1000 White Women

March Book of The Month
1000 White Women: Journal of May Dodd

An American western with a most unusual twist, this is an imaginative fictional account of the participation of May Dodd and others in the controversial "Brides for Indians" program, a clandestine U.S. government^-sponsored program intended to instruct "savages" in the ways of civilization and to assimilate the Indians into white culture through the offspring of these unions. May's personal journals, loaded with humor and intelligent reflection, describe the adventures of some very colorful white brides (including one black one), their marriages to Cheyenne warriors, and the natural abundance of life on the prairie before the final press of the white man's civilization. Fergus is gifted in his ability to portray the perceptions and emotions of women. He writes with tremendous insight and sensitivity about the individual community and the political and religious issues of the time, many of which are still relevant today. This book is artistically rendered with meticulous attention to small details that bring to life the daily concerns of a group of hardy souls at a pivotal time in U.S. history.

The Help

Oh, I loved this book so much! It took me a while to get through it because of schoolwork, every night I had this conflict read until 4AM because its already 3:30 or wait till I really have time. Well school won, but I finally finished it and I finished it in the most perfect place. New York City at age 24, just like Miss Skeeter.

I felt like I could relate the most to Aibileen. She is the kind of person who is always there for others and always "tryin to do good by 'em," and I feel myself in that position a lot. I worry so much about what other people think or how people will perceive me, like the women in the junior league, that I forget what a great friend I am or how I try so hard to make others feel good. I loved how she treated Mae Mobley (yeah what kind of name is that!?) and how she tried so hard not to let her be influenced by prejudice.

Growing up in rural Idaho I didn't know much about segregation or understand much passed Martian Luther King Jr or Rosa Parks. This book actually sparked a lot of amazing conversations with my mother, who grew up in Southern Iowa. She told me stories about how she was in a play with a black boy and my grandpa wouldn't let them practice at her home. It wasn't until he heard my mom and Ray sing together that his feelings changed. It really struck me how when we are faced with a more personal side of someone, then we hear them sing, read their account of working for a white family, that we really begin to see passed these boundaries that someone places in our way. After the book came out a lot of women realized that their housekeepers where more than just housekeepers to them. I loved when Lou Ann said she wouldn't fire Louvinia, and when Mister Johnny told Minny you'll always have a job here. Those successes, and breaking the boundaries between black and white became my favorite moments.

I also related quite well to Skeeter's relationship with her mother. I feel that it is similar to the relationship I have with my grandmother, and I sometimes wondered if my mom felt like Skeeter some of the time because my grandma is so similar to Skeeter's mom. My favorite moment was with the Shine o matic, and the first results i laughed so hard.

In closing these thoughts I would just like to say I'm so glad we chose this book, and if I was in the junior league I wouldn't vote hilly holbrook as president.