Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez
I am going to try to attempt this book review of Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez without the book which I had to return to the library already. We shall see how this goes.
Kabul Beauty School is the memoir of Deborah Rodriguez, a hairdresser, who shortly after 9/11 joined a humanitarian organization which ultimately took her to Kabul, Afghanistan. Leaving her two young sons with her mother (which was a huge discussion point in our book club – how does one just pick up and leave their family), and putting distance between herself and an abusive husband, Debbie soon found herself in a home with other humanitarian workers but unsure of exactly what role she was supposed to play.
After playing hairdresser to Westerners and a trip back to the U.S., Debbie sought sponsorship from beauty companies to start her own beauty training school for Afghan women. In a country where women are undervalued, at the mercy of their husbands, rarely hold jobs, have little to no income, going to beauty school to train and open their own salons opens up opportunities and freedom previously unknown to them. Debbie recounts the many girls and women that she became friends with and their heartbreaking stories. She also shows how the beauty school was a much needed refuge and safe haven for the women where they could feel free to be themselves and free their inhibitions. 
To tell you the truth, I’m totally shocked that Debbie didn’t get herself killed while she was there. She has a very loud, abrasive personality which in a country where women are not to draw attention to themselves, she was like a bull in a china shop. I was surprised at what should have been a very tense political situation and a dangerous time in the country that she seemed to have very little fear or concern for her personal safety. I’m sure she really did but it didnt feel that way in the writing. She often yelled at the men, taunted her neighbors, and even once gave a ride to her arrested neighbor to the police station. And she was the one pressing charges! I couldn’t believe some of the things that she did.
I was also shocked when she agreed to be married in an arranged marriage to an Afghan whom she couldn’t even talk to because they spoke a different language. And he already had another wife. She was shocked that this other wife became pregnant with his child while she was married to him. Somebody at our book club mentioned that one reason she left the country was because her husband was going to kidnap her son for and hold him for ransom (more details). At this point, I’d definitely think that the different culture thing didn’t work out for them. Can you just imagine sitting down to lunch with this author? The stories she could tell!
Kabul Beauty School could have been edited better. It felt as though she just sat down and began a rambling of her experience in Afghanistan, breaking off here and there to tell different stories or backgrounds. But luckily, those stories were fascinating. I particularly liked hearing about the women she taught and would like to have heard their voices even more. From the woman whom Debbie helped fake her virginity, to the 12 year-old used to pay off her families debt, her crazy housekeeper who seemed to be on drugs half the time, to the woman who continued her training despite the beatings from her Taliban husband; these are the stories that I wanted to read about. From what I understand, many of these girls are now in danger because of this book. You can read more about that in this NPR article and you can watch Rodriguez talk about her book as well.
Overall, I liked this memoir. It’s not the best that I’ve read but it is fascinating to learn about the Afghan women and the steps that they are taking to gain back their personal freedoms.
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Category: Book Reviews, Memoir/Biography, Nonfiction
Tags: Afghanistan, book club, I-L Title, neighborhood book club, Q-T Author
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I’ve had this in my TBR since a year ago when I thought about going to teach in Afghanistan. I think I got about 3 pages in and knew I didn’t want to go there. Sounds like I should pick it up again!
on April 17th, 2009 at 12:48 amI am always horrified at the realities of women living in these oppressed countries. While it was fiction, A Thousand Splended Suns was a good education for me. I am amazed this woman left a bad situation and walked into what would seem even a worse one! Yeah, this is definitely someone I would want to share a bottle of wine with, and listen to the stories!
on April 17th, 2009 at 5:04 amI was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book before I even started reviewing/blogging. I thought it was such a fascinating read.
on April 17th, 2009 at 6:55 amHmm, I’ll keep this one from getting buried in my TBR shelves, but I don’t think I’ll rush home and add it to my readathon pile either. Thanks for the review!
on April 17th, 2009 at 9:01 amThis is one book I definitely want to read – at least for the content if not for the writing. Thanks for pointing that out. Sometimes, I get annoyed if a book has a good plot but has not been written well. It’ll help me better if I don’t expect too much before starting to read it! I am adding this to the ever growing list of books I want to read after reading your review of it!
on April 17th, 2009 at 9:02 amI think I heard about this book on NPR and I think it sounds fascinating. I’m a memoir junkie, though. Great review!
