Oskars Apsitis’s Reviews > Montana 1948 > Status Update

Frank had lived his whole life being admired - war hero, doctor, respected. When Wes suddenly arrested him he was powerless, he couldn't manipulate, or threaten his way out of it. Frank knew that if the truth came out, his reputation, career would be gone. By killing himself, Frank basically took control back from Wes, avoiding trial, humiliation, and the family fallout. It was his way of choosing his own ending.

I knew that Grandfather would not be having it when Wesley locked Frank in the basement. Grandpa stormed in the house angry- how could he lock up ''his'' son in a family members basement. The war hero, the man that is respected in town. I definitely think that Grandpa was acting like this, because Frank was his favourite son, he was scared that if everybody suddenly knew this, he would lose power and hurt his name.

I knew that Grandfather would not be having it when Wesley locked Frank in the basement. Grandpa stormed in the house angry- how could he lock up ''his'' son in a family members basement. The war hero, the man that is respected in town. I definitely think that Grandpa was acting like this, because Frank was his favourite son, he was scared that if everybody suddenly knew this, he would lose power and hurt his name.

On page 105. I think Wes wanting to repaint the house in shows his need for control and a ''restart'' after his world falls apart. I think the author is trying to say it’s a symbol of trying to cover up guilt and maybe his mistake? The fresh paint represents a wish to start over, to make things look clean again, even when the truth beneath can’t really be erased, of him locking up his brother.

Wes locking Frank in the basement was shocking. It was the moment he finally chose justice over family. I think he locked him in the basement, because he was still soft hearted toward Frank when he said that he didn't want to go to prison in town, because then everyone would know. I think it was hard for Wes to do the right thing and lock him away for good even though it tears everything in the family apart.

I think Marie's sudden death is far from natural - although officially it was said that she died from pneumonia, I think Frank was the one who murdered her, and he did this to silence her. I think he did this because she knew of his crimes against Native women, his greed for secrecy led him to murder her. Wes and Gail are left haunted by the loss, the dark truth still lurking in their own family.

I think Marie's sudden death is far from natural - although officially it was said that she died from pneumonia, I think Frank was the one who murdered her, and he did this to silence her. I think he did this because she knew of his crimes against Native women, his greed for secrecy led him to murder her. Wes and Gail are left haunted by the loss, the dark truth still lurking in their own family.

On page 73. Looking into the bird’s dead eye, David realizes that darkness and desire exists even in good people. He starts to understand that human nature holds both innocence and evilness, love and cruelty. I think this moment marks his loss of innocence, showing that right and wrong often live side by side in life within the same heart.

This start of the chapter was interesting. It surprised me that the dad's first choice to ask questions about uncle Frank, was Ollie. In the first chapter it was clear that Wes was kind of a racist, calling indians - ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible. But for Ollie it was a different story. I think this is maybe because, Ollie was a baseball player and so was Frank. Maybe Ollie knows Frank from it.