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A review by andrewspink
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In the early 1990s, I lived in a small village in Illinois, and there was an 'Indian Burial Mound' next to my house. I was amazed and soon read up to discover about the people that had lived there before the European colonists came. It was a horrific story. Genocide, essentially. Both Americans and Europeans had been so brainwashed by the Hollywood 'Cowboys and Indians' that many people had no idea of the true story of what happened. I don't know if things are any better now.
This book takes a crucial moment in that story, when an Native American tribefor the first time, actually won their case in Congress and managed to call a halt to efforts to eradicate them .
The book is well-written and has some lovely poetic phrases. "When Tomas thought of his father, peace stole across his chest and covered him like sunlight". I also liked the way that it dealt with the spirituality of the characters.
There was only one aspect of the book that I didn't like. Although it was a bit nuanced, in the end there is no doubt that it glorifies boxing, presenting it as a subtle sport of skill and tactics. I was not convinced, for me it remains barbaric. But that was only a small part of the book, for the most part this was well worthwhile.
This book takes a crucial moment in that story, when an Native American tribe
The book is well-written and has some lovely poetic phrases. "When Tomas thought of his father, peace stole across his chest and covered him like sunlight". I also liked the way that it dealt with the spirituality of the characters.
There was only one aspect of the book that I didn't like. Although it was a bit nuanced, in the end there is no doubt that it glorifies boxing, presenting it as a subtle sport of skill and tactics. I was not convinced, for me it remains barbaric. But that was only a small part of the book, for the most part this was well worthwhile.