Kabul Beauty School

An American Woman Goes behind the Veil

By: Deborah Rodriguez, Kristin Ohlson

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Most Westerners working in Afghanistan spend their time tucked inside a military compound or embassy. Not Deborah Rodriguez. Here, she tells the story of the beauty school she founded in the middle of Kabul and of the vibrant women who were her students.

When Rodriguez opened the Kabul Beauty School, she not only empowered her students with a new sense of autonomy but also made some of the closest friends of her life. Woven through the book are the stories of her students: the newlywed who must fake her virginity; the 12-year-old sold into marriage to pay her family's debts; and a woman who pursues her training despite her Taliban husband's constant beatings. They all bring their stories to the beauty school, where, along with Rodriguez herself, they learn the art of perms, friendship, and freedom.

©2007 Deborah Rodriguez-Turner (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"A terrific opening chapter - colorful, suspenseful, funny - ushers readers into the curious closed world of Afghan women." (Publishers Weekly)
"A lively narrative of the author's experiences reacquainting Afghan women with skills the mullahs had denied them....Terrifically readable, and rich in personal stories." (Kirkus Reviews)

A story for women everywhere

Bernadette Dunne is well-matched to this story of a strong woman doing what she can to help the women of Afghanistan. Dunne reads with a strong, clear, no-nonsense voice, which is just how I imagine Debbie Rodriguez to be from her story. The first person format lends itself nicely to audio and I enjoyed stepping inside Debbie's world behind the veil as she embraced Afghanistan and its women.

Charming, Positive View Of A Different Culture

What did you like best about this story?

Upbeat, and let you view a culture different from what we know in the west.

Thumbs down

I could have loved this story. I am fascinated by Afghani culture and share the author's compassion for the women there, but I felt like she spent too much time boo-hooing over her own circumstances. She would be feeling homesick or frustrated and the Afghani women (who have bigger problems than hers, such as physical/emotional abuse in their marriages) would either ignore her silliness, or comfort her.

The truth is, Debbie never went "behind the veil" as the title suggests. Sure, she wore traditional Afghani garb, but throughout the book, she insists on retaining her brash American ways, without taking much away from Afghani culture.

Most of the time I listened to this audiobook, I felt there was some major piece of it that was just missing; some common thread to tie together all the little "episodes" (that's how she structures it: one or two Afghani women, describe their problem, weep over it, and move on). Maybe I missed the point, but this wasn't what I was expecting.

depressing

it was interesting, but depressing. the main character is a brave woman who is sympathetic towards the Afghan women.

dissapointed

I enjoyed the beginning of this book and the author seemed altruistic in her desire to help Afghan women. However, as the story progressed it seemed like she was just bored and having an "adventure" that included becoming the second wife of a man she could hardly communicate with after leaving her teenaged kids in the usa. Then she was upsest that his first wife became pregnant. What was she thinking? She lost credibility with me at that point. There are many other more credible books to read on the subject.