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A "sweeping and beautifully written" (The New York Times Book Review) novel 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 masterful portrayal of a mother's heartbreak and her lifelong quarrel with God, Bret Lott takes a quantum leap forward. His previous fiction won him the accolade of a minimalist John Cheever.--New York Times Book Review. Now he transports readers to 1943 Mississippi and... Read Full Overview

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... Read Full Overview

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 the backwoods of Mississippi, a land of honeysuckle and grapevine, Jewel and her husband, Leston, are truly blessed; they have five... Read Full Overview

A mother fights for the dignity of her youngest daughter against the backdrop of a pure and simple way of life in the backwoods of Mississippi in 1943.

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... Read Full Overview