Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for this eARC.

"Night Watch" by Jayne Anne Phillips is a poignant and intricately woven tapestry of a novel that delves into the depths of human endurance amidst the ravages of the Civil War. Set against the backdrop of West Virginia, Phillips crafts a narrative that is as haunting as it is beautiful, exploring the themes of identity, memory, and the unyielding bonds of family.

The novel's protagonist, ConaLee, is a character of remarkable resilience and observance. Born in the tumultuous year of 1861, her life is a testament to the era's strife and the personal battles that often go unnoticed in the grand scheme of history. Her journey intertwines with the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, a place that defies the era's expectations with its surprisingly progressive approach to mental health care, based on the real-life principles of Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride.

Phillips' prose is luminous, each sentence meticulously crafted to convey the stark realities of the period with a lyrical grace that is both moving and profound. The narrative is rich with historical detail, yet it never feels weighed down by its own authenticity. Instead, it serves as the perfect vessel for the story's emotional core, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the lives of ConaLee and her mother, Eliza, as they navigate a world torn asunder.

The novel's structure is a clever interplay of past and present, with Phillips employing a non-linear timeline that reveals the characters' histories in a piecemeal fashion. This approach not only mirrors the fragmented nature of memory but also the disjointed reality of a nation in conflict. It is through this narrative device that Phillips masterfully unravels the complexities of identity and the often convoluted paths we take to find our way back to ourselves and to each other.

"Night Watch" is a testament to Phillips' skill as a storyteller and her ability to capture the indomitable spirit of her characters. It is a novel that resonates with the echoes of the past, yet speaks profoundly to the present, reminding us of the enduring human capacity for resilience and hope, even in the darkest of times.

"Night Watch" is a remarkable achievement, a novel that not only tells a compelling story but also illuminates the human cost of war with empathy and insight. It is a book that will linger in the minds and hearts of readers.

It’s the end of the Civil War and a mother and her daughter are trying to find a place to call home. The war was brutal to these two, to say the least ConaLee is Twelve Years old and in charge. She is as close to an adult, that they have. Her mother hasn’t spoken for a year and now they are being taken to the asylum. The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. Hopefully her mom will get the care she needs to start to speak again and get on her feet. They arrive at the asylum at night and enter a new world that has all kinds of secrets. Between the building and the patients, somehow ConaLee and her mom, start to feel like they are home. Her father can’t find them and acting as her mother’s maid, she secures herself a job and a place to live. Her mother’s recovery is slow but it keeps them safe. This was a very good read. The characters and the story were so original. Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips is a different take on the civil war. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book. I love Historical Fiction and this was such interesting story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

This book was entirely unreadable. I almost feel bad reviewing it because I had to DNF it. It was completely unorganized, entirely to the extent I thought the ARC file I received had been corrupted! I consider myself a reader who can follow complicated and unorganized stories, but not this one. I do not recommend this book to even the most seasoned of readers.

I usually love historical fiction and this was indeed the genre, but I thought it jumped around a lot and it was hard to follow. I may go back and try it again just to see what happens to the characters.

This book takes place during the Civil War in the mountains of Virginia. A young soldier leaves his family, is wounded, has amnesia and ends up working in a mental institution as a watchman. In the meantime, his wife has a child that he does not know about. Her life is upended with the arrival of a soldier who moves in, impregnates her, forces her to give up her young children and drives her to the same mental institution and drops her off. The story revolves around her eldest daughter who pretends she is her caretaker and her inner thoughts.

3.5⭐️

Set in the aftermath of the Civil War the novel opens in 1874 where we meet twelve-year-old ConaLee and her mother, Eliza, who has been mute for over a year as they are dropped off by a man she calls “Papa” at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. O’Shea, the Night Watch lets them in and eventually, they find refuge in the Asylum, with Eliza under the care of the Physician Superintendent and ConaLee hiding the truth of her relationship with Eliza to be employed with the Asylum as caregiver to Eliza in return for room and board.

As the narrative progresses, we get to know more about ConaLee and Eliza’s story and the people and events that led to the present day. Eliza’s husband never returned from the War and with Dearbhla, who had raised her as her only friend, Eliza’s life had not been easy. Eliza’s story of loss and grief, fear, and abuse. Under the care of the kind doctor and the “Moral Treatment” practices in the asylum, Eliza begins to heal and ConaLee begins to search for answers about her mother’s past.

Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips is an interesting work of historical fiction that touches upon themes of PTSD, the ravages of war, trauma and abuse, mental health, and healing. The author describes the setting well and paints a vivid picture of life in the post-Civil War period. The main characters are well-developed, and the story is overall engaging despite the uneven pacing and slightly disjointed narrative that moves between past and present. The pace of the novel is on the slower side in the first half and uneven throughout. I thought the ending was rushed and a tad contrived, which is why I cannot give this novel a higher rating, though I did like the plot structure and how the story developed until the final quarter of the novel. Please note that there are disturbing descriptions of war injuries and sexual assault, which might be triggering for some readers.

