Review of The Night Watch

[dotinthesky]

Sarah Waters, The Night Watch, 2006
Waters' fourth novel -- her first one set during the 1940s -- revolves around the experiences of four characters during the Second World War. The novel is divided in three sections that move backwards in time, through the War, and that serve to explain why these characters (three women and one man) fell into their predicament. The novel echoes my grandmother's stories of life during the Blitz: the banality of death; the short-lived romances; the very British stoicism in the face of hopelessness and a city literally enveloped in darkness.

People at my book club found it disappointing that it didn't have the same energetic pace as Waters' previous novels, but I thought its subdued tone fit perfectly well a story that focused on the minutiae of everyday life rather than the epic events commanding the country. I found it far more interesting to learn how people got their coffee in the black market than what type of bomb blew up their neighbours. And it goes without saying that Waters' research into queer lives of that period (or her assumptions of it) are a major attraction of the novel. There's enough material there to fill another three novels (but, hopefully, with less ambiguity as to what goes on between gay men.)

Review's style inspired by flyingsauce

Comments

[tarotbydiana.livejournal.com]

Oh, "Night Watch" sounds wonderful.

I remember really enjoying "Tipping the Velvet". I read "Affinity", which though it had a depth of character study and genuine moments of originality, I found it very depressing. I think it's time for me to revisit the work of Ms. Waters.

With her style being so meticulous in terms of research, I am surprised she didn't make more effort to show the lives of gay men with the same detail as lesbians.

I haven't belonged to a book club in years. When I lived in New Hampshire, I went to a women's book group which was a strange mix of self-described feminists and ladies who had primarily read mystery novels and found the book choices a little out of their comfort zone. I'll give the latter members credit for reading the material. I am going to check in and see if there are any book clubs at the independent bookstore in town.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Affinity sounds a lot like The Night Watch, which also has some striking scenes and characters, but an overall sadness to it.

From what I gather, Waters mostly writes about women; it would be interesting to see her tackle a novel which revolves mostly around men.