Set in the 1950s, this story resides in the literary area of fictionalized memoir (though written about a family member’s experiences) or historical fiction. Erdrich writes about the struggle of a Native American tribe (the Chippewas) to retain the land on their reservation. This land was deeded to them in perpetuity by the United States government. However, U.S. Congress sought to disregard (discard?) these treaties and to take over autonomous land. The fight to overcome this blatant theft results in the tale of this book.
Along the way, the author cleverly crafts stories of the lives of Native Americans and reminds non-Native-Americans of their shared humanity. She shares stories of a boxer seeking to have more meaning in life than just sport, a beautiful, aspiring, and smart young lady with little economic opportunity, a college student seeking an academic career, a young lady caught in a web of drug addiction and sexual abuse, and an aging night security guard laboring to save the ways and lives of his people.
The story varies points of view from several characters. Although this has the effect of diminishing suspense, it simultaneously builds intrigue into the larger culture of Native Americans. The reader cannot help but empathize with these strong characters. Erdrich’s effective characterizations help the reader to see beyond race into shared humanity. To use a musical metaphor, the result is less of a short song and more of a resounding symphony of voices that function in a crescendo. Readers encounter a people and a culture, not just a lone protagonist. The Chippewa people themselves are a collective protagonist.
I recommend this book to those who seek to jump out of the narrative that white people have the only dominant voices in America. While themes of the inhumanity of slavery resound in contemporary societal discourse, African American voices are not alone; the Native Americans continue to suffer from having their continent – their home – stolen from them, with little recompense. This story reminds all readers of their perspective, told by Erdrich, one of their own. It is deeply moving, hopeful, and persuasive.
The Night Watchman: A Novel
By Louise Erdrich
Copyright (c) 2020
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN13 9780062671189
Page Count: 451
Genre: Historical Fiction, Native-American History, Fictionalized Memoir
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