The narrative is interspersed with quotes by Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride, a physician known for his compassionate and respectful methods of treating the mentally ill. I found parts of the narrative quite informative and was motivated to read more about Dr. Kirkbride's methods for treating the mentally ill and about the Asylum which was a psychiatric hospital in West Virginia that was in operation from 1864 until 1994.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, Anchor and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a fascinating if tragic book of post-Civil War West Virginia. We first meet 12 year old ConaLee as her stepfather is driving her and her mother to the Trans-Allegheny Asylum as ConaLee's mother is no longer well after birthing a set of twins. As the story unfolds we learn more of ConaLee's backstory, how she and her mother ended up where they were and the men who impacted their lives. A strong story and one that made my heart ache at times.

This book was rich in historical detail and I loved the descriptive writing. Conalee had to experience all of the problems that had been caused by the war andmove forward.
Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wasn't sure I would like this one, but it drew me right in. There are several themes in this book relating to the Civil War. We forget the PTSD suffered by survivors, the dangers to women living alone in areas where there are roving gangs of marauders and the difficulty women alone had in providing for themselves. ConaLee and her mother were left behind when ConaLee's father went to war. When the marauder who took over the household tired of her mother, he packed them both off to a mental hospital. The hospital is based on a real hospital that operated after the Civil War and it was refreshing to see that the quality of care some of the patients received were better than I would have expected. ConaLee and her mother were both people that I cared about. No spoilers, so I won't tell what happened. I definitely recommend this for readers interested Civil War era history. I received this as an arc from NetGalley and am under no pressure for a good review.

4+ stars
The wounds of war, both the physical and emotional trauma, slavery, mental illness, grief, created family defying family roots, healing nurtured by humanity are among the multiple themes covered in this post Civil War novel. The story of twelve year old ConaLee Connelly and her family is painful to read, dark at times . It’s sad and gut wrenching, yet touching and hopeful. The book opens with ConaLee accompanying her traumatized mother to an insane asylum for healing, leaving her three younger siblings behind.

I liked the structure of the novel presenting different points of view in different time frames. It served to tell us more about ConaLee, her mother and the other main characters, as well as put together like puzzle pieces , how the present situation came to be . My favorite perspective is that of ConaLee, who at twelve is an old soul, wise for her age, carrying burdens no twelve year old should have to bear. She’s another child character who stole my heart. It’s tough one to read, but I was definitely invested and immersed in the story. Much happened before and after their journey to the asylum. I leave it at that. I recommend you discover the story for yourself.

The chapters are interspersed with quotes by Dr . Thomas Story Kirkbride and after reading about him online and the author’s note at the end, we learn that the asylum was a real place and that he was known for the humane treatment of patients at the asylum unlike asylums of that time I have read about. A worthwhile story to read .

I read this with with Diane as our usual monthly read.

I received a copy of this book from Knopf through NetGalley.

This ended up on my radar because it was on a longlist for an award. I believe it was the National Book Award. I love seeing what the judges select. They often find unusual things I hadn't considered.

This book has an unusual format. The author has this set in a post Civil War asylum. She adds photos and quotes from the actual setting into the fictional narrative. I thought this added something extra to the story without distracting from the plot.

A man goes missing during the war. His wife and child are left behind to fend for themselves in any way that they can manage. Ultimately, they end up in the asylum after their tormentor has decided that they are basically a liability or he is done with them. How he comes to this conclusion is sort of a brilliant bit of maneuvering by the neighbor. I probably just gave too much away, but you must decide for yourself what is really going on here.

A beautiful novel about mother and daughter and their life after the Civil War. It has graphic aspects about sexual abuse so be forewarned. Mother and daughter end up in an Asylum for a period but not like any Asylum you've read about. I really enjoyed all the historical details about the Asylum. This Asylum is ran humanely or more humanely than any other novel I've read about an old Asylum.

I apologize for not adding a review, but I did try to read the story, which is well written, but a bit heavier in nature that I imagined. For me personally, I am dealing with some families struggles myself and wanted more of an uplifting story. I made it as far as the narrator and dad taking mom on the journey, leaving the two nursing siblings behind and I could not emotionally continue. I would think that is praise for the writer who could demonstrate such feelings in myself, as a reader. Thank you for allowing the opportunity to read this book. I think that in another time and place, I would be able to finish reading this story. It was me, not the book. Thank you.

I was initially drawn to the absolutely gorgeous cover of this book. I wasn't familiar with the author and hadn't seen any hype about the book. When I read the description, I knew that, as a lover of historical fiction, I would definitely appreciate it. And appreciate it, I did, though it was a notably difficult read, with a few especially difficult scenes including rape, abuse, and gory happenings in a hospital close to the battlefield during the Civil War. However, I was soon caught up in the narrative, which I thought was beautifully constructed in terms of switching time frames and points of view. Ultimately, there was a redemptive ending that I didn't entirely buy into, but was sincerely happy for. As I was in the midst of reading this, I read that it was nominated for the long list for the National Book Award. With writing and a story like this, I'm not surprised.

