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Kabul Beauty School

An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil

By Kristin Ohlson, Deborah Rodriguez

(14)

| Paperback | 9780812976731

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Book Description

Soon after the fall of the Taliban, in 2001, Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan as part of a group offering humanitarian aid to this war-torn nation. Surrounded by men and women whose skills–as doctors, nurses, and therapists–seemed eminently more practical than her own, Rodriguez, a Continue

Soon after the fall of the Taliban, in 2001, Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan as part of a group offering humanitarian aid to this war-torn nation. Surrounded by men and women whose skills–as doctors, nurses, and therapists–seemed eminently more practical than her own, Rodriguez, a hairdresser and mother of two from Michigan, despaired of being of any real use. Yet she soon found she had a gift for befriending Afghans, and once her profession became known she was eagerly sought out by Westerners desperate for a good haircut and by Afghan women, who have a long and proud tradition of running their own beauty salons. Thus an idea was born.

With the help of corporate and international sponsors, the Kabul Beauty School welcomed its first class in 2003. Well meaning but sometimes brazen, Rodriguez stumbled through language barriers, overstepped cultural customs, and constantly juggled the challenges of a postwar nation even as she learned how to empower her students to become their families’ breadwinners by learning the fundamentals of coloring techniques, haircutting, and makeup.

Yet within the small haven of the beauty school, the line between teacher and student quickly blurred as these vibrant women shared with Rodriguez their stories and their hearts: the newlywed who faked her virginity on her wedding night, the twelve-year-old bride sold into marriage to pay her family’s debts, the Taliban member’s wife who pursued her training despite her husband’s constant beatings. Through these and other stories, Rodriguez found the strength to leave her own unhealthy marriage and allow herself to love again, Afghan style.

With warmth and humor, Rodriguez details the lushness of a seemingly desolate region and reveals the magnificence behind the burqa. Kabul Beauty School is a remarkable tale of an extraordinary community of women who come together and learn the arts of perms, friendship, and freedom.


From the Hardcover edition.

Critics

  • KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil

    Stylists, the people behind the hottest looks and the most smoldering personas, seem to be all the rage these days --- on reality series, news programs, fashion-makeover shows. It appears that the behind-the-scenes aspect of a stylist's job is now ve ... (read full critics)

    teenreads published on Thu, 16 Sep 2010

  • KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil

    Stylists, the people behind the hottest looks and the most smoldering personas, seem to be all the rage these days --- on reality series, news programs, fashion-makeover shows. It appears that the behind-the-scenes aspect of a stylist's job is now ve ... (read full critics)

    teenreads published on Mon, 13 Sep 2010

3 Reviews

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  • Kabul Beauty School is one of the best books i've ever read! Barbra Rodriguez tells us the terrible story of Afghan women in a very original way. Reading the book i understood better this wonderful culture and it made me think a lot. When i finished the book i was crying. Everybody must read it :)

    Is this helpful?

    Ilarietta93 said on Apr 12, 2011 | Add your feedback

  • Had seen the independent movie of a similar title before reading. the movie did NOT focus on the author, DEborah Rodriguez, nearly as much as the book did. Presented the issues of Afghan women more from their individual perspectives. Enjoyed both tremendously.

    Sometimes a movie version is ... (continue)

    Had seen the independent movie of a similar title before reading. the movie did NOT focus on the author, DEborah Rodriguez, nearly as much as the book did. Presented the issues of Afghan women more from their individual perspectives. Enjoyed both tremendously.

    Sometimes a movie version isn't "worse" than the book or inadequate. The issues facing most women in the middle east are compelling, so however the word gets out, the stories of success told, the better.

    Loved the author in both the movie and the book. Brave, tough, feminist.

    Is this helpful?

    Dawnfairy said on Dec 29, 2008 | Add your feedback

  • A very good read. It explores the Afghan culture. An American woman cosmetologist travels to Afghanistan to help the Afghan women who have been widowed, abandoned, etc. to educate them so that they can support themselves financially and find a little independence from all of the repression that th ... (continue)

    A very good read. It explores the Afghan culture. An American woman cosmetologist travels to Afghanistan to help the Afghan women who have been widowed, abandoned, etc. to educate them so that they can support themselves financially and find a little independence from all of the repression that they face on a daily basis. I find it very interesting to read about other countries, cultures, religions. It really makes you appreciate living in a free country and the rights we have as women!

    Is this helpful?

    Jamie Gemuend767 said on Sep 29, 2008 | Add your feedback

Book Details

  • Rating:
    (14)
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  • English Books
  • Paperback 320 Pages
  • Edition: Reprint
  • ISBN-10: 0812976738
  • ISBN-13: 9780812976731
  • Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
  • Pub date: Dec 18, 2007
  • Dimensions: 1290 mm x 839 mm x 129 mm Just how big is that?
  • Also available as: Hardcover and Others
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9780812976731 Paperback $14.95 $10.76 bn.com
$14.95 $9.99 The Book Depository
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