THE NIGHT WATCHMAN: BOOK REVIEW
Unfortunately, Louise Erdrich is one of few Native American Writers who has made it into popularity and acclaim, but she is a prolific author who has written a number of novels that center Native American characters facing historically relevant issues. These are issues we should all be confronted with as people living on stolen land, and confronting them in novel form is ideal. In The Night Watchman Louise Erdrich breathes life into a diverse cast of characters living on or near the Chippewa reservation in rural North Dakota, one of which is based on Erdrich’s own grandfather. The story follows Thomas Wazhashk and several other characters as they navigate tricky relationships, tough jobs, enticing vices, discrimination, and so much else all while a new “emancipation” bill looms over their heads.
I often find that stories become bogged down when they try to follow too many characters through too many aspects of their lives. In this instance, however, the many characters and their intricately textured thoughts and feelings created an immersive world I was sad to leave at the end of the book. Erdrich manages to cram in so much detail without weighing down the plot, which is not something I see often in modern novels. Her writing reminds me of the richly populated classics of decades past, which helps to place me in the time period of the novel, the 1950s, a time when novels were a popular form of escape and copious details helped bring them to life. This book could easily stand among classics that were written during the time in which it takes place, which is a huge testament to Erdrich’s writing ability. Not many still do what she does, and well.
The book rotates between night watchman and tribal council member Thomas Wazhashk, beautiful jewel bearing plant worker Patrice who has managed to attract the attention of several men, hulking boxer with a heart of gold Wood Mountain, and many many others. Their stories begin in isolation, and as the complexity of the narrative develops these characters cross paths in more ways than one might anticipate.
It can be difficult to convince people to read nonfiction about historical events, especially when said events fall out of the mainstream accepted history we are often taught in schools, but I would recommend The Night Watchman to anyone looking for an entry point into modern issues that Native Americans face. Many people, unfortunately, have no idea what has happened beyond the very first Thanksgiving 400 years ago. Erdrich strikes the perfect balance of historical truth and fantastical fiction in this historical fiction novel. There’s an air of magic to this book at times, but it never detracts from the important history. If anything, it adds to it, making this book more palatable for those who may otherwise avoid nonfiction.
Erdrich is careful to introduce us to the characters and their day to day problems before introducing the overarching conflict of the impending “emancipation.” The characters are given the space to begin their individual journeys before confronted with the systemic discrimination we know is coming given the time period. This will, hopefully, appeal to readers who come to novels for compelling characters and maybe they will stay for the history lesson. There is a quiet majesty to the world Erdrich paints in this novel, which was a pleasure to read not despite the historical aspect but because of it.