Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad

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Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad

by Waris Dirie, Cathleen Miller (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 5,072 ratings · 423 reviews

Waris Dirie ran away from her oppressive life in the African desert when she was barely in her teens, illiterate and impoverished, with nothing to her name but a tattered shawl. She traveled alone across the dangerous Somali desert to Mogadishu—the first leg of a remarkable journey that would take her to London, where she worked as a house servant; then to nearly every cor...more

Paperback, 240 pages

Published March 15th 2011 by William Morrow Paperbacks (first published January 1st 1998)

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Jul 29, 2011 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

brilliant book, I could not put it down once I started reading it.

I read it within 24 hours, and found myself mesmerised by this womans story, and how she overcame obstacles that most of us wouldn't dream of, to get to where she is today.

Without going into too much detail, she managed to convey the horror and trauma of being subjected to female genital circumcision, a practise that causes more problems, than it prevents, and convinces you, that as a woman, we have a duty, irregardless of where w...more

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Jun 15, 2011 LG rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Global Issues members

Anne Russell wrote: “This is an easy read that gives one insight into female circumcision. One finishes the book with an interest to learn more about the issue and how effective the work the UN has done. It also provides an angle on the illegal immigrant story that is not as grim as so many tales are. For those of us living overseas one can appreciate her reflections in the end about being a nomad yet being very loyal to Somalia despite its problems.”

I read this memoir a couple of years back. I...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow! This is the true story of Waris Dirie. Born as a nomad in Somailia, at age 13 she ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage to a much older man, and she eventually made her way to London, where she was "discovered" after several years and became an international supermodel and even appeared in a James Bond movie.

Her story is unbelievable! I especially loved reading about her life growing up as a nomad - their only nutrition was camel's milk, they slept outside, worked hard (she had h...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Haja-aivo rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a true nonfictional account of coming-of-age. The story begins in a poor pastoral seminomadic family in the middle of Somalian drought. The little girl is already working more than eight hours a day at the age of five and in the same year subject to complete female circumcision. There is a lot of description of making a living out of a barren land just barely managing to stay alive, due to scarce living from the land and also racing for life and death with the African wildebeest such as...more

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Jan 14, 2009 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography-biography

Waris Dirie is a former supermodel (famous in the 1980's and 1990's) who grew up as a nomad in Somalia. Around age 12 or 13, she ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage to a much older man, and she eventually made her way to London, where she was "discovered" after several years. Soon thereafter, she ended up in a James Bond movie (the terrible one with Timothy Dalton) and appeared in calendars, major magazines, and Revlon ads worldwide.

What is truly impressive about this spunky and cou...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Vaishali rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography-autobiography, non-fiction

Desert Flower is an extraordinary autobiography of an extraordinary woman. Born in a nomadic tribe in Somalia, Waris was circumcised when she was 5, fled an arranged marriage with a 60 year old man when she was 13, had a face-off with a tiger, escaped rape attempts, worked as a construction worker, worked as a house-maid, scrubbed floors at Mc Donalds, then became a Pirelli girl in her teens and eventually an international Super Model and a UN Special Ambassador. She is now a human rights activi...more
Desert Flower is an extraordinary autobiography of an extraordinary woman. Born in a nomadic tribe in Somalia, Waris was circumcised when she was 5, fled an arranged marriage with a 60 year old man when she was 13, had a face-off with a tiger, escaped rape attempts, worked as a construction worker, worked as a house-maid, scrubbed floors at Mc Donalds, then became a Pirelli girl in her teens and eventually an international Super Model and a UN Special Ambassador. She is now a human rights activist of Somali region.

I had first read the story of Waris Dirie back in high school when Reader’s Digest did a cover story on her. Needless to say, it was an immediate tear-jerker that leaves a lasting impression. So years later when I got hands on her autobiography, I wanted to read more on her life in detail. While the detailed narration of her life has all the same capability of touching you, it’s even more amazing to read her own account of it in so many diverse ways. The book brings to life not just her struggles but the person in Waris.

