THE NIGHT WATCHMAN
by
Louise Erdrich
The Night Watchman is Louise Erdrich's latest novel, based on the life of her grandfather, Patrick Gourneau. Like Erdrich's grandfather, the main character, Thomas Wazhashk, works as the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant near the Turtle Mountain Reservation where he lives. Like Gourneau, Wazhashk is a Chippewa council member. Between the two, like Gourneau, Wazhashk hardly sleeps. And, circumstances are not going to change anytime soon. There is a new bill before Congress to terminate the Native Americans, viz., inter alia, to abrogate treaties, to cut off all aid, and to take their land. The Turtle Mountain Reservation Chippewas were among those the bill included for immediate termination. We follow Thomas as he works to protect the Chippewa and to challenge the termination legislation.
Along the way, we also meet an assortment of family, friends and acquaintances, neighbors, and ghosts in Thomas's life. We get to know Patrice, who supports her mother and younger brother by working at the jewel bearing plant. Her older sister, who allegedly moved to Minneapolis and had a baby, has disappeared. Patrice travels to Minnesota in an attempt to locate her sister and returns with the baby. We also meet Wood Mountain, a young Chippewa who is trying to become a boxer.
In addition to the interesting characters, and typical of the other Erdrich books I have read, The Night Watchman is full of life. But, this book feels a bit different to me than my earlier Erdrich experiences, as if Erdrich has become more comfortable writing about the Chippewa. I am cognizant, however, that it is undoubtedly I who have become more comfortable reading about the Chippewa. Either way, it seems like a more mature, more settled reading experience.
I have always enjoyed Erdrich's work - though perhaps "enjoy" is not the appropriate word, as the books I have read were dark (or included some darkness). The Night Watchman, like these earlier books, demonstrates Erdrich's superb writing and provides a powerful reading experience. I highly recommend it.
