Comments (24)

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe
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Sep 01, 2022gloryb rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Older teenage girl in Kabul whose educational goals are halted during the Taliban rule in the early 2000's begins tailoring, without prior experience, to earn money to feed and care for her 2 brothers and many sisters. She sells her sample…
Aug 20, 2022Giorgia_N24 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A nonfiction book about a young Afghanistan woman, Kamila. A woman who, once the taliban are in power, as everything taken away from her, her education, her future, even her family as well as many other women in Afghanistan. her older…
Sep 03, 2016wmtlady rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I loved reading this book because it is both informative and as readable as a novel. Because of the history given, I have a more accurate view of the people of Afghanistan and their history (government-wise). The book also allowed me to…
Nov 28, 2015librarianvioleta rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
An inspiring true tale of a teenager in Afghanistan who created her own woman-run business during Taliban rule in the late 90s/early 00s. It is jarring to hear how these women-- with dreams and education much like you and I-- had to hole…
LoganLib_Central
Nov 26, 2015
Selected for the Logan Central Monday Book Club in 2016. For a full list of 2016 selections, see the Logan Central Monday Book Club list.
Sep 08, 2015omahabahans rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Easy read that kept my attention but I agree that it left me w/ a desire for something more. Inspirational in that if women/people in general in a situation like this can succeed, how can we as US citizens complain at all about our…
Mar 14, 2015
Great book. As much for showcasing the ability of women to succeed in difficult circumstances. Kamila is an amazing young lady - a role model for many both here and in Afghanistan. To have to daily risk your life to help your family and to…
Jul 18, 2014
A patron review from the Adult Summer Game: "Very slow book. Very sad and heart-wrenching story but also very uplifting."
Jun 07, 2014
A story which provides insight to the horrors of war and life outside of the Western world. It will help bring an understanding that the need for survival, independence and the love of family is truely cross cultural.
monikasm
Jun 26, 2013monikasm rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book offers an insightful glimpse into the lives of five sisters, living alone in Kabul with their young brother. Under the Taliban regime, they must remain fully veiled, are not allowed to work, and cannot step outside without being…
Jun 01, 2013Maxcat11 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Great book, thought provoking.
Jan 27, 2013msevinrud rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
What a wonderful book to come from such atrocities of the Taliban. The tenacity of these women under untenable conditions is amazing! I was so glad I listened to the CD instead of reading the book as I most likely would have mutilated…
Wolfespearl
Jul 18, 2012Wolfespearl rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This is the inspiring story of five sisters who not only survived, but managed to thrive during the Afghanistan war. One sister, Kamila, took on the leadership of the family and encouraged her sisters to work with her to starting a sewing…
Ms_Nurse
Jun 26, 2012Ms_Nurse rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I loved this book, such a wonderful story of family kept strong by hard work and moxie during very difficult times. In Afghanistan after the takeover of the Taliban women are sequestered in their homes, unable to go out to work or school…
mberk
Mar 16, 2012mberk rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Fast read about an inspirational woman who finds a way to make a difference in a world that strips her of her right to exist.
Nov 26, 2011JudithE rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Fabulous and inspiring. Highly recommended.
Oct 18, 2011Sunny76 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
The story flowed well and as the author says shows more about Afganistan than what I saw on the news, a warzone where the Taliban and Osama bin Laden lived. It shows how the citizen's of Kabul were effected overnight by the Taliban rule.…
Aug 09, 2011
A very fast and easy read. Quite uplifting to see the ingenuity and courage of these sisters. That they not only survived but prospered in such harsh times.
Junglequeen
Aug 07, 2011Junglequeen rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
An unbelievable visual discription of the everyday realities of living under Taliban rule in the early 90's. Especially for the young educated women who were forced to stay home and the only way they can get out of the house, is with a…
Jul 13, 2011BPLNextBestAdults rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Told by an American journalist, this is the inspirational story of Kamila Sidiqi, a young woman living in Kabul in a time of war. Kamila was teaching at a local school when the Taliban seized control in 1996. What followed was a…
Jun 02, 2011
A story of triumph and true courage. Also a glimpse of how women lived under the Taliban - I can't even begin to imagine... I was also amazed and envious at the loyalty and cooperation within the family.
Apr 07, 2011jbroom rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
An interesting tale of a woman surviving and thriving as an entepreneur in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, but lacking the kind of personal detail and insight that makes for compelling reading.
Mar 30, 2011ownedbydoxies rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
What bravery, self-denial and love of family on the part of these women in this book. It is a story that needed to be told and is not normally a part of the 'news' we hear about the people, and particularly the women, of Afghanistan. I'm…
Mar 15, 2011
Kamila Sidiqi braved Taliban restrictions and an oppressive environment to open a dressmaking shop in her home, eventually employing over 100 women. Journalist Gayle Tzemach Lemmon writes about Sidiqi's business and social venture in her…