• 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
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (566 ratings)

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The Dressmaker of Khair Khana  By  cover art

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

By: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman
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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

What listeners say about The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Admirable

Bravo! You may feel so proud of being a female, just learning from this wonderfull example

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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!!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Heroic!

What did you love best about The Dressmaker of Khair Khana?

I loved how the story moved along, kinda kept me on the edge of my seat.

What did you like best about this story?

How it showed the strength and cunning of these women.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was a story I wanted to stretch out longer.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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The Women of Afghanistan are Amazing!

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

This was a wonderful real life tale. The women portrayed in this were amazing and the author and narrator keep you engaged through out. I felt the fear and the betrayal of a country turned against it's own citizens, but also an appreciation of why events unfolded the way they did. It helped me understand what it felt like to have the taliban take over your neighborhood and the women shut into their homes, only to find a way to keep themselves occupied as well as make a living in such an environment! This really is a must listen to for anyone interested in women in Afghanistan and their survival and strength. I was in awe.

What other book might you compare The Dressmaker of Khair Khana to and why?

The Kite Runner

Which scene was your favorite?

When the Taliban regime had just taken over and how it affected the women.

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

I had many "drive way" moments where I couldn't get out of my car because I wanted to listen to the end of a chapter.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Kamalah

I liked how it was written and narrated. Kamala inspires me! I loved the tenacity of the family.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Much needed hope and energy for any woman

Sisterhood of faith, energy and education are priceless and build something that never ends when we help each other.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic!

Fantastic story and performance - just like all of Gayle Tzemach Lemmon’s books! Another highly recommended work!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Follow your passions

A powerful book written to show how resourceful women became during a war when the Taliban ruled Kabul and essentially imposed restrictions to survive. The author wrote the details of a young woman who had the courage to support her family as their income dwindled to below sustainable as men fled or fought, and women were house bound. I enjoyed the book, emotionally feeling inspired to not give up. We are blessed to live in a community with many resources and non profit organizations that support women and families.

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