A review by bishplease3
Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips

challenging dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I was very intrigued by the premise and time period, but this really did not deliver. There is very little time spent at the asylum, which I wanted to learn more about, especially because it was a real place with extremely novel ideas about treatment for its time. I know things were bad for women, but I don’t think I needed that reinforced in such detail and so extensively throughout the book. Even Dr. Story, who is painted as a good and kind man, falls in love with his patient and is then absolutely shocked that she was married. And then marries her. I usually like alternating perspectives, but this jumped around way too much both in time and characters, and it felt disjointed and drawn out while circling around the interesting bits. It was also very predictable, and I kept waiting for a twist or everything to come together, but the ending was unsatisfying and I just continued to feel bad for the characters and also myself for having to endure their misery. I was shocked to see how many awards this won or was nominated for, including a Pulitzer. If you put stock in awards, then give it a go, but otherwise, I’d skip this one.
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