Montana 1948 : Montana 1948

Rating:
Summary: Little plot, no conclusion.
Review: In my opinion, Montana 1948 is a dull book with little to offer a reader.
As 12-year-old David Hayden's father investigates the claims of molestation of young Indian women, he discovers a secret about his uncle that threatens to tear the family apart. Despite the promising story line and the author's wonderful writing style, the book falls to peices.
It had a semi-suspenseful plot that ended in a letdown with no resolution. Nothing gets solved and the events that have occured eat away at the Hayden family until David's father and grandfather die of cancer.
I don't reccomend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Novel version of a 'B' reel movie - and not for the kids
Review: An interesting premise gets a surprisingly dark tone and poor execution in MONTANA 1948. Though it's billed as a "coming of age" story, there isn't much in the way of plot concerned with a boy metamorphosing into a man. What author Larry Watson presents is a mature man's recollections about tragic childhood events in his family's history and some eye-opening facets of his family's dark side.

MONTANA 1948's tone is part "Stand By Me", part "Pulp Fiction". There are some very adult, very disturbing themes included in this tale, including physical and sexual abuse. (I would encourage you to screen this short novel before letting your children read it.) It's an oddball combination that never really jives well and reads in a stilted, awkward fashion. For instance, a plot key plot line about shall we say, "creative imprisonment", is interrupted with a lenghthy description of the family laundry room. It felt as if Mr. Watson just need to fill the page.

All these factors left this reader wondering, "Who was the author's intended audience?" The prose is constructed in such a way as to sugguest this could be a novel for young readers, but thematically, it wouldn't seem appropriate for many in that age group. (Again, know your child's maturity level and know the book before making a decision here. Don't just take my word for it.) On the other hand, if Mr. Watson was intending for adults to read this book, it's put together in a very juvenile fashion, sloppily executed (the main character, David, is amazingly PC in his "20/20" hindsight, especially considering his family culture and upbringing), with charicatured character development and scenery. I never felt "drawn in" by this particular story's setting, and I've seen better character development off the mass-marketed Best-Seller rack. The insights into the characters and their motives and emotions are thin at best. With the slow pacing and meandering storytelling, it was a tough 180 pages to finish.

If you're looking for a great coming-of-age story taking place in rural America with stunning imagery and great characters, I have two alternate recommendations for you: 1) PLAINSONG, by Kent Haruf (also a more adult-oriented novel - quite quiet with fantastic characters); and 2) JIM THE BOY, by Tony Earley, which can be heartily enjoyed by young readers and adults alike.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Coming of Age Novel
Review: HI ANG HOW R U?
THIS BOOK SUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

by the way, the girl with no friends, hi

Rating:
Summary: Montana 1948
Review: I enjoyed reading this novel because it was very interesting. Reading this book was a positive experience for me because if it wasn't for my teacher I would have never read this book and I would have missed out on a very good book.
The author was able to hold my interest throughout the whole book. He did this by always adding some scenes to the book making you want to know what was going to happen next. Especially the scene in the beginning when the mom figures out what Uncle Frank is doing to Marie.
To me the characters were interesting and believable because the way their attitudes are in the book are the same as those as a real person and that makes the book interesting and believe. My favorite character was David Hayden. He was my favorite character because he was the main character and also because of the ways he described things in this book. I think the author did a good job at creating all the characters in the book.
I learned that it's good to do the right thing no matter who it involves, that what I learned from this book. I gain more knowledge by reading this book because it shows you that in this world anything can happen. I would recommend this book to my friends because it is interesting and is a positive experience.

Rating:
Summary: Little Big Sky
Review: I lived in Bozeman, Montana the summer I was eight and I still have a lot of fond memories of the time my family spent there. I know I must talk about it a lot, because one day my girlfriend brought me this book and said, "I found something you have to read." From the cover and the write-up on the back, "Montana 1948" looked like it might be a nostalgic, bittersweet coming-of-age tale set in the Big Sky state.

