Book Club Discussion Questions
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
Suggested Topics for Discussion
Jewel is Bret Lott's story of an American family's odyssey from the dense backwoods of Mississippi to the dry heat and bright hope of the city streets of Los Angeles. "Sweeping and beautifully written," according to
The New York Times Book Review, Jewel is a "parable for our age." It is a journey out of poverty and out of ignorance driven by one woman's unbendable will, and her unstoppable love for her family.
With five healthy children and a war which allows for her husband Leston's steady work -- "a twisted sort of blessing," as Jewel notes -- the Hilburns' are happy and life continues in a slow-paced Mississippi way. But when Jewel and Leston's sixth child is born a "Mongolian Idiot," as the New Orleans doctor declared, their life forever changes and Jewel leads her family on a journey to California that will bring all manner of hardship and joy.
In post-war Los Angeles, a city brimming with promise, Jewel gratefully adopts new terms to replace the stinging words "Mongolian Idiot" that describe her daughter Brenda Kay's situation. She also learns to replace her own words that sting, substituting "colored" for "nigger." And, most importantly, she learns about the force of one person's will, and about the power of love. With these great tools, she forges a mother-daughter bond that strengthens the whole family, allowing for a life as rich in blessings as it is in strife.
Through Jewel's eyes we witness the progress of her family through the generations against the backdrop of an America undergoing its own myriad post-war transformations. A vividly-drawn, indomitable heroine, Jewel's actions define the intensity of mother-child relationships and the depth of family love. "In Jewel's crude but generous understanding," says
The Dallas Morning News, "we find not only the human condition, but compassion for the human condition -- and the redemptive power of love..."
- Jewel's mother referred to the stories of who Jewel was and where she came from as "stones in your pocket." What did she mean by this? What were Jewel's "stones" and how did they affect the course of her life?
- "I say unto you that the baby you be carrying be yo' hardship, be yo' test in this world. This by my prophesying unto you, Miss Jewel." These words of Cathedral not only carried great portent, but also haunted Jewel throughout her life. Discuss the various implications of Cathedral's prophecy.
- With this same statement, the author interjects a spiritual element to the story. Is it believable? Or does it seem to run counter to the tone of the rest of the book?
- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Washington Square Press.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
