Heartbreaking, illuminating and beautifully written. I couldn’t put it down.

Richly and beautifully written, this story of the Chippewa nation’s effort to survive the taking of their land by the federal government in the 1950’s is essential reading for all patriots. The novel, the story, is so lovely, a full sense of the American Indian, the Native American spirit. Loved the story.

Rich in imagery, emotion and beauty. I loved escaping into the world of this story. I might just start over again now.

What an engaging story! This is story telling at its finest. The story pulls you in. The writing delights. The humor of native people comes rolling out. The tragedy, the sadness, the violence to human spirit … break your heart. The human spirit comes through with hope and purpose. Read this book. What a writer!

Such a beautiful tribute to the author’s family.

An amazing collection of characters and their idiosyncrasies all woven together with detail and heart.

What a beautiful book. As with all of Erdrich’s books, filled with characters that stay with you long after memories of people you’ve known have faded. Stories that honor the complexity of humans making their way through life. Mysticism,not about things that are unreal, but about very real things normally just outside our reach. I didn’t want the book to end.

I found this story enlightening and informative. I probably haven’t read any stories about the American Indians since HS. I was an elementary kid when the event in the book took place and only recently a friend mentioned to me about the elimination of tribes and the poverty problems. I just happened to be browsing from a publishing website and The Night Watchman appeared as a result of my search for something new and different. The author does a great job describing living conditions, education limitations and shortage of jobs. Despite all of the obstacles this small village faced it’s people came together to present to Congress a plan to keep their heritage and continue to build a future. If you like American history I’m sure you will enjoy this view into the lives and some of the challenges of the American Indians.

What I liked most about this story was gaining a glimpse into the Native American psyche. I especially enjoyed learning that they see humor in almost everything, but their expression in Chippewa doesn’t always translate well into English. I found this story very compelling as the author creates a marked level of angst when members of the tribe go to Washington D. C. to face lawmakers, who were seeking to destroy them. Their many struggles and hardships to survive on the reservation is a good reminder of what our government has done to Native Americans as a whole. Other stories within the book also show despicable levels of exploitation. Yet, despite all of the many horrors some of their members faced, the tribe goes on loving and supporting each other and finding joy, gratitude, and respect for nature. The characters experiencing these things did not indulge in self-pity or bitterness. It is a lesson for us all.