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A review by stacielynn
Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez
3.0
I am more inclined to say 2.5 stars, but am rounding up.
The longer I listen to this book, the more I am tempted to punch the CD player in my car. At first the relaxed, simple writing style was pleasant and easy - like having a conversation with a friend who has had a great adventure. Now it is just annoying.
There is so much happening in Kabul and in this book, but the author exhibits no skill in taking us from one place to next, from one story to another. Smooth transitions are as foreign to the author as marital affection is to her Afghan husband.
I was enthralled by her introduction to Kabul and her spontaneous decision to commit herself to making a difference to the women in the city. Her drive and devotion were laudable. But after a while, it wanes and what begins to emerge is a foolhardy woman who leaps without looking.
The issues with the government and the break with local organizations leads me to believe there were things happening behind the scenes that the author chose not to reveal. Was she the vital player she describes in her book? How were her actions truly viewed/received? Did she burn bridges? I sense there may have been some of that going on in the background.
She talks about her failed and abusive marriage, but doesn't really give us an idea of why or how she is able to make this great change in her life. She spends incredible amounts of time in Muslim society, yet is shocked and amazed to learn that her behavior is offensive; she is even married to an Afghan man (what was up with that sudden and rash choice???) but still requires someone to translate their arguments; she is surrounded by horrible lives and tales, yet continues to sob uncontrollably at the drop of a hat. She is definitely a quirky individual full of contradictory personality traits.
It is the stories of the women she encounters that are both heart-breaking and uplifting. These are the things that made me feel like I better understand the plight of women in that country.
It is tragic to learn that her book has created life-threatening problems for the women she profiles. I am doing internet searches to learn their fates and to learn more about how she is helping them with the royalties from her book and the sale of the movie rights.
The longer I listen to this book, the more I am tempted to punch the CD player in my car. At first the relaxed, simple writing style was pleasant and easy - like having a conversation with a friend who has had a great adventure. Now it is just annoying.
There is so much happening in Kabul and in this book, but the author exhibits no skill in taking us from one place to next, from one story to another. Smooth transitions are as foreign to the author as marital affection is to her Afghan husband.
I was enthralled by her introduction to Kabul and her spontaneous decision to commit herself to making a difference to the women in the city. Her drive and devotion were laudable. But after a while, it wanes and what begins to emerge is a foolhardy woman who leaps without looking.
The issues with the government and the break with local organizations leads me to believe there were things happening behind the scenes that the author chose not to reveal. Was she the vital player she describes in her book? How were her actions truly viewed/received? Did she burn bridges? I sense there may have been some of that going on in the background.
She talks about her failed and abusive marriage, but doesn't really give us an idea of why or how she is able to make this great change in her life. She spends incredible amounts of time in Muslim society, yet is shocked and amazed to learn that her behavior is offensive; she is even married to an Afghan man (what was up with that sudden and rash choice???) but still requires someone to translate their arguments; she is surrounded by horrible lives and tales, yet continues to sob uncontrollably at the drop of a hat. She is definitely a quirky individual full of contradictory personality traits.
It is the stories of the women she encounters that are both heart-breaking and uplifting. These are the things that made me feel like I better understand the plight of women in that country.
It is tragic to learn that her book has created life-threatening problems for the women she profiles. I am doing internet searches to learn their fates and to learn more about how she is helping them with the royalties from her book and the sale of the movie rights.