As you see the world from her angle, you realise how two separate worlds and cultures have gradually merged into her while still being distinct therein. Her observations of the Western World as a person coming from an extremely different culture, society and way of life are interesting insights. The difference in the very fundamental fabrics of the society (like time, space, family, love, health, work, success, fame and life itself) is simply amazing to learn about.

For example, remembering her childhood and comparing the life of people in the Western World, Waris explains how large families are a means to survival for nomadic tribes, and how seriously all family members (including young children) take their duties. “We’d walk and walk for days, however long it took to find water. We knew never to come home empty-handed, because then there was no hope. No one accepted the excuse “I can’t.” When I came to the Western World, I was amazed to find people complaining “I can’t work because I have a headache.”

In another chapter she writes, “In this country (the U.S.), the volume and variety of food is astonishing to anyone who comes here from a Third World nation. Yet, sadly, so many Americans are preoccupied with not eating. On one side of the world, we’re struggling to feed people. On the other side of the world, people are paying money to lose weight.”

Another thought-provoking thing she points out is the modern world’s paranoia and obsession about running short of time. “Growing up (as a nomad in Africa), we had a much different perspective on time than the one that dominates the Western World. When I first came to London, I was mystified by the connection between people staring at their wrists, and then crying, “I’ve got to dash!” I felt like everyone was rushing everywhere, every action was timed.”

Talking about the value of the simple things in life, Waris says, “The U.S. is the wealthiest country in the world, yet everybody feels poor. And more than bankruptcy of money, everyone is bankrupt of time. I am grateful that I’ve experienced both lives – the simple way and the fast way. My childhood in Somalia shaped my personality forever, and has kept me from taking seriously trivial issues like success and fame that seem to obsess so many people.”

These are some of the many fascinating things that form the essence of Dirie’s autobiography. It’s an interesting read not just because it’s an incredible success story, but also because it’s great cultural insight and its immense social and behavioural depth that has meaning for all of us, irrespective of who we are and where we belong to.

Lastly, the most heart-wrenching part of her story, and perhaps the reason and motivation for her autobiography, is when she talks about the practice of circumcision, to which she was subjected to at an innocent, un-aware age of 5. As UN figures indicate, Female circumcision, or as it is more aptly referred to today, female genital mutilation (FGM), occurs predominantly in 28 countries in Africa and at least 2 million girls are at risk each year of being next victims – that’s 6000 a day. The operations are usually performed in primitive circumstances by a midwife or village woman. They’ll cut the girl using whatever instruments they can lay their hands on: razor blades, knives, scissors, broken glass, sharp stones – and in some regions – their teeth. The aftermath includes immediate complications and lifelong damage, pain and serious health issues.

“All my life I’ve tried to think of a reason for my circumcision. Maybe if I could have thought of a good reason, I could accept what they’d done to me. But I could think of none.”, says Waris.

In 1997, Waris abandoned her modeling career to focus on her work against female circumcision. As she fights against this inhuman practice as a UN ambassador, her friends worry that some religious fanatic may try to kill her when she goes to Africa. Though she shares their concern she says she believes that – ‘long before the day I was born, God chose the day I will die, so I can’t change that. In the meantime, I might as well take a chance, because that’s what I’ve done all my life.’

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Sep 02, 2012 Riina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romane-belletristik, echtes-leben, 2012

In diesem Buch erzählt Waris Dirie ihre Lebensgeschichte. Von ihrer Kindheit in der Wüste Somalias, ihrer Flucht vor der Zwangsheirat mit einem viel viel älteren Mann bis zu ihrem Leben in London und ihrem Job als Model. Ein Traum und Alptraum zugleich, denn Waris wurde im Alter von fünf Jahren Opfer der Beschneidung. Lange Zeit kann sie mit niemandem darüber sprechen. Sie dachte sogar, dass dieses Ritual etwas ganz normales sei und ging davon aus, dass das mit allen Mädchen gemacht wird. Erst d...more

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May 21, 2011 purplemagnolia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Born into a family of Somali desert nomads, world famous model and UN Ambassador Waris Dirie had a different start in life to most. By age six she was tending her family’s animals all day, at 12 her father had arranged her marriage.

