The Night WatchmanThe Night Watchman
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1953 Thomas Wazhashk works nights as a watchman at a jewel-bearing factory near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. He is also a tribal council member, and when Congress moves to terminate his tribe, abolishing its rights and its land, he leads the fight against it. Meanwhile Patrice, a young factory worker, goes to Minneapolis to find her missing sister.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Erdrich based Thomas on her own grandfather, and she tells a true chapter of history with warmth, humor and a cast you come to love.
You'll love it if you liked
The Round House
The Sentence
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBIGood to know
It moves at a gentle pace with many characters. Patrice's storyline includes sexual exploitation.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller36 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz19 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #54 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #66 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #298 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #593 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Louise Erdrich
The Round House
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse
Love Medicine
LaRoseIf you like this, read next
All the Light We Cannot See
The Help
Pachinko
Shuggie Bain
The Nickel Boys
HamnetExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Night Watchman worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It ranks #593 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Night Watchman about?
In 1953 Thomas Wazhashk works nights as a watchman at a jewel-bearing factory near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. He is also a tribal council member, and when Congress moves to terminate his tribe, abolishing its rights and its land, he leads the fight against it. Meanwhile Patrice, a young factory worker, goes to Minneapolis to find her missing sister.
How long does it take to read The Night Watchman?
About 12 hours (464 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Night Watchman won?
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner (2021).
What should I read after The Night Watchman?
If you liked it, try The Round House by Louise Erdrich, The Sentence by Louise Erdrich or Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann.