The Dressmaker of Khair Khana
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3019794464
Never die attitude for women in a war torn country
For the rest of the world war torn Afghanistan is a place which needs to be talked about and managed. For the people living there since ages it is a shock and matter of life and death. This book is all about how the fairly modern lives of women living in Kabul get rudely shaken and turned upside down to a closed, repressive lifestyle. But still there are some who do not leave hope, do not bow down and find out options to make their mark in the world. The never say die attitude of one girl in a family ensures not only survival but betterment of lives of this and other families who came in contact with them.
The book is simple to read and flows easily from event to event. It talks about the changes that were brought into the lives of people living in Afganistan when Taliban took over. Going round only wearing the chador and only with a male member of their family was mandatory. With no way to get themselves educated, the women not only stitch clothes to earn a living but end up setting up a tailoring school for the betterment of other women in the society.
Simple narration but changed directions
The lives of the family and the women surrounding them is observed by the author and the book seems to start as a journalistic set of events. However, the narrative changes in between where things are seen from the eyes of Kamila. It could have been better if the author could have stuck to one style of narration.
The lives turn for the better not only for one family but for a community
I admired Kamila from the Siddiqi sisters for her bravery and determination to continue working for the betterment of her family and women in her country. All women who get associated with her and her group are brave women who refuse to bow down to Taliban and are willing to learn new skills to put food in front of their families. The risks these women took during the toughest times shows a lot about the women of Afganistan.
All Power to strong willed women.
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