The Night Watch is a devastating subtle thriller, one that showcases the lingering horrors of war and the effects of violence against women. Ripple effects is the theme woven throughout the novel and the many ways people can both positively and negatively touch others' lives, whether they know it or not. A family torn apart by war and comes so close to being joined again, despite the violence and trauma that got in the way. While I struggled initially to get into the story, I found it thoroughly engrossing and inspired by the resilience of the women we meet and get to know.

Content warning: sexual assault on page, mentions of physical abuse of asylum patents by staff

Head's up, you might want to avoid NIGHT WATCH if reading books that include dialogue without quotation marks bugs you. This is a stylistic choice I do not understand, nor did I enjoy reading.

NIGHT WATCH has a good story, but I couldn't get past the writing style or how meandering the plot was. I feel like this book should have been 100 pages less. There was also no reason to have the sexual assault of Eliza happening on page. I did enjoy the historical photos and elements about the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia though.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor in exchange for an honest review.

(𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 @𝘢𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 #𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.) 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 written by Jayne Anne Phillips and longlisted for the National Book Award, tells the unusual story of a mother and daughter who find refuge in a “lunatic asylum” in the years after the Civil War. As did many women, Eliza lost her husband to the war and her daughter, ConaLee never even met him. The years that followed the war were not kind to this duo and so their arrival at the asylum feels like both a relief and a refuge. But, all is not as it seems.⁣
⁣
Historical fiction can be a tricky genre for me, so from the start I was pleased with this story that sprinkled in real notes from history, medical writings, and photographs throughout the story. Those really gave it context. I liked the set up and even the small bits of magical realism woven in. Of course, it also had a harsh side that gave the story depth. ⁣
⁣
All was working well for me for the first three-quarters of the book and then I just began to get tired of it. It’s not that the story was repetitive or unbelievable, but maybe that it was slow. I was patient with the pace for most of the book; until I reached a point where I just wanted to be finished. This makes rating the book difficult. Until the last quarter, I’d have given it a solid four stars, but that last bit has to knock it down. The ending of a book should be the best, easiest part to get through and that just wasn’t the case with this one. Realistically, that’s likely more on me than on the storytelling or the writing, but either way I’m landing on ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Night Watch was a fascinating historical fiction about the Civil War, the effects on both soldiers and civilians in the aftermath of the war and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. The story is told mainly through the eyes of Conalee, a young girl tasked with taking care of her mother and young half siblings.
Conalee’s father went to war, fighting for the Union, before she was even born. He expected to be home within months. But an accident robs him of his eye and his memory. Meanwhile, a Rebel deserter forces himself into the lives of the family left behind. When he tires of them, he deposits them at The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The TALA is an actual place and the book includes pictures from when it was operational.
The story was haunting and at times graphically brutal. But it is also about endurance and resolve. All the characters came across as realistic and fully formed. There is a small touch of magical realism, as Dearbhla has the ability to sense where her loved ones are.
The writing was wonderfully descriptive and I was totally drawn into this story. At times, it had a dreamlike quality to it. The ending was a bit predictable but not enough to lessen my appreciation of the story.
What a treat to finally have a story involving an asylum where the residents were treated well and actually cared for under a practice known as Moral Treatment.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf Books for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you for the privilege of reading Night Watch. I really enjoy reading historical fiction and I also have an interest in the Civil War.

The book was both ethereal and poetic. The description of the ridge - nature, flora, fauna was written beautifully as well as the character descriptions. The portrayal of the incidents in this book were both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

I lived outside of Philadelphia for 26 years. I have been to the Quaker Meeting House on Arch Street in Philadelphia several times. I have also been involved in tour planning for Eastern State Penitentiary - a novel approach to prison reform started by the Quakers.

My utmost regard for the women left behind during the Civil War (and all wars).

While I loved this book, I fear many will not perservere getting past the beginning of this book.

Fans of Civil War-era fiction are going to want to pick up this book. Through the evocative writing, I was transported to the hardscrabble life in the wooded hills near West Virginia – and all of its hardship. I cringed at the various injustices endured by women during the war (and the time period), but also was heartened by their intense will and strength.

This is a story of trauma brought on not only by war, but by the ugliness that seems inherent in humanity during both the best and worst of times.

I adored the character of Dearbhla, and in particular her homeopathic knowledge and the bit of magic and clairvoyance she seemed to possess for those she loved. The pre-asylum chapters are the ones that resonated with me the most.

The photos of the actual Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum were nice touches, and learning that this asylum, in real life, was actually ahead of its time in the moral treatment of patients was refreshing (if not also sad, realizing that its moral model was not to become the standard).

While the characters’ stories are laden with grief, I came away from the book feeling it was slightly predictable and a little contrived, aside from one portion of the ending. And that’s okay. It was still a lovely read, though I admit I got tripped up a few times on character motivations and whether I understood some of the resulting plot points (as well as some sentences). It honestly was a strange experience, making me question if my own life challenges simply distracted me from focus.

One way or the other, as this is my first Phillips book, and seeing that she’s written two previous war-themed stories, I am definitely interested in reading her backlist. If you enjoy books with mother-daughter themes, beautiful language, and appreciate literary historical fiction, this one might be for you!

3.75 rounded up