Reviews with content warning for Confinement - The Night Watchman

I've never read any Erdrich before, so shoutout to my cousin who gave me this book, and the Read What You Own [In Community] challenged hosted by @sitting.wishing.reading and @bookish.cori on IG for getting me to finally pick up a book by her! Because I loved it!

This reading experience was lovely—the short chapters drew me in and kept me reading, and Erdrich's way of storytelling is at once magical, approachable, and deeply felt. The magical moments and people's connections with nature were really beautiful rendered. It made me pause to wish I was reading this elsewhere, but also helped me feel more grounded in place while I was reading. I also loved how the story was based on the life of her own grandfather.

I do think Pixie/Patrice's story felt a little unresolved at the end, but I loved seeing her mature and learn about the world and herself—what she desired, what she wants from her life. The tribal community was really comforting in the way that they all cared for each other when times got tough, through gathering, visiting, or bringing along food or other necessities. It was a really warming experience to read about, especially as modern life can feel so isolating sometimes.

A gorgeous work, and I can't wait to dive in to Erdrich's backlist!

Content Warnings

hkburke2's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Complex and lyrical. This was a slow read for me.

Content Warnings

lorit1227's review

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challenging emotional informative inspiring sad medium-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? No

5.0

Content Warnings

erica_palmisano's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Fascinating and surprising. I haven't spent a lot of time in places like North Dakota & Minnesota during the 1950s, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The story was vivid and covered some difficult realities, but also kind and grounded in the details of daily life and simple pleasures. The audio narration was straight-forwardly lovely – cadence and style were simple and it was good to hear the fragments of the Chippewa language pronounced properly too. So glad I read this and got to meet these characters!

Content Warnings

kimveach's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

Such a good story - based upon the true fight by the Turtle Mountain band of the Chippewa against the government's plan for the termination of the reservation and support of their people. She brings to life so many different characters and elements of reservation life in the 1950s. I love these characters and hated to leave them when the book ended. I'll be reading more from this author.

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