The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

 "...I am writing to enlist your assistance. As you may know, a piece of serious news has reached us from Congress. According to House Concurrent Resolution 108, our tribe has been scheduled for termination. This is about the worst thing for Indians that has come down the pike. I firmly believe this bill means disaster for our people. I am writing to request your assistance in testifying before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs."

       -excerpt from a letter to Millie Cloud from Thomas Wazhashk, Tribal Committee Chair

One of our Page Turners suggested this title for this year. Quite honestly, I don't think I would have finished it had it not been a book club selection. My rating is a 2.

The author centers the story around a character, Thomas Wazhashk, who represents her grandfather. In 1953 the U.S. government was trying to break a treaty and take back tribal lands promised to the natives of Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. Thomas who is a night watchman in a factory, becomes a political activist to try to save his community. He leads an effort to raise funds to get a group of his people to Washington, D.C. to plead their case. 

A subplot has Patrice "Pixie" Paranteau bravely planning a trip to Minneapolis in an effort to find her missing sister, Vera. This, for me, was the most compelling part of the story but the final outcome was not very satisfying. (I am trying NOT to include a spoiler!) 

Many more interesting characters are introduced but the perspectives are confusing at times. I found the author's style choppy. Erdrich writes poetry as well as prose and this is borne out in The Night Watchman. I am not a huge fan of poetry and perhaps that was another factor in my lack of fondness for this book.

This book informs the reader of the gross mistreatment of Native Americans in this setting. Of course, we know natives all over North America experienced the same abuse. I found myself comparing the plight of these characters with that of the Seminoles of Florida. It makes me sad and angry to be reminded of this ugly part of American history.

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The Page Turners had an interesting discussion of The Night Watchman, using 30 questions from ReadingGroupGuides.com . Several members liked the book very much; a couple said it was the best book they've read in quite a while! The average rating was 3.5. Some thought the characters were well-developed and appreciated the author's style. All of us learned a great deal about the culture of the natives of Turtle Mountain and the problems they faced so courageously. We compared their story to that of natives of the northeast, Seminoles of Florida and those who could be adversely affected by pipelines being built or proposed even today. 

One interesting point was made in response to this question: "Thomas chooses to view Arthur V. Watkins, the senator behind the termination bill, as an adversary instead of an enemy. What's the difference?" Our group member related the difference to his experience with boxing when he was young. He said he never saw an opponent as an enemy to be destroyed but as an adversary to challenge him. (The comment was especially appropriate since a boxing match is featured in the story.)

Our talk made me see the value in the novel, which happens often, but I don't believe I will read it again!

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

"We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense."  

                           -Barack Obama

I had to wait a couple of months to get this library book on my Kindle. When I discovered it was 700 pages long, I wondered if I could finish before my loan expired. I barely made it, finishing on the due date! I don't read memoirs often, but somehow this one called my name. Obama's writing style is excellent. All of the book was interesting, parts were over my head (like the financial stuff) but much of it I enjoyed. My rating is 4.

Former President Obama shares some of his earliest history, facts about his family and memories of youth, and then his formal education. He writes about meeting his wife, Michelle, their marriage and the beginnings of his political aspirations. I have read Becoming by Michelle Obama and it was interesting to read some of his perspective of their relationship and journey to the White House, as compared to hers.

In this volume, Obama takes the reader through the first term of his presidency; it turns out there will be a Volume II. He certainly didn't have an easy start after his inauguration in 2009. One could say he faced one crisis after another but it would be more realistic to say one crisis on top of another! First, he had to tackle the HUGE global financial catastrophe. He spent much time and energy getting the Affordable Care Act passed and trying to address climate change in a meaningful way. As commander-in-chief, he had momentous decisions to make about Afghanistan and Iran. Along the way, there was Wall Street reform, the Deepwater Horizon oil well disaster and the planning of Operation Neptune's Spear that ended with the death of Osama bin Laden. In trying to live up to his campaign promises of "Hope and Change," he had to fight Congress far too frequently!

Obama shared personal reflections about his marriage and daughters which showed his devotion to family and he demonstrated humility in sharing his regrets and disappointments, making him seem very human. There is a good amount of humor, as well, especially the banter with his closest aides and often from Michelle.

Fairly recently I saw a documentary called "As I See It" featuring Pete Souza, former Chief Official White House Photographer. It was SO entertaining and gave me excellent background for this book. In fact, there are numerous photographs at the end of the memoir, some of which were likely Pete's work. If you are a fan of our former president and don't mind tackling a tome, I recommend A Promised Land.