Tragic Events in The novel Montana 1948 by Larry Watson

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Many of life’s experience colour the way we look at ourselves and society in which we live. The novel Montana 1948 by Larry Watson is indeed all about the tragic event of David Hayden’s twelfth summer, which irrevocably changed him. These events help us understand the idea of coming of age and how childhood experiences change us and affect how we define ourselves as adults.

Montana 1948 is set in a small country town in Mercer County, Montana called Bentrock. The story is about a young boy David Hayden who couldn’t be happier.✔ But one afternoon when David eavesdropped on his parents, his life changed forever. He tells us in the prologue that, “ From the summer of my twelfth year I carry a series of images more vivid and lasting than any others of my boyhood and indelible beyond all attempts the years make to erase or fade them…” ✔ This changed David’s perception on life because he saw things differently as he almost didn’t agree with history because he knew of such horrific events and there was a time where only he knew of these events. I think David when he was older he still tri...

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