At just 12 years old Waris ran away from her home, her family and everything she knew, to escape an arranged marriage to a man much older than her. After travelling for days without water or food, she arrived in the Somali capital Mogadishu. She later made it to Londo...more

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May 16, 2013 C_ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bc-box-bio-ged-erinn, alle-fertig-und-zu-hause, deutsch, hör, sachlich, zz2013-05

Ein unglaubliches Schicksal! Waris Dirie hat 13 Jahre lang keine Schuhe getragen, sie ist barfuß durch die Wüste gelaufen und wird nun, da sie ein Topmodel ist, ständig auf die Narben an ihren Füßen angesprochen. Ihr Leben besteht aus vielen Narben - sowohl körperlichen als auch seelischen. Sie wuchs in Somalia auf, wurde als Mädchen auf brutale Weise beschnitten, sollte mit einem alten Mann verheiratet werden und lief daraufhin von zu Hause weg. Aufgrund der Beschneidung hat sie schwere gesundh...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Ivana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In my opinion this is a tremendously important book. It is not just a wonderful memoir and a tale of amazing bravery of Waris Dirie, but also an detail account of FGM from the perspective of a victim. The reason why I picked up this book was mainly because I wanted to learn something more about FGM. I did learn something more, the kind of information that is personal not just theoretical. In addition, Waris does not only tell her story. She tells the story of other women she had known that have...more In my opinion this is a tremendously important book. It is not just a wonderful memoir and a tale of amazing bravery of Waris Dirie, but also an detail account of FGM from the perspective of a victim. The reason why I picked up this book was mainly because I wanted to learn something more about FGM. I did learn something more, the kind of information that is personal not just theoretical. In addition, Waris does not only tell her story. She tells the story of other women she had known that have suffered and in some cases had died because of FGM. Reading about FGM from Waris' experience( as a personal account of someone who had been subjected to it) was emotionally difficult yet I think to understand even a glimpse of what these women go to it is necessary to hear the story as they tell it.

What I didn't know before reading this book is that the practice of FGM is actually increasing not decreasing as immigrant are taking this terrible custom with them into the western world. To be honest, I'm sometimes frustrated by the feminist associations because to me they seem to worry about such insignificant things. Personally I don't care would someone call me signorina or signora, miss or mrs, madam or mademoiselle .There are more important problems that women worldwide are facing ! FGM is a burning issue and it deserves even more attention. There is so much violence that happens to women in the name of religion and tradition. However, in my view the practice of FGM is by far the worst thing. There are probably more victims of FGM than of wars in some areas- and the victims are mostly little girls. Unfortunately, things like this often go unnoticed. It seems to me that when people say that they don't want to interfere with somebody's religious liberties, they mean that they don't care enough to do something about the victims of specific 'religious liberties'. (What is the big thing about religion liberty anyway? Why does religious liberty often include hurting someone else? Shouldn't the goal of religion be aspiring to a personal relationship with God? Well, it's not the goal of religion- from what I see the purpose of religion is to organize people who believe in the same things so they could feel cozy and secure surrounded by people who are just afraid to question things as they are...)

While reading „The Desert Flower" I found myself immersed in Waris' honest and simple narrative of her life. Aside for being interested in Waris' life story I also found her personality fascinating. Waris is such a brave women, a wonderful example of what is best in a human spirit. Her reflections on special moments in her life as a nomad and as a supermodel were honest and often humorous. Waris is a survivor and I admire her greatly for having the courage to talk about all the things that she so openly talks about in this book, from the FGM to fashion industry. Despite all the hardship she had endured, Waris is so full of life and ready to make the most of every situation she finds herself in. She even has courage to be a mother and to find love. After all that she has gone through, she looks at a world without hate just with concern. Waris is prepared to risk being killed by some fundamentalist because of all the things she has to tell. The least that everyone can do is listen to what she has to say- read this book and hear her out.

