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erika_vdb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
angelaaabr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
busraeriz's review against another edition
5.0
Anyone who wants to face the harsh realities of life should read this novel
vikingwolf's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first of two autobiographies about Waris Dirie, who grew up as a desert nomad in Somalia. She herds her family livestock, helps her mother with chores and lives a pretty hard life. At 6, Waris had to endure the horror of female circumcision. At 12, she rebels against the arranged marriage and treks off across the desert to the city to start a new life.
This is a really amazing story. Her young years are full of hard work and a horrific tradition that sees her body mutilated. She is told to marry an old man and she is brave enough to run away, taking a dangerous trek across the desert on her own. She finds family in Mogadishu and gets the opportunity to go to London as her uncle's servant. After working in a few other less glamorous jobs, she starts to find work as a model and her life changes forever.
What an amazing woman! I was hooked by both of her books-her childhood in the tough environment of Somalia, her life in London, her modelling career...two gripping books that I recommend to everyone interested in this kind of story.
This is a really amazing story. Her young years are full of hard work and a horrific tradition that sees her body mutilated. She is told to marry an old man and she is brave enough to run away, taking a dangerous trek across the desert on her own. She finds family in Mogadishu and gets the opportunity to go to London as her uncle's servant. After working in a few other less glamorous jobs, she starts to find work as a model and her life changes forever.
What an amazing woman! I was hooked by both of her books-her childhood in the tough environment of Somalia, her life in London, her modelling career...two gripping books that I recommend to everyone interested in this kind of story.
nicithestone's review against another edition
4.0
Diese Geschichte hat mich, auf eine gute Art, zum Weinen und Nachdenken gebracht. Ich wusste, dass Beschneidungen auch heute noch durchgeführt werden, habe aber nie weiter aktiv darüber nachgedacht. Dieses Buch hat mich gezwungen, genau das zu tun, und es war eine Erfahrung, die jeder einmal gemacht haben sollte.
tinycamper's review against another edition
4.0
Engaging. Sad. Couldn't put it down. I had no idea that FGM was so barbaric as well as so prevalent.
lizautumn93's review against another edition
emotional
sad
4.0
A very compelling story. Perhaps because I read the sequel first it took away some of the curiosity. Still recommend though.
egokat's review against another edition
5.0
A heartbreaking story which is hard to believe to have happened in the 21st century