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Night Watch
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
10 posts | 11 read | 2 reading | 8 to read
From one of our most accomplished novelists, a mesmerizing story about a mother and daughter seeking refuge in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil Warand a brilliant portrait of family endurance against all odds "A tour de force." Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage In 1874, in the wake of the War, erasure, trauma, and namelessness haunt civilians and veterans, renegades and wanderers, freedmen and runaways. Twelve-year-old ConaLee, the adult in her family for as long as she can remember, finds herself on a buckboard journey with her mother, Eliza, who hasnt spoken in more than a year. They arrive at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia, delivered to the hospitals entrance by a war veteran who has forced himself into their world. There, far from family, a beloved neighbor, and the mountain home they knew, they try to reclaim their lives. The omnipresent vagaries of war and race rise to the surface as we learn their story: their flight to the highest mountain ridges of western Virginia; the disappearance of ConaLees father, who left for the War and never returned. Meanwhile, in the asylum, they begin to find a new path. ConaLee pretends to be her mothers maid; Eliza responds slowly to treatment. They get swept up in the life of the facilitythe mysterious man they call the Night Watch; the orphan child called Weed; the fearsome woman who runs the kitchen; the remarkable doctor at the head of the institution. Epic, enthralling, and meticulously crafted, Night Watch is a stunning chronicle of surviving war and its aftermath.
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CatLass007
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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This was my choice for August #TBRTarot - Choose a book… that is based on a true story/real person. This Pulitzer Prize winning novel is written by an author from my home state of West Virginia. It takes place during and after the War Between the States. West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. The story mostly takes place at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, a real place constructed from 1858 and 1881. It (cont)⬇️

CatLass007 was in operation from 1864 to 1994. It is still a historic landmark open to the public for historical tours and ghost tours. I‘m not going to get it finished this month but I have enjoyed the 25% that I have read. (edited) 3mo
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review
Aimeesue
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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Pickpick

Fabulous read. The story of ConaLee and her family during and after the cataclysm that was the U.S. Civil War and the horrors it wrought moved me deeply. As a Yankee living in Virginia, I was reminded of the history of this in-between state and the chaos it meant for individuals who were forced to choose sides. A friend recently visited the Trans-AlleghenyLunatic asylum and recommended it highly. I‘d def like to take a tour.

Aimeesue Also, I want to read everything Phillips has written. She‘s GOOD. 4mo
37 likes1 comment
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Graywacke
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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Mehso-so

This year‘s dark horse Pulitzer winner, on post-Civil War West Virginia.

Overall, for me this novel has some good aspects, but also problems. I liked the slightly difficult prose, and the various aspects of history and place. The plot seemed flawed to me, full of aspects that I couldn't make sense of. Slightly disappointing, maybe. 🤷🏻‍♂️

review
JackieGreco
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
Pickpick

Overall, I really enjoyed this read about a family in the wake of the civil war. It was an engaging story about a daughter who needed to care for her mother and siblings in the aftermath of the war. Some aspects of the story I found confusing but overall enjoyed the book. 3.5/5

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Graywacke
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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Trying to get into it. But the magical feelings and herbs that always fail to prevent the bad stuff are bothering me. I‘m only on page 82.

Ruthiella I‘ve heard mostly negative things about this and that she won more for her body of work than this particular book. I look forward to your review if you finish it! 👍 5mo
Graywacke @Ruthiella I was excited to see a dark horse win the Pulitzer. I‘ll keep at it for now. (edited) 5mo
47 likes2 comments
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CaitlinR
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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Pickpick

“Endurance was strength. The courage of the lost swelled and moved, a force separating the days, clearing the way.” (p. 276) This is a remarkable novel with beautifully crafted writing and a fascinating story. Set in the aftermath of the Civil War and told through multiple voices and perspectives. Phillips gives us an account of how the horrors of slavery, poverty and war fracture lives and identities. Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer for Fiction.

CaitlinR Photo of the author by Elena Seibert 6mo
21 likes1 comment
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ChrisBohjalian
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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Rooftop reading on a Friday afternoon.

PurpleyPumpkin Beautiful view!🤩 6mo
marleed Gorgeous! 6mo
41 likes2 comments
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vlwelser
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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Pickpick

This turned up on one of the prize lists. And it definitely belongs there. A woman and child are caught up in the aftermath of the Civil War and end up in an asylum. The author adds quotes and actual pictures and diagrams from the asylum.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#NetGalley #ARC
Past pub date.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 13mo
39 likes1 comment
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Hooked_on_books
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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Pickpick

This story centers ConaLee and her mother Eliza in post-Civil War West Virginia, but broadens out to include several people in their orbit and the past. Learning how they got to where they are was the more compelling part of the story for me, whereas their current time in an asylum was a little less interesting. A low pick for me.

NBA longlist, fiction

BarbaraBB Am I right in having the idea you‘re not too impressed by the longlist? 14mo
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB You are right! There are a couple of gems, but I‘ve definitely read books this year that are better than these. Tom Lake. The Vaster Wilds. I‘m a little irritated at them. Last year, they seem to have switched to trying to give lesser known books a chance, and they‘ve done the same thing this year. I think that‘s a lovely idea, but when the books aren‘t great and other books are, the award is going to lose its prestige. 14mo
BarbaraBB So true. I think Booker has that idea too… 😉 14mo
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vlwelser
Night Watch: A novel | Jayne Anne Phillips
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 14mo
24 likes1 comment