on April 17th, 2009 at 10:34 amI listened to this on audiobook last year and had many similar feelings as you do. It definitely held my interest listening to it as there was one adventure after another. I did find myself questioning some of her bold and dangerous choices. Her intentions were good to protect these afghan women although she was naive in many of her actions. It is sad that many of these women are in danger for speaking out.
on April 17th, 2009 at 10:44 amI saw a review of this book in USA Today over a year ago and it has stuck in my head. I have yet to read it but now I’m going to find it. For some reason I enjoy getting horrified over the treatment of women and their fight for independence. Maybe it’s the feminist movement during my early years. Thanks for the good, honest review
on April 17th, 2009 at 10:57 amI may add this book to my TBR List. Thanks for your honest review.
on April 17th, 2009 at 1:03 pmI think I saw a documentary about this a couple of years ago – I remember thinking I couldn’t believe THIS woman would go to Afghanistan. Interesting review!
on April 17th, 2009 at 2:14 pmWhile I admire her choice to go to Afgahistan on a humanitarian mission as well as her commitment to bettering the lives of the Afghan women, I have to question most of her other choices…
Leaving 2 young children behind to go to Afghanistan? Marrying into and participating in the very oppression and lower social status of women? Marrying a warlord??? A warlord with a first wife already?? Being surprised when he gets his other wife pregnant? Only leaving the country because said gun-toting husband threatens to have your son kidnapped?
I really have to question this womans sanity. That being said, I agree, I bet she has some great stories to tell. Just a question to those who have read the book, does she discuss any of the reasons for her choices in my questions above?
I’m not totally put off of the book, I’ve actually heard decent things about this book. I’m just not sure I will be rushing off to read it.
I love your reviews Natasha. So honest and to the point.
on April 17th, 2009 at 9:34 pmI think the book sounds crazy interesting. Thanks for the review. If I have a chance to get my hands on it.. I will surely review. Not sure how I can handle or accept one leaving their children…. I always want to be open to that but I am not quite there yet in understanding how this is or could be an option.. but I try to stay open. Reading is that channel for me to stay open and learn.
on April 17th, 2009 at 11:01 pmI heard about this book a few weeks ago, and now your talking about it… guess that means I should probably check it out, Amazon Wishlist here I come.
on April 18th, 2009 at 8:29 amI thought this book was interesting, but like you I was SHOCKED at the decisions she made! And thanks for the link to the article.
on April 21st, 2009 at 3:20 pmI sat down and read this book in two days. This narrative is amazing and honest. Debbie is not heroic but she lives her life without letting fear stop her. She has done so much for all women just by standing up and living out loud. She shared her talents and energy with women who live in a country that subjugates and humiliates them. Let those sisters who feel that Debbie made some poor choices in the way that she lives her life need to show us how it should be done or stop throwing stones from behind the safety of life in the United States.
on July 19th, 2009 at 3:17 pmThere is a must read book for the hairstylist coming out of school called “From the bowl to the chair” a must read for 9.95
on July 30th, 2009 at 1:25 pmWait – unless I’m missing something, Deborah’s husband did NOT threaten to kidnap or kill her youngest son. She did leave because she and her son were in danger, but nothing I read indicated that her husband was involved in that. Another good book in this vein is “Three Cups of Tea.” I also read “A Thousand Splendid Sons” and I felt the three helped me get a better picture of how life is in the Middle East, especially for women.
on September 17th, 2009 at 2:07 pmTara – About Deborah’s husband threatening to kidnap or kill her youngest son – no, it’s not in the book. I mentioned that somebody at my book club brought that fact up after she read an online article about Deborah. I reference the link in my review above.
on September 17th, 2009 at 3:58 pmMy interest in this book is that I am aware of a woman who is intending to leave for Afghanistan in a few weeks. Beyond me how she would be allowed considering the resent weeks situations.
on October 29th, 2009 at 1:57 pmI’ve done lots of research and hope that you all are aware of the “original” person who was responsible for this school. check out this link and then be aware that there is a documentary that was filmed while Rodriguez was there. Reading her book really makes you think she was the only one and was making all the decisions. I certainly question how much of this is a memoir and how much is putting “stories” she heard in as her experience.
I wonder if this movie on her experience is still in the works? And does anyone know what has happened to the husband..very unclear where he is and what their relationship is.
http://thewip.net/contributors/2008/01/the_beauty_academy_of_kabul.html#comments