the night watchman louise erdrich review

Mysticism/magical realism is woven throughout the book, so those who like that, will be pleased. some are interesting and well developed (here's looking at you, Wood Mountain and Patrice) and plenty are not (Hay Stack, Millie) and a bunch just seem superfluous, as though the story would be better off without them. I just enjoyed the journey more.Įrdrich introduces a wide array of characters. That one I gave two stars, so The Night Watchman was an improvement, but to be honest, a lot of my criticisms of LaRose still hold here. … ( more)īefore writing this review, I revisited my review of, the first book I tried by this author. She grapples with the worst and best impulses of human nature, illuminating the loves and lives, desires and ambitions of her characters with compassion, wit and intelligence. In The Night Watchman multi-award winning author Louise Erdrich weaves together a story of past and future generations, of preservation and progress. But Patrice needs every penny to get if she's ever going to get to Minnesota to find her missing sister Vera. She works at the factory, earning barely enough to support her mother and brother, let alone her alcoholic father who sometimes returns home to bully her for money. How can he fight this betrayal? Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Pixie - 'Patrice' - Paranteau has no desire to wear herself down on a husband and kids. The US Government calls it an 'emancipation' bill but it isn't about freedom - it threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land, their very identity. He is also a prominent Chippewa Council member, trying to understand a new bill that is soon to be put before Congress. Thomas Wazhushk is the night watchman at the first factory to open near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota.

The night watchman louise erdrich review