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Kabul Beauty School
Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil | Deborah Rodriguez, Kristin Ohlson
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 skillsas doctors, nurses, and therapistsseemed 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 familys debts, the Taliban members wife who pursued her training despite her husbands 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.
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Sapphire
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I used ground lamb and combined a few recipes, but Kabuli Pulao - was amazingly delicious. https://igotitfrommymaman.com/kabuli-pulao-the-afghan-national-dish/ #foodandlit #foodandlit2022 #afghanistan

Texreader Yay! Looks terrific! 2y
Nute That looks delicious!😋 2y
Tamra Fabulous! 2y
Catsandbooks Yum! 2y
37 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
LapReader
The Kabul Beauty School | Deborah Rodriguez
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Nothing went to plan yesterday but at least I got these books at my local shopping centre‘s new book swap. The markets I walked to were canceled so I was too early for the shops I wanted to go to. I had a chai tea and a piece of pumpkin bread at a cafe until the supermarket opened but they didn‘t have what I‘d come for so I walked home. At least I got a good long walk in for exercise. The Ivy and Bean books are for my niece Lila who loves to read.

review
Sapphire
Mehso-so

I am glad I finally read this title. It‘s been on my TBR for so long I don‘t remember when I got it; probably a decade ago. Had I been choosing just for the country I probably could have found a more authentic voice. But I learned a bit and I am glad that I am meeting this challenge with books I already owned. Now to find the food. If I go by the book that would be kebab or “Kabul burgers” #foodandlit #foodandlit2022 #afghanistan

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Gingerbikerchick
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ November 2021. Conversing with my aunt this summer about our perceived loss of rights here in🇨🇦 vs what we saw on the news in Afghanistan; living there vs here and the desire as always to understand better- this memoir was excellent at painting a little bit of a better picture of what the realities are like especially as women in Afghanistan. I really appreciated gaining more cultural understanding and appreciation.

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la_rose_noire
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Pickpick

I had really enjoyed #thelittlecoffeeshopinkabul and wanted to read more of #deborahrodriguez. This #autobiography #biography did not disappoint. A window into #afghanistan and especially in the life of Afghan #women. Can't wait to read or listen to another book by this author. #audiobook

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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

As a Fusion Bellydancer, I have a deep interest in the cultures my dance draws from, and I love reading about the lands and lives of the people.

This memoir about an American woman who opens a beauty school in Kabul in order to help the women there earn a good living and in many cases turn their lives around was entertaining and inspiring.

I especially loved the stories of the parties, as I‘d love to see the dancing in person!

Soubhiville For some reason this book spent about 4 years on my TBR! I can‘t tell you how many moves I‘ve dragged it through. But I‘m so glad I finally read it. 💚 5y
Cortg I've had this on my Goodreads TBR list since 2012! I really need to just pick a copy up and read it. 5y
RedxoHearts Oh sounds interesting I will have to check it out 5y
86 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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AWahle
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Mehso-so

While this look at life in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban was fascinating, there has been a lot of controversy about the author endangering the women she wrote about. My problem was her wanting Afghanistan to bend to her way of life. She complains that Xmas was just like any other winter day and wants her husband to be more affectionate. She became a 2nd wife, but is hurt when the 1st wife gets pregnant. Sigh. It was still interesting.

CouronneDhiver I remember enjoying this book. 😊 6y
AWahle I didn't not like it. The articles about the controversies probably color my view a bit. And her (and her husband's) unwillingness to meet each other half way was frustrating. 6y
32 likes2 comments
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kiminreverse
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Pickpick

This book got very mixed reviews, but I loved it. It's a very personal memoir and not necessarily a deep dive into the culture, but I learned some things and definitely appreciated her perspective. #audiobook #nonfiction

Maria514626 Very different perspective. I loved this one, too! 7y
10 likes1 comment
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tracyrowanreads
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Pickpick

While Debbie Rodriguez seems temperamentally unsuited to life in a repressive society like Afghanistan, she was determined to help Afghan women make better lives for themselves. This is her account of the founding of the Kabul Beauty School, the women she befriended, and the events taking place in Afghanistan during those years. It's often sad and frustrating, but it also gives hope that there are ways life can improve against the odds.

