Night Watch

What did you think of Phillips' writing style?

Why do you think Phillips did not narrate the whole novel through ConaLee's perspective? What did including other characters' perspectives add to the narrative? Whose point of view did you most enjoy inhabiting?

"Night Watch" lays bare the devastation of war and its impact on both combatants and civilians. What surprised you most about the aftermath and continuing aftershocks of the war? What parallels might you draw or lessons might you take away for modern times?

Discuss how Phillips explores the themes of memory, trauma, and healing in the novel.

Phillips shows everyday people who show moral courage in the face of the chaos and hardships of war. What were some of the best examples of this from the book?

Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride was an actual historical figure who set the gold standard in the 1800s for clinical care in asylums. What did you think of him and his use in this story as a relative of the fictional Dr. Thomas Kirkbride Story?

How did the photos, maps, illustrations, and quotes from Dr. Kirkbride add to the narrative?

Were you surprised by the revelations and connections exposed at the end of the novel? Did you pick up on any clues along the way?

What did you think of the dramatic ending?