Jewel

Bibliography
Lott, Brett. Jewel. New York: Washington Square Press, 1991.

Plot Summary
This is a story of family. Jewel gives birth to her last child, a daughter, who turns out to have "special" needs. Jewel dedicates her life to helping Brenda Kay, including moving from their home in Mississippi (which her husband built) to California so that Brenda Kay can attend a school that can help her.

Critical Analysis

As I read this book, I kept thinking about what I would do in the same situation. Bret Lott does a great job capturing a mother's love in this novel. Jewel is willing to do anything to help her daughter. She is successful in her life's goal. As a reader, you celebrate Brenda Kay's accomplishments and anguish in the set backs the family faces.

The novel spans several decades, so the reader gets to see the family dynamics change. Some of the chapters are identified by the year that the story is now in, and there are two books within this novel.

It surprised me some that a man wrote this book, as it is obviously from a woman's point of view. Lott creates memorable characters in this book, and I couldn't read it fast enough. I had to find out what happened to the family.

Pigs in Heaven

Bibliography

Kingsolver, Barbara. Pigs in Heaven. New York: Harper Collins, 1993.

Plot Summary

Alice adopted Turtle, or so she thought. Turtle saves a man's life and gains instant pres coverage. It just so happens that an Indian lawyer sees them on The Oprah Winfrey Show and begins tracking them down. Turtle is part Indian and was not officially let out of the tribe to be adopted. What ensues is the story of what a mother will do to protect her child.

Critical Analysis

This was a great beach read, which is where I read it. I became absorbed in what would happen to Turtle. I felt such compassion for both Alice and Annawake Fourkiller. Each fought for what they believed to be the right thing to do. I was happy with the resolution of the book. I also enjoyed learning more about Native American customs.

Never Let Me Go

Bibliography

Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. New York: Vintage Books, 2005.


Plot Summary

Here's a novel about the future, or is it about our present? Students appear to be at a boarding school, but this is a special school for special people.

Critical Analysis

Wow! Where do I begin? At first I was not sure of what was happening in the book. I kept reading to find out. I figured out that Kathy, our narrator, was special, but I didn't realize just how so until over one hundred pages into the book.


Kathy tells us the end before the beginning and flips back and forth with time. At first, this confused me. I had many questions as I read. What are "donations"? Where are these kids? What is their purpose? What is this timeline? I kept reading and am glad I did.

This was a book in my Faith Lit. group. We had a lively discussion about what the author might be saying about cloning and history. This is a book I will have to read again (first time reading is for plot; second time is to unravel the layers).