It is all of those things, but it's more. Larry Watson spins a poignant, compelling narrative that deals with family, secrecy, innocence and corruption in a very moving way. The book's opening section gives a longish description of the setting. Soon after, drama unfolds and the plot becomes as thick as that of a mystery novel. As I was reading the book, I thought that I would probably give it a four star rating. But the ending was so beautifully moving that it bumped itself up.

The story is interesting and thought-provoking and the writing is lean but never pretentious. What I liked most about this book, though, was the rich characterization and the great pleasure I took in reading a well-told story. You'll enjoy this short, great novel, even if you've never thought twice about Montana.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: It seemed like larry watson didn't know what he was doing. He foreshadows every little event through the wind. Its filled with so many stupid meaningless symolisms and metophores. This book has one theme and thats RETARTED

Rating:
Summary: Montana 1948
Review: Montana 1948 was an excellent read. I really enjoyed this book. Larry Watson made the characters come to life in my mind. There are a lot of details which make the book very interesting. Each word was enough to kept me want to keep turning the page. This book, like many other books, starts off slow, but eventually picks up speed and becomes more interesting. The story takes place in the summer of 1948 in Montana and is told through the eyes of David Hayden. This time period is probably one of the hardest summers of David's life. He loses his Native American nanny. He finds out that his war hero/doctor Uncle Frank is hiding something far too embarrassing to expose to the community. He knows that if he does it will ruin the Hayden name. David's grandpa was the sheriff for every year running. When it was time for him to retire, he passed the job on to his other son Wesley. When Frank's true side is exposed it is up to Wesley to step in and try to keep it hush-hush.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: This book caught my attention from the start. Watson introduces the story through dramatic clips from the movie reel of David Hayden's mind; memories from the year he'd rather forget. His father, Wesley, is the sheriff of the small town they live in, but rarely has much work in his town... until Marie gets sick. Marie is a young Sioux girl who lives with the Hayden's to take care of David. When she becomes ill, she refuses to see David's uncle Frank who is a doctor. From that point the story begins to unravel. Marie reveals that Frank has been molesting young Indian women for some time. Being the sheriff of the city, Wesley has an important, and difficult job on his hands. It is his duty to turn in his brother, and bring him before the law, but Frank is family, and well-liked around their small town. When Marie dies suddenly, and David confesses to seeing Frank at the house earlier the same day, Wesley knows he must to do something. Under his father's controlling hand, and his brother's charm, Wesley finds himself in a bind over which should comes first; his job and the law, or loyalty to family? Without much planning, he decides to take his brother into his own home as prisoner, and locks him in the basement, but this does not solve his problems, because his wife won't allow it. Throughout all this, David has managed to pick up the entire story by eavesdropping. His young mind is having a difficult time accepting the news about his uncle Frank, and although he is young, he realizes that his family will never be the same. Already, David is unable to look at his family member the way he used to. Watson describes in vivid and clear detail the war waging between justice and loyalty at the heart of this family. Wesley's father believes that loyalty is far more important in this case, although he used to be the one with the badge. Wesley on the other hand, although torn, believes that the law is the law, and as sheriff, he can't just look the other way even if it is his own brother. This book is as intriguing and exciting as it is thought provoking.

Rating:
Summary: Well worth your time
Review: This book is more complex than it first appears.

Highly readable, it tells the story of 12yo David Hayden and his family's Sioux housekeeper, Marie Little Soldier.

The relationships between David, his mother, father and the housekeeper are tightly intertwined and David cares for all three of them deeply even though he seems to doubt his father for a short time.

David's feelings for his uncle are very mixed and he seems to be the first person to teach David that people are not always what they seem. Unfortunately David learns this in a tragic way.

Although the book deals with 'heavy' themes it never becomes heavy to read.

Rating:
Summary: 4.5 stars
Review: Watson weaves a tale about family, loyalty, and justice... and how a twelve year old boy remembers the summer of 1948. _Montana 1948_ was very well-written, and I found myself immersed in the story. Watson's setting, post-war Montana, matched well with his style and tone. The setting was quiet and casual, and while there were some very sad and tragic themes discussed, the style remained calm and quiet.

Overall a good piece of short fiction.