I found so many of her thoughts to be not just true but also important. Many of them have gone through my head at some point in my life. For instance, why do they always make Afican models wear so much white foundation? Waris describes at one point how she felt frustrated because she felt that they were trying to turn her into a twisted black version of Cindy Crawford. As far I can see it, this is a trend that it is not going away. I will never understand why they are putting so much white powder all those female African actresses, politicians, models, TV personalities etc...When I see all those beautiful faces looking unnatural because they are painted in white, it really makes me sad. What they could be implying? It cannot be good. From my perspective, it's just racism.

I've read this book last night and I really enjoyed reading it. I even wouldn't mind if the book was longer. (There are sequels, right? I plan to read those.) Despite the fact that Waris talks about horrific things, this is one of the most uplifting books I have read because it really is a story of survival of an amazing woman.
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Aug 10, 2011 Jasminka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

"Desert Flower" is a deeply moving, inspiring and incredible true story of a courageous, brave woman born into a Somali desert nomadic family and her development into an international fashion model, a mother and special human rights U.N. ambassador. At the age of 5, she suffered horrifying procedure of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), or circumcision (with a broken razor blade!), which is a common practice in most of the Islamic countries in Africa, but illegal in the rest of the world.
This stu...more "Desert Flower" is a deeply moving, inspiring and incredible true story of a courageous, brave woman born into a Somali desert nomadic family and her development into an international fashion model, a mother and special human rights U.N. ambassador. At the age of 5, she suffered horrifying procedure of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), or circumcision (with a broken razor blade!), which is a common practice in most of the Islamic countries in Africa, but illegal in the rest of the world.
This stunning and disturbing novel is a story of survival, courage and determination, full of hardship, striving, mutilation, alienation, rejection, suffering and pain and offers the reader description of nomadic life, pictures of Somali desert and little of Somali culture, customs and history.
Waris Dirie has set up the Waris Dirie Foundaiton (www.waris-dirie-foundation.com) to aid her in fighting FGM.
This book is is not a literary masterpiece, but it is a quick and easy read, the language is simple and I've read it in just a day!

"My mother named me after a miracle of nature: Waris means desert flower. The desert flower blooms in a barren environment where few living things can survive."

"From the beginning, I had the instinct for survival; I learned joy and pain at the same time. I learned that happiness is not what you have, because I never had anything, and I was so happy."

"Women’s loyalty has to be earned with trust and affection, rather than barbaric rituals. The time has come to leave the old ways of suffering behind".

"Many friends have expressed concern that a religious fanatic will try to kill me when I go to Africa. After all, I’ll be speaking out against a crime many fundamentalists consider a holy practice. I’m sure my work will be dangerous, and I admit to being scared…. But my faith tells me to be strong, that God led me down this path for a reason. He has work for me to do. This is my mission. And I believe that long before the day I was born, God chose the day I will die, so I can’t change that. In the meantime, I might as well take a chance, because that’s what I’ve done all my life."

"I feel that God made my body perfect the way I was born. Then man robbed me, took away my power, and left me a cripple. My womanhood was stolen. If God had wanted those body parts missing, why did he create them?
I just pray that one day no woman will have to experience this pain. It will become a thing of the past. People will say "Did you hear, female genital mutilation has been outlawed in Somalia?" Then the next country, and the next, and so on, until the world is safe for all women. What a happy day that will be, and that's what I'm working toward. In'shallah, if God is willing, it will happen. " (less)

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Sep 27, 2010 Justine rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked the way the author let us know about her life. This book is very touching. It made me feel for Waris. She was really descriptive in her writing and the way she wrote this book made me think about there culture in a different way. I am proud of her for speaking out about her happenings. The author is also the main character of the book. I believe that is why this book is so moving because it is a true story. I was surprised by many of the things Waris had to do in Somalia. She had to do h...more

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Sep 27, 2010 Emily Armstrong added it Recommends it for: Anyone who likes books about personal struggles and overcoming the odds, this is a book for you.

