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A review by liralen
Desert Children by Waris Dirie
3.0
Dirie's previous two books were straight-up memoir: In [b:Desert Flower|8745|Desert Flower The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad|Waris Dirie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408593037s/8745.jpg|2736618], she talks about her childhood in Somalia, running away to avoid an unwanted marriage, and becoming a model. In [b:Desert Dawn|8744|Desert Dawn|Waris Dirie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353399842s/8744.jpg|3102650] she talks about her return to Somalia, to visit her family, after years away.
In this third book, although it's informal and largely about her own journey to learn more about FGM* in Europe and elsewhere, the point is less about her life and more to inform. She tackles FGM from a different direction than I'm used to hearing about, though: instead of focusing on its practice in Somalia and elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East, she focuses on Europe and what can be done to prevent a) FGM there and b) girls being sent to their home countries (or their parents' home countries) to have FGM performed.
I admire her for turning her fame and her energy outward, to tackle a difficult subject. I do wish the book were more structured -- she's not a scholar, and a lot of the information repeats itself. It's interesting to note, though, that she doesn't come down in favour of any particular method to stop FGM. Rather, she talks about people who have been active in trying to do so, and what they've concluded. Probably best that she doesn't try to make that call, but definitely a subject that calls for much much more -- more books, more research, more action.
*Using 'FGM' per the book; as Dirie notes, 'FGC' is preferred by many.
In this third book, although it's informal and largely about her own journey to learn more about FGM* in Europe and elsewhere, the point is less about her life and more to inform. She tackles FGM from a different direction than I'm used to hearing about, though: instead of focusing on its practice in Somalia and elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East, she focuses on Europe and what can be done to prevent a) FGM there and b) girls being sent to their home countries (or their parents' home countries) to have FGM performed.
I admire her for turning her fame and her energy outward, to tackle a difficult subject. I do wish the book were more structured -- she's not a scholar, and a lot of the information repeats itself. It's interesting to note, though, that she doesn't come down in favour of any particular method to stop FGM. Rather, she talks about people who have been active in trying to do so, and what they've concluded. Probably best that she doesn't try to make that call, but definitely a subject that calls for much much more -- more books, more research, more action.
*Using 'FGM' per the book; as Dirie notes, 'FGC' is preferred by many.