Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

Now that I can again get on and post reviews after an unexpected hiatus (due to log-on problems) I will report on this book that I read much earlier this year. As the title suggests, it is about a beauty school that the author was a significant factor in helping open and run. She is a US citizen, hair stylist by training, with a dismal marriage (lived in Michigan for part of it) who decides to do something bold and different. It is a true story. I was touched by the descriptions of the lives of Afghan women and once again became aware of how different my life as an American woman is from women in many other parts of the world. In learning skills at the beauty school, Afghan women are then able to support their families and themselves, which then opens a whole other door on the consequences of that in a country where women are not valued. Just trying to physically get around Kabul is a challenge, as is trying to do business as a woman who does not speak much of the language in a male-dominated country. I felt dangling at the end and wanted more of a conclusion one way or the other, which did not occur. I gave this book to my hairdresser (who says she never reads any books) who couldn't put it down and is passing it on to her friends.

2 comments:

Amanda said...

Sounds like a good read, Debbie. I'd actually heard about this one before and it sounded pretty good. After "The Kite Runner" I'm a little terrified of reading anything set in Afghanistan! Maybe this one would be a good one to try.

Jackie said...

I'm in Amanda's camp on this subject...after reading "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" last year I'm maxed out on reading anymore about the miseries of the Afghani people. Check out Dave's review of "The Kite Runner"...