Scan barcode
b_easelbub's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Gore, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Body horror, Physical abuse, Confinement, War, Torture, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Murder, Slavery, Mental illness, Racism, and Emotional abuse
gipsns's review
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death, Child abuse, Gore, Animal death, and Physical abuse
deedireads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Night Watch was longlisted for the National Book Award this year, which is what placed it on my TBR. The premise and the cover both held so much potential for me, but unfortunately, this book was just not my cup of tea.
As other reviewers have said before me, there are parts of this book depicting sexual violence that are very hard to read. In fact, it’s what drives our main character’s mother into her current mute, zombie-like state, which is how they end up in the novel’s main setting, a (historically real in the 1800s) psychiatric hospital. I did think that the research that went into this novel was really well done, and it was interesting reading a novel in a setting like that. Plus, the prose was good and I could see the potential of a strong ending to make the reading experience feel worth it, so I kept going. Unfortunately, that ending never materialized; in fact, I’m sorry to say that the ending totally sucked for me.
So all in all, while I can see its merits, this isn’t a book I’d likely recommend.
As other reviewers have said before me, there are parts of this book depicting sexual violence that are very hard to read. In fact, it’s what drives our main character’s mother into her current mute, zombie-like state, which is how they end up in the novel’s main setting, a (historically real in the 1800s) psychiatric hospital. I did think that the research that went into this novel was really well done, and it was interesting reading a novel in a setting like that. Plus, the prose was good and I could see the potential of a strong ending to make the reading experience feel worth it, so I kept going. Unfortunately, that ending never materialized; in fact, I’m sorry to say that the ending totally sucked for me.
So all in all, while I can see its merits, this isn’t a book I’d likely recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Death
ex_hardesty's review
Graphic multi-page description of rape. Did not love the writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, War, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Sexual violence
More...