The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe in Around the World in 80 Books

Mar 25, 2012 Laura (booksnob) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012, humanities-reading-list, non-fiction

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana starts with a dedication "To ALL THOSE WOMEN whose stories will never be told" and ends with the story of one woman who defied the odds and started a business during wartime. During the occupation of the Taliban in Afghanistan and their fight for control of the country, all the rights of women were banned. It was against the law for women to laugh, wear nail polish, go to school or to be seen outside of the home unless accompanied by a male relative. Women were forb ...more

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May 08, 2014 Ellen Librarian rated it liked it

I was very disappointed with this book. The author took what could have been a great story and made it pretty dull. The characters were flat as cardboard, many of the most interesting parts of the story were diminished - like the women's trip to Pakistan - in favor of endless anecdotes whose only purpose was to show how plucky and resourceful the women were. Over and over.

Actually, it seemed like that was the only thing the author really told us about the women. If the author didn't want to say ...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Lisa of Hopewell rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2011, audio-books

One of the most interesting Afghanistan books I've read--and I've read several the last few years. What a courageous woman!

Very interesting and inspiring!

So interesting. With all of the American regulations, labor laws, building codes (all of which have a good purpose) this type of bootstrapping happens so little here, yet it is the way to personal freedom (well, as much personal freedom is possible) for 3rd world women. Very courageous story.

This is the type of research I'd love to be out there ...more

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