One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

Carol M. chose the book and hosted the meeting.

Crafty Carol passed out teepee questions for our discussion. Much of the discussion centered on the believability of the story. Pat D. lead the charge that it was not a believable story by citing examples of how the white women were modern in their independent thinking. Carol W. gave examples of phrasing in the book that seemed to be contemporary. How the white women assimilated so easily and quickly into the Indian culture seemed to be unrealistic to some. The women were treated by the Indians with a certain respect, which also seemed unbelievable especially in the cases of May Dodd and Phemie. Others found the book to be quite believable and were sucked in from the beginning.

This book left us feeling ashamed. . . ashamed to be the "white man." It clearly showed how the Indians were treated by the "progressive" white man in the name of money. The white men trampled through the Indian homeland to gain access to gold and mines. It's embarrassing, shameful, and humbling to know that this culture was lost, all for the sake of progress. Even though the book is fiction, the facts seemed to be presented as truths. We were disturbed and silenced by the humiliation of what transpired 150 years ago.

The Indians were named by their physical features, actions, or personality. . . Tangled Hair and No Brains. We decided to name the book club members an Indian name during the rating portion of the book. Can you remember which member was . . . ?

Walks in the Dark - 8.0
Picks the Wrong/Right Team - 8.74
Last Page First - 7.5
Talks A Lot - 8.0
She Who Wears White
Great Thinker - 6.5
Warrior Woman - 8.0
Dying Brain Cells - 7.9
I'm With Her - 6.0
Medicine Woman - 7.0
Shiny Belt - 7.5
Grandma With Twins - 7. 0

Author's website: http://www.jimfergus.com/