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The Night Watchman

Louise Erdrich

Start date: April 1, 2021

Finish date: April 30, 2021

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September-October 2025: The River Knows Your Name
By Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴… , Founding Retro Chick · 1 post · 8 views

last updated Aug 23, 2025 07:26PM

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Feb 11, 2022 Book Concierge rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: concierge, strong-women, library, social-commentary, audio, racism, politics, magical-realism, family, pulitzer

Audiobook performed by the author

Winner of the Pulitzer prize. Erdrich was inspired by the true story of her grandfather, who successfully fought against a US Senator intent on “eliminating” various Indian tribes.

The setting for the novel is 1953, on the Turtle Mountain reservation in North Dakota. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing factory, where many of the women of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa are employed. The jewel bearings are used by the Defense Department Audiobook performed by the author

Winner of the Pulitzer prize. Erdrich was inspired by the true story of her grandfather, who successfully fought against a US Senator intent on “eliminating” various Indian tribes.

The setting for the novel is 1953, on the Turtle Mountain reservation in North Dakota. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing factory, where many of the women of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa are employed. The jewel bearings are used by the Defense Department, and in the manufacture of certain watches. He’s also the tribal elder and very concerned about a proposed bill in Congress to abrogate nation-to-nation treaties, which calls for the termination of five tribes, including his. Thomas is a thinker, deliberate and willing to entertain different ideas, but always following his own conscience. His appearance before Congress was masterful.

His niece, Patrice “Pixie” Paranteau is one of the women working at the plant, earning barely enough to support her, her mother and younger brother. She must deal with a number of family issues as well. Her sister left for Minneapolis some time before and has now disappeared, while their alcoholic father occasionally makes an appearance causing havoc for the family.

Erdrich uses these two parallel and interconnecting story lines to highlight the life, struggles and triumphs of the Native Americans during this era. Many of their problems stemmed for institutional racism: the efforts of the U.S. government to strip the land from the indigenous peoples, to eradicate their culture by forcing children to attend boarding schools where they were forbidden from using their native languages and frequently mistreated, and the government’s continued paternalistic attitudes that viewed the Native Americans as unintelligent savages, not worthy of help or assistance.

I loved these characters, and the many supporting characters in the book. Patrice, in particular, spoke to me. She’s intelligent, straightforward, and principled. She thinks quickly, averting trouble or getting out of sticky situations on her own. She’s cautious about romantic entanglements, as well.

Erdrich weaves in elements of Native mythology and folklore, employing magical realism in some scenes.

The audiobook is read by the author, and I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job. She really brings these characters to life. Brava.

...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2021 Celia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: recommended-read, 2020-pub, historical-fiction-read, pulitzer, 2021-read, 2021-kindle-counted, ten-year-challenge, kindle-library, 52-2021

Louise Erdrich is a Chippewa Indian and this story reflects her own grandfather's part in fighting against The Indian Termination Policy of 1953-1969.

The Night Watchman, Thomas Wazhashk, stands for her grandfather who was also a night watchman. He works at a a factory where women of the Turtle Mountain clan work by day, using gemstones as drill bits for Defense Department ordnance and for Bulova watches. His niece, Patrice, works at the factory. Her sister Vera is missing and searching for her i ...more

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Apr 11, 2021 Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

4 out of 5 stars
By Jen Schu on 04-12-21
Written with love

I would recommend this book especially on audio which features the author as the narrator.
The story was crafted with love and I did learn a lot about the Turtle Mountain Reservation and their fight to keep their home. I was fascinated by the Mormons’ thoughts on the indigenous of North America as I had not read on that topic in the past. It was dreadful reading about what Patrice and Vera endured both having been exploited in some way. I wa ...more

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Sep 07, 2021 Samantha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, owned

There are so many characters in this wonderful book that will stay with me forever. Lots of magical realism abounds which, unlike many books I have read lately, is seamlessly intertwined within the storyline, and is central to understanding the relationship between people and their land. I am looking forward to reading more of Erdich's books. ...more

1 like · Like · see review