One Thousand White Women: the Journals of May Dodd

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

Ahhhh, what to say about this book. What to say. It's been on my radar for awhile, just because I always see it when I'm browsing the best-sellers at Target. Also, my local mommy book club read it awhile back (I never actually started attending the club, when the first three books they chose were The Help, the Hunger Games, and The Book Thief) not that I had a problem with the books themselves, I just wanted to read something that I hadn't read forever ago, and had already flushed out talking about with just about everyone. I didn't realize that in 2012 there were people who still hadn't read those books! I'm sure all of you three people who still check this blog out read them long ago! 

Ok, sorry, I'm trying to put off reviewing this silly, silly book. Let me just start by saying, I love historical fiction. Or historical novels in general. This book was sooooo ridiculous! It was so historically inaccurate, and so obviously written by a man, it was laughable. There were so many cringe-worthy moments, it made me so happy I wasn't at that book group discussion! 

I know the title makes it seem like a story about the Romney recruitment process (just kidding people! GO MITT!) The premise is actually about a girl named May, who is locked away in the loony-bin by her blue-blood family for living with guy and having two kids with him. She signs up for a super-secret government program to marry Native American Indians, to get out of the asylum. 

I found the book very racist in his depiction of Native Americans. It was like it was written by someone living in that time, suffering from the prejudices of the era. I really can't  believe someone in this day-and-age would paint them in such a fashion. It was just as offensive how he wrote his main character, May Dodd. She really was the worst character EVER. She finds herself headed West, into an unknown world, and she's just looking to hook up with the soldiers at the fort, en route? Her words are written in letter and journal form, and it was just so stupid to read her mocking letters to her sister, putting her down, and laughing about her own sexual exploits, but then tossing in a little 'I miss my kids' at the end of each letter to make it seem like she has substance. Then the journal entries, where she comes across like one of the 'mean girls' in high school. And wants to dedicate time to discussing penis size....really? Ahhhh, it makes me think women who actually lived on the plains, or with Indians, would be rolling in their graves. 

Ok, I will give you an example (albeit, a graphic one) of what a racist perv. the author is...So he goes into detail about the women finally consummating their marriages with the Indians, and he can't get enough of talking about the Native Americans favorite sexual position, since that's the only way they know how to do it, cause their only example is by watching animals....ummmmm, I was like, did he really just write that? And then all the women run to each other the next day to discuss  how they liked the kinky Indian sex. Oh my. Ok, I'm not going to waste anymore time writing about this asinine book (no pun). 

So you know the foodie books, Eat THIS Not THAT? I'm going to do a little favor for you and make it a 

Read THIS, Not THAT:

Here are some AMAZING books, some are autobiographical, they put Mr. Fergus' book to complete shame, and in juxtaposition show it for the trash it is. 

Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart 

This book shows the true capability of women. Actual letters of experiences of the author, it will amaze you what she does! Getting stuck in a snowstorm, making camp, and hunting for a meal, all with her three year old daughter in tow! And she acts like it's all in a day's work, and it was. 

My Antonia by Willa Cather

Oh Willa Cather! Read everything by her. You must. One of the greatest American authors. My Antonia is my favorite, there is a woman with A VOICE. 

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Probably the books that made me love reading about the time period so much. And that they were HER stories, I just loved that! They also made me want to live in a sod house. All of the series must be read. Is is weird I didn't like the TV show?

These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner

It's not an autobiography, but it feels like one. I was thrilled when I found out there were more books in this series, none were as good as the first, but it was still fun to see the story continue. 

 Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

The most darling this about this book, is that it is told from the perspective of a 14 year old boy, about his Grandfather and his relationship with a much younger woman.

Peace out folks! I have some reading to do! 

Is it a spoiler to tell you I'm working on J.K. Rowleys new grown-up book the Casual Vacancy, and also Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close?

OR 

Is it a spoiler to tell you I'm going to review The Perks of Being a Wallflower next???

hmmmm?