The Night Watchman is a fictional story based on Louise Erdrich's grandfather, Patrick Gourneau who was chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Advisory Committee in the 1950s. He fought the bill that sought to terminate American Indians and to remove them from their land.

The termination bills and legislation are something I'd never learnt about, and they are also something that lots of Americans apparently know little about. The Night Watchman immortilises the story of Louise Erdrich's grandfather, as well as shining light on a part of American history that is often swept under the rug.

The characters are memorable, compassionate and complicated. Their stories are beautifully intertwined. I really appreciated the insight into the lives and beliefs of the Chippewa people.

The book is political and spiritual. It's moving and personal. It shows the importance of community, both on a personal level and on a much larger scale.

The book is really insightful and quite inspiring. It brings a voice to people that the government constantly tries to silence.

Louise Erdrich inherited letters that her grandfather wrote during the 1950s and she wrote The Night Watchman as a tribute to him and his life. You can feel her passion for the characters and the story. It absolutely shines throughout the book.

This is a really important and superb piece of literary fiction. And while it's based on events that happened in the 1950's so much of the book is still so relevant today.