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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
There are definitely some criticisms that I agree with in regards to Mr. Fergus' writing ; a lot of the time it pinged pretty clearly that I was reading from the viewpoint of a woman being written by a man who is doing his best to emulate what he thinks someone in the 1870's would sound like. While I am sure there were historical anachronisms as well in the book, this is historical fiction, and part of it is just to let go and enjoy the ride. And for the most part I really did enjoy the ride! May was likeable protagonist who sought to do the best she could by herself given the hand life had dealt her. There were some hard hitting lines in the book that really made me pause for thought. Overall, as enjoyed this book a lot more than I first thought I would, especially from the impression I got after the first 20 pages or so. The ending did feel a little bit like it was an "all for nothing" scenario that left me with a bittersweet feeling when I finished the last word.
This is a rather interesting plot with a smorgasbord of characters. I can't say I was attached to any of them. I think I may have been mixing them up with each other. Not remembering who was who; which says something. I liked how it showed there can be good/bad in any culture, race, etc... It shows the mistreatment of natives during this time period and what they lost.
Overall I think it was an interesting read but I doubt I will read similar books from the author in future.
Overall I think it was an interesting read but I doubt I will read similar books from the author in future.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I just got bored of this. I was reading on my Kindle, so didn't notice the author was not the one who wrote the forward, so didn't know this was a work of fiction. Once I was 1/3 of the way through, I figured it out, and I think I was so disappointed that this wasn't true, I couldn't enjoy it. I feel a bit foolish, but there it is.
Wow. This book was AMAZING. A little slow at first, and a bit upsetting to read sometimes, but, an unbelievably engaging look into a shameful part of American history, and a beautiful view into a culture/community that we only superficially learn about in school.
Did I say "Wow"? Need to say it again.
Okay - I'm adding a PS - just out of curiosity, I looked at other readers' reviews. So many people hated it! And, everything they said was true - a clueless male writer had women effortlessly trekking across country by foot in a blizzard while pregnant, recovering from barbaric rapes and being jolly a month later, and often forgetting the time period, and thus using modern, anachronistic language. He's guilty as charged on all counts, and I definitely noticed each of those things (glaringly) as I was reading.
It was still a great book.
Did I say "Wow"? Need to say it again.
Okay - I'm adding a PS - just out of curiosity, I looked at other readers' reviews. So many people hated it! And, everything they said was true - a clueless male writer had women effortlessly trekking across country by foot in a blizzard while pregnant, recovering from barbaric rapes and being jolly a month later, and often forgetting the time period, and thus using modern, anachronistic language. He's guilty as charged on all counts, and I definitely noticed each of those things (glaringly) as I was reading.
It was still a great book.
Compared to other books I’ve read about women during this time period, to me it just didn’t feel like May Dodd had the voice of a woman, probably because the author was a man. The story was compelling and while I know this particular storyline was fiction, many of the tragedies in the book did actually happen to Native American tribes of the time. What an ugly part of American history. 3.5 stars.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus is an unforgettable journey into the American West told through the powerful, poignant, and often hilarious voice of one extraordinary woman.
Written in diary format, this novel swept me away from page one. It follows May Dodd, a fiercely independent and spirited woman who joins a government program in the 1870s that trades white women for horses in an effort to assimilate Native American tribes into white culture. Yes, it sounds wild—and it is—but somehow it works brilliantly.
May’s voice is everything. She’s sharp, witty, brave, and heartbreakingly human. Through her journal entries, I felt like I was living alongside her, experiencing the sweeping landscapes, cultural clashes, and emotional turmoil that defined her journey. The writing is so immersive that I often forgot I was reading fiction—it feels like a real historical document penned by a woman ahead of her time.
The book is emotional and intense, layered with moments that made me laugh out loud and others that left me genuinely heartbroken. I was constantly struck by how tender and brutal life was on the frontier, especially for women. The friendships between the women are rich and deeply moving, and the way they support each other through impossible circumstances made me feel incredibly invested in every one of them.
It’s not just a story—it’s an experience. Funny, tragic, bold, and beautifully written, One Thousand White Women stayed with me long after the last page. I cried. I laughed. I gasped. And I absolutely loved it.
Highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction with strong female leads, emotional depth, and a fresh perspective on untold pieces of American history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War
Black and brown people exist in this book: falls into should have gotten a sensitivity reader and should have done more research into what tribal society was like. “Nothing about us without us,” should have spoke to contemporary Cheyanne before writing.
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
An engaging read - the journal format caused me to have to remind myself that it is a work of fiction. I liked it because I learned a bit about the history of the cheyenne, but was put off by what struck me as the token nature of some of the characters. The black women was wholly the product of her slave experience, the irish twins were very irish, etc.