Desert Flower is an autobiography about a female desert nomad named Waris Dirie who is the herder of her families livestock. Everyday her routine includes herding all the animals to the nearest watering hole which can be miles and miles away. At the age of 6, Waris was victim to the Somalian tradition of female circumcision. At the shallow age of just 12, Waris was set up to be married to a man that was four times her age and she was not accepting to that fact. Although she knew that by running...more

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Sep 27, 2010 Michelle added it

"You know I can't hold you. I'm on my own here. So try to be a good girl, baby," was a passage from the book I read, "Desert Flower". I think this passage is used throughout the whole book, because she is pretty much on her own through everything she does. I think that's why i like this book so much. I hate going through things on my own and I think that's why everything she goes through just amazes me. If I were to go through something like what she did, I know I probably wouldn't have made it....more

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Nov 23, 2011 Gabriella rated it 5 of 5 stars

Outstanding, it may be the true definition for this book. I read it in two days, every page of this book was something new about the fascinating story of Waris Dirie, and how from being an extremely poor somalian girl living in the dessert, she became one of the biggest and most unique models in the model profession. The courage that she has after going through female circumcision, almost getting raped, to survive in the desert of Africa and to then be forced to get married, is unbelievable, to...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Angelo Vassallo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: current-affairs

This time I watched the movie and then I read the book. As always the book gives more to understand and it was so interesting what I was reading, that I ended the 375 pages in few days.
It is really amazing how Waris Dirie can explain so easily her history and use this book to share her experience, regarding the brutal female genital mutilation, which is unfortunately still present in several countries in our world.
The tenacity Waris used during her life is impressive. A poor girl who goes throug...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Jordyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Desert Flower is about the struggles of Nomad, Waris, in Siberia. She struggles with everyday life, and fights the culture that she was born into. Every girl has to go to the same thing to become a "woman", circumcision. Waris wanted to go through this, she wanted to be respected, and liked by boys. Boys didn't want anything to do with "girls", they wanted the real "women". Waris eventually watched as her sister goes through the pain, and then is married off to a stranger, she then didn't know...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nachdem ich den äußerst bewegenden Film "Wüstenblume" aus dem Jahr 2009 gesehen hatte, beschloss ich das Buch zu lesen, auf dem der Film basiert. Überrascht war ich jedoch, dass zwischen Buch und Film so viele gravierende Unterschiede in der Handlung festzustellen sind. Es ist eigentlich unnötig die Handlung für den Film zu ändern, die Gründe sind nicht nachvollziehbar - die Handlung des Buches ist bewegend genug. Dennoch sind Buch UND Film empfehlenswert, um sich an ein so tragisches Thema wie...more

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Sep 24, 2010 Allie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Desert Flower is about a woman, named Waris Dirie, who grew up in Somalia. This book talks about how the tradition of her people, how they circumcize the daughters. She ran away when she was 13, and went to London. This book also talks about her life as a model, and the troubles she has.
I really like this book, because even though it is sick what they do to their daughters, Waris is a very strong woman. She came to London and she doesn't know how to speak English, she can't write, and she can't...more

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May 04, 2013 Eleanor rated it 5 of 5 stars

An enjoyable easy read. Waris is has no airs and graces, yet demands respect and is very much a fighter. Her's is a wonderfully educational tale about life for Somalian women - both the joys and the woes.

Today, Waris continus her work to combat the overwhelming numbers of girls who are brutally circumcised. It is worth reading this book just to learn about the details from a first-person p.o.v. Regardless, there were many moments throughout the book where I laughed aloud. I think anyone interes...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Desert Flower is a biography about Waris Dirie. Waris talks about her life growing up as a nomad in Somalia, Africa. At the age of 5, Waris pressures her mother to let her get a female circumsision, because she wanted to be like her two older sisters. Waris ran away from her family and life in Somalia, because her father who wanted to marry her off around 13 years old. The book also describes Waris's life once she left home. Waris lives with several different family members. At one point, Waris...more Desert Flower is a biography about Waris Dirie. Waris talks about her life growing up as a nomad in Somalia, Africa. At the age of 5, Waris pressures her mother to let her get a female circumsision, because she wanted to be like her two older sisters. Waris ran away from her family and life in Somalia, because her father who wanted to marry her off around 13 years old. The book also describes Waris's life once she left home. Waris lives with several different family members. At one point, Waris lands a maid job in her Aunt Marium and Uncle Mohammed home in London. Uncle Mohammed was an ambassodor, and after 4 years, Waris was homeless because Mohammed term as ambassador was over. This was a turning point in Waris's life, because she decided to be independent, and not go back home to Somalia with Marium and Mohammed. Life was not easy as Waris tried to survive on her own. Several people took advantage of her. Waris eventually becomes a successful model, and had a child with Dana, her third husband...

