Reviews - One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd

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One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd

I started by reading the book version, but was annoyed by the italics of every word that was meant to be said in a different accent (Irish, German, southern, etc.). That made for slow reading. In the audio version, at least someone else had to do that work for me, but the reader had so many voices going on that it was distracting.

Overall and interesting story, slowed down by a lot of reported dialogue (journal entries) and a lot of characters seem pretty surprised by events happening around them.

Interesting premise however!

rebelread's review against another edition

5.0

I let this gem set on my night stand for the last 3 years. After finishing my last book and restlessly considering my next read, I picked this up with reservation, concerned I might not find it interesting.
I quickly identified with May Dodd as "my kind of gal". She, along with the other characters are portrayed so intricately I found myself running the gamete of emotions with and for them. The landscape, hardship of the times along with contrast of cultures are painted with amazing authentic detail.

katefenster's review against another edition

4.0

Although this book is rife with stereotypes and a somewhat unsatisfactory, though inevitable, ending, it was very entertaining.

bglvy325's review against another edition

2.0

I had a little bit if trouble figuring out if this was historical fiction or pure fiction. Fiction it is, a real tall tale. I also found it kind of cringe worthy ... racist because of the condescending tone about nobel "savages". Its kind of a romance novel like as if a good white German went off to marry a Jew, to try to set them straight, before the Holocaust. It's a real WTF book.

calliope_canyon's review against another edition

2.0

I typically would like a book with this sort of storyline and setting but I just cannot get past the horrible racist language and violence throughout.

sweetcheeksbiblophile's review against another edition

5.0

I've read quite a few reviews and was surprised so many did not like it. I was hooked within a few pages. This book is fiction and should be treated as such. The comments that it's not accurate are silly. Of course it isn't accurate it never happened! But I digress.

As far as the book goes it's well written and captivating. Jim Fergus does a wonderful job, IMO, of capturing the feelings and life of a white woman living with the Native Americans. The story is written as a journal, therefore there is only one viewpoint. Yet you feel as if you really get to know the other characters.

I was surprised yet not by the ending. That does not make sense I know. I'll try to explain without giving things away. When I was reading the ending I kept thinking "wait no it can't end like this." But after I finished and thought about it, it was very fitting. It pretty much summed up the way the American government dealt with the Natives. Harshly and brutally.