The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe

By: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman

Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The life Kamila Sidiqi had known changed overnight when the Taliban seized control of the city of Kabul. After receiving a teaching degree during the civil war - a rare achievement for any Afghan woman - Kamila was subsequently banned from school and confined to her home. When her father and brother were forced to flee the city, Kamila became the sole breadwinner for her five siblings. Armed only with grit and determination, she picked up a needle and thread and created a thriving business of her own.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana tells the incredible true story of this unlikely entrepreneur who mobilized her community under the Taliban. Former ABC Newsreporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon spent years on the ground reporting Kamila's story, and the result is an unusually intimate and unsanitized look at the daily lives of women in Afghanistan. These women are not victims; they are the glue that holds families together; they are the backbone and the heart of their nation.

Afghanistan's future remains uncertain as debates over withdrawal timelines dominate the news. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana moves beyond the headlines to transport you to an Afghanistan you have never seen before. This is a story of war, but it is also a story of sisterhood and resilience in the face of despair. Kamila Sidiqi's journey will inspire you, but it will also change the way you think about one of the most important political and humanitarian issues of our time.

©2011 Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Nice to learn more

Would you listen to The Dressmaker of Khair Khana again? Why?

This was a wonderful book that helped me learn about another part of the world that helped me to understand the culture better. What a brave young woman!!

Excelent!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I recommend to all my friends. It's a beatiful story everyone must know.

What does Sarah Zimmerman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The interpretation was great.

Taliban Monsters

Would you listen to The Dressmaker of Khair Khana again? Why?

I found the book interesting about a time and part of the world I know little about.
I would not listen to again I have to many other things to listen to.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Narration was fine,.

Any additional comments?

I liked the story, I just did not love it. I think that is a personal thing with me, just not cup of tea I guess.

A Remarkable Woman

An amazing account of triumph over adversity. Kamila Sidiqi realises that in a household of women - the men having left for their own safety - she had to do something to support her sisters. Living in Khair Khana where the Taliban were in control, and life for women was severely restricted, she learnt to sew, and established a thriving dressmaking business. Her youngest brother was the only male in the establishment, and she relied on him to escort her whenever she ventured outdoors to market her wares, or purchase fresh material.Her enterprise and great courage are amazing, as she eventually supplied work for many of her neighbours, enabling them to earn sufficient to live on There is a lot more to be written about this brave lady - I do hope a sequel is considered.

Women will always find a way..........

If you could sum up The Dressmaker of Khair Khana in three words, what would they be?

courageous, bold and innovative

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana?

The part where they are on a bus without a male attendant. I was impressed with the way Camil talked her way out of her predicament.

What does Sarah Zimmerman bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

With this book and others, the narrator brings mood, emotion and brings the characters to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was impressed with the outcome - I fully expected something to go very wrong. I had a hard time trying to put myself in the situations the women were in. I was angry with the Taliban and hoped they would be taken over.

The injustice of the Taliban

Very good story about this family and how they adjust to the reign of the Taliban in their once very civilized society. It just makes me sick to learn about the idiotic thought process of the Taliban

Great book! Such a help to have audible!

I was sick so I was able to listen to the book for a school assignment whereas I would not have been able to concentrate on reading otherwise because I was so ill! This really helped me and I loved how it brought the story to life!

Great book!!!

I was intrigued while listening to this book. Growing up in the US, you don't realize what people in other countries deal with during war. This book was truly eye opening.

Great story, somewhat abrupt ending

Really enjoyed this book but was a bit surprised when it ended it sort of felt like the author ran out of time and ended the book. More likely it has to do with the fact that this is a true story and in real life stories don't wrap up neatly every time.

Entrepreneurial Enterprise under Taliban Rule

Kamila had just completed her teaching certification when the Taliban came to power in Kabul, and suddenly she was not allowed to work or even be on the street without a male escort. In this wonderful account, you will learn how this enterprising young woman was able to support her family by learning to sew and then becoming a dressmaker, going on to teach other young women in her neighborhood the skill so they could support their own families. The book is well written and exciting, and the narrator has a pleasant voice and does a fine job. You'll gain real insight into what living under Taliban rule is like for females, whose world crashes down around them and how they can transcend the restrictions through intelligence, perseverance, creativity, and necessity.