I have read several young adult books about the experiences of teens and women living in different African countries. A few of thes books explain their experience with female circumcision. I can say now that no book comapres to Desert Flower. I realize that many women, especially from the United States, will say that women are still a minority. There are still American women and men who are abused and/or oppressed by their spouse and/or parents. If you read Desert Flower, you will get a different perspective on being a minority woman, and you will get a different persepctive on what it is to be abused and/or oppresed. Yes, there are women in America who are abused, but we have the choice to get out of the unhealthy relationship, with the help of YWCA. Somalia women do not have this choice, since their culture expects them to put up with the treatment without complaint, and they are to get circumsised at puberty. Definitely a must read.

I even watched the movie afte reading the book. The movie was great, and it makes any woman living in the United States appreciate that they have have OPTIONS..Somalian women do not have choices, their lives are arranged for them, and in some African countries, women are required to get a female circumcision. I have to admit that there were a few parts in the movie that I actually cried, because I appreciate that I never have to be forced to have a female circumsision, and that these women have the cultural pressure to get circumcised..and they have to endure so much mental and physical pain before, during, and after the circumsision. The circumcision causes some women to become ill and/or die as a result of disease or giving birth.

I definitely recommend reading the book before watching the movie. In the book, Waris says she got the circucision at the age of 5, but the movie states that she was 3 years old. Also, in the book, Waris says she works at McDonalds before modeling..but in the movie she works in some random fast food place. Another thing that I noticed was that in the book, Waris's mom is hesitant at first (because of cultural norms), but she encourages Waris to run away before the father forces Waris to marry the old man. Waris's mom even says goodye to Waris before she runs away. I wish they kept the movie scene close to how Waris describes in the book, instead of just hinting at the fact that Mom helped her later on in the movie. One final thing I noticed about the movie is that the movie hinted that after 20 years, Waris meets up with her mother and family...but we never see mom and daughter rejoin!
The book goes into detail about how they try to find the mother and family..and what happens when Waris goes back to Somalia to meet her mother and family..(less)

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Jan 17, 2013 Ankur Rastogi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Desert Flower is like an autobiography of a model from Somalia Waris Dirie. Its the story of her life as to how from a nomad living in xtreme poor conditions in the deserts of Somalia, she blossoms into a world famous model and eventually a UN ambassdor.

While the novel is about her life, it mostly focuses on the issue of female circumcision which is one of the most brutal and horrific practice common in most tribal parts of Africa. Every year almost 2 mn little girls have to go through this. Man...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Raiya rated it 5 of 5 stars

انتهيت بالأمس من قراءة رواية زهرة الصحراء. استمتعتُ كثيراً بقراءتها واكتشتفتُ عوالم أخرى جديدة كنت أجهلها. الرواية من نوع الروايات التي ما أن تبداً في قرائتها؛ حتى تجد نفسك وقد أنهيتها في مدة قصيرة لسلاستها و واقعية الأفكار فيها.
الرواية معنونة بـ" ديزرت فلاور" أي زهرة الصحراء. وهي لـ ويريس داير.
الرواية من القطع المتوسطة الحجم، في 430 صفحة.

الرواية بأحداثها وتفاصيلها تعتبر جريئة في الطرح، حيث أن الكاتبة تحكي عن قصة حياتها إبتداء من طفولتها الحزينة في صحراء الصومال إلى أن أصبحت سفيرة للولايات المتح...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Susannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

An inspiration to all women - This is a true story of courage and determination.

