedoms.
- The power of resilience and perseverance in overcoming life’s challenges.
Author’s background and qualifications
Bret Lott is an American author and professor born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his MFA in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Lott has published over a dozen books, including novels, short story collections, and non-fiction works. He is a recipient of the Lillian Smith Book Award and was named one of the “Top Ten Fiction Writers of the South” by the Oxford American magazine.
Target audience
“Jewel” is a novel that can appeal to a wide range of readers, particularly those interested in Southern literature and women’s stories. It can also resonate with readers who are drawn to stories of family, identity, and resilience.
Publisher and first publication date
“Jewel” was published by Washington Square Press in 1991. It was re-published as a selection for Oprah’s Book Club in 1999 by Penguin Books.