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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Working my way though the #LitsyAtoZ challenge. This makes 19 completed. Woot!

#letterR
#letterF
#letterI
#letterO
#letterX

TheHeartlandBookFairy The Kabul Beauty School! Such a fantastic book! Debbie grew up in my town with her family, we went to her mother's Salon to get our hair done😊 if you haven't already, you must look up her other books and read them as well! They are all fantastic 😁 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @TheHeartlandBookFairy That's so cool! I have her other books on my ever-expanding TBR. 8y
TheHeartlandBookFairy If you're enjoying this one then make the little coffee shop of Kabul the next one on your list! She has also written return to the little coffee shop of Kabul but it has not been released in the United States yet. It was released in the UK and I was able to get a copy through Amazon via a UK seller. I haven't read it yet but it is on my urgent stack LOL 😂 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @TheHeartlandBookFairy I'll take your advice on that! Thanks. 😀 8y
83 likes4 comments
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tracyrowanreads
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And back to Kabul. I napped the evening away so I can read for a couple more hours. Whee!

4 likes2 stack adds
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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I picked this up right after the "so-called" travel ban of 2017 in solidarity with refugees and immigrants. I'm so glad I did. It's fun, educational, and made me growling angry at the everyday chauvinism. No matter how culturally approved that behavior is, it harms women. These women fight back with kohl eyeliner and foiled highlights!

Longer review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1777569218

#nonfictionchallenge17 #neverthelessshepersisted

Laura317 Sounds just like the book I'm reading! It makes me glad that I was born in the USA, I can tell you that! 8y
hyacinth That quote is beautiful. Courage comes in many forms. 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Laura317 It does! Although they are 40 years apart in timing, so quite a bit will be different too. 8y
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Cinfhen Great quote but so sad, need to read this book too. It's been on my TBR for years! 8y
Laura317 @BarbaraTheBibliophage I'm adding this to my list. The author of my book was there only a year. 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen So much of this book made me sad. But other parts are hilarious - a necessary balance. Read it! 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Laura317 I'm not totally sure how long Debbie was there. But I'd guess at least two years, possibly three. 8y
106 likes12 stack adds8 comments
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Loving this book so far!

77 likes4 stack adds
blurb
BarbaraTheBibliophage
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I rest my book or ereader on this pillow, but I wanted you to see it so it's not covered. 😀 Then a pillow under my knees and my awesome slippers. Then I'm all set for reading while Mr. B watches sports or movies. #BRAINFUEL

Zelma You look so warm and cozy! (edited) 8y
katedensen Love that pillow, need that pillow. 8y
RealLifeReading Love it! 8y
See All 15 Comments
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Zelma I'm always toasty warm! 🔥🔥 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @katedensen It was a gift - one of my favorites ever!🌞🌞 8y
LauraJ I have no doubts that the pillow speaks the truth! 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @LauraJ LOL! I'm sure some of my family would disagree. 😜 8y
DogMomIrene Oh that pillow is fantastic! 8y
ApoptyGina69 Very true sentiment!! Great pillow. I'm in the market for new slippers also. My Gryffindor socks are not quite cutting it. 🌨 8y
clutteredbooks Haha i love this!!! 8y
Lmstraubie 😂😂😂 That is great! 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @ocdIrene @ApoptyGina69 @wanderful.books @lmstraubie Thanks - I love it to, but my husband turns it backwards sometimes as a joke! 😜 8y
Leftcoastzen Absolutely Fabulous!👍 8y
132 likes1 stack add15 comments
review
Martta
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Pickpick

This and Jean Sasson were the first non-fiction I've read. Opened a new view to the world for me and made me a bit more feminist than before. I've been lucky to be raised in Scandinavia. We tend to take equality and human rights for granted. Books like this made me think of equality in a new way. I think paid parental leave, free education and health care are very important parts of being equal That's what I learned to value from books like these.

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TeaRainBook
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Started this at the gym this morning

TeaRainBook DNF at 16% in. Just wasn't for me. 9y
1 comment