Waris Dirie is now a model, but this is a far cry from her childhood. Waris Dirie ran away from her oppressive life in the African desert when she was barely in her teens, illiterate and impoverished, with nothing to her name but a tattered shawl. She traveled alone across the dangerous Somali desert to Mogadishu—the first leg of a remarkable journey that would take her to London, where she worked as a house servant...more

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Apr 20, 2011 viktoria rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read this book the first time when I was 15, so three years ago. I was fascinated but scared, because I knew what was gone to happen to Waris. Also do I have to admit that I enjoyed reading this book, it is telling a story of a girl with fear but with pride.
It just pulled me in, the story how the life of that little girl changed when it was supposed to get married to an 40 years older men, but never did. The story how she ran away from home, how she left everything she had, which wasn't a lot...more

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Jan 03, 2008 Deb rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone concerned about human rights.

Recommended to Deb by: a social worker from Mogadisho,Somalia

This is an unbelievable story of a young Somalian woman who escapes a forced marriage to an older man, costing her father several camels in bride price. She tells her own story of how she survived to become a model and eventually a U. N. advocate against the customs of female mutilation to guarantee virginity at marriage.

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Sep 05, 2010 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now an international model, Waris Dirie came from humble beginnings in a remote part of the Somali desert. Desert Flower tells of her journey from a nomadic family of sheep and goat herders, through a painful escape from an arranged marriage to an older man. After she finds out her father has essentially sold her to this man, Waris makes the difficult decision to head off in search of an uncle in Mogadishu. Waris's journey continues as she works in London and at last finds a job as a model.

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Nov 01, 2012 Gloria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, cultural-history

This book was a fascinating read - couldn't put it down!

y Waris Dirie, Cathleen Miller
3.94 · rating details · 3,689 ratings · 348 reviews
Waris Dirie ran away from her oppressive life in the African desert when she was barely in her teens, illiterate and impoverished, with nothing to her name but a tattered shawl. She traveled alone across the dangerous Somali desert to Mogadishu--the first leg of a remarkable journey that would take her to London, where she worked as a house servant; then to ne...more

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May 23, 2010 Ali Reza Rahiminia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

بعضي از جاهاي كتاب اينقدر تحت تاثير قرار مي گيري كه دلت مي خواهد گريه كني. خاطرات واريس ديري ، تلخ است و با زبان خود واريس بيان شده . ساده و بي تكلف. مثل زندگي كولي وار خودش. و يكي از تلخ ترين جمله هاي كتاب:" در بخشي از دنيا ما براي غذا تلاش مي كنيم و در طرف ديگر مردم پول مي دهند كه وزن كم كنند." . ما با خاطرات واريس به سومالي به عمق بدويت در دنياي متمدن امروز مي رويم و با او به انگلستان ، ايتاليا ، آمريكا سفر مي كنيم و خاطرات دريچه اي تازه به روي ما باز مي كند.

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Mar 04, 2011 Franzi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Waris Dirie wuchs in Somalischen Wüste auf. Sie wurde mit 5 Jahren beschnitten, weil es dort so tradition ist.
Als sie etwas älter wurde sollte sie von ihrem Vater aus einen alten Mann heiraten.
Das konnte Waris nicht und haut von zu hause ab. Erst kommt sie bei Verwandten unter und eines Tages wird sie von ihrem Onkel mit nach London genommen.
Sie arbeitet die ersten 4 Jahre als Dienstmädchen und als ihr Onkel und deren Familie wieder nach Somalia zurück wollte ist sie dort geblieben und wird weni...more

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About Waris Dirie

Waris Dirie (Somali: Waris Diiriye, Arabic: واريس ديري‎) (born in 1965) is a Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist.

In 1997, Waris abandoned her modeling career to focus on her work against female circumcision. That same year, she was appointed UN Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM).

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“I feel that God made my body perfect the way I was born. Then man robbed me, took away my power, and left me a cripple. My womanhood was stolen. If God had wanted those body parts missing, why did he create them?
I just pray that one day no woman will have to experience this pain. It will become a thing of the past. People will say "Did you hear, female genital mutilation has been outlawed in Somalia?" Then the next country, and the next, and so on, until the world is safe for all women. What a happy day that will be, and that's what I'm working toward. In'shallah, if God is willing, it will happen. ” — 23 people liked it

“My mother named me after a miracle of nature: Waris means desert flower. The desert flower blooms in a barren environment where few living things can survive.” — 10 people liked it

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