Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey Of A Desert Nomad by Waris Dirie, Cathleen Miller Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.60 You Save: $7.40 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.16 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey Of A Desert Nomad
Book Review: wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
The fascinating true story of the journey of an African woman who ran away from all she knew in order to escape being married off and becoming just another possession to a man whom she didn't love.Book Review: An amazing story of courage--great autobiography
Summary: 5 Stars
Waris Dirie is from Somalia, home of some of the most beautiful women in the world, many of whom become supermodels like the famous Iman and Dirie herself. This book is a story of her desert semi-nomad life, the story of the horrifying practice of Pharonic circumcision of women that she suffered, and Dirie's escape from several oppressive situations ultimately to a better life. The practice of female circumcision or FGM (female genital multilation) is not well-understood by Europeans and Americans. The practice, though not ordained by the Koran, is common in parts of Islamic Africa. It may have had tribal origins before some of the lands became Islamic. Dirie gives a blunt description of the primitive practice that leads to the death of many girls and to constant pain and suffering for those who survive it.
In addition to the story of FGM, Dirie also tells how she escaped her engagment to a man she didn't know, how she got to London to live with relatives, only to escape virtual enslavement and ended up working at a MacDonalds. From there, fame and success.
This book is written well, in a plain but well-told style. In addition to enlightening people about FGM, it tells a story of great courage.
Book Review: A dignified woman tells her 'exotic' story
Summary: 5 Stars
Quite an extraordinary book. In the 'West'we don't see very many books of this kind - written by someone who might be viewed as a victim" of barbaric cultural practices (female circumcision), but who allows us a real insight into her culture and life. Dirie rejects only ONE aspect of that culture, the outdated and ignorant practice, but otherwise embraces her cultural and familial roots. That is as refreshing as this book is readable.Book Review: An eye-opener....
Summary: 4 Stars
Too many Americans do not understand the customs and traditions in many countries, and the ritual of female circumcision is one of those little known things. Waris' story taught me that you can overcome many obstacles, including life as a nomad, and aspire to great things. I wish Waris all the luck in her endeavors. I highly recommend this book to everyone!Book Review: A Poignant Autobiography and a Moral Challenge
Summary: 5 Stars
Waris Dirie tells us the extraordinary story of her life, beginning as a nomad in Africa, her escape on foot thru the desert from the prospect of an arranged marriage, going first to the city where her sister lived, then to England, where she knew not a word of the language, and finally to America. She became an internationally famous model, learned to speak English, got married, divorced, and remarried, and finally became a spokeswoman for the United Nations against female genital mutilation.
The story of her life is fascinating, but the genital mutilation she and her sisters suffered is disgusting. Dirie relates that no man of her native culture would want to marry a woman who had not been mutilated in such a way as to make it impossible for her to feel the intense pleasure of sexual intercourse. Thus mutilated, she supposedly cannot be tempted by other men. Many young girls die from infections contracted from unsanitary instruments used in this barbarous procedure.
Both men and women there are really missing out on the joy they could have, were men to give women the respect they deserve. Such a man may experience orgasm, but he can never experience the far greater joy of knowing that he has given the greatest and most intense pleasure to someone he deeply loves and respects. If I were married to a woman so mutilated, I would feel sorely cheated because I could never give her the pleasure I would want her to have. Like the Texas oilman who married a much younger wife and was warned that she would soon take on other lovers, I would rather own five percent of a gusher than lock, stock, and barrel of a dry hole.
I hope Dirie's husband will always be loving, thoughtful, and kind to her, because after the hell she has been thru, she deserves all the happiness he can give her, and then some. Her story is an inspiration, but at the same time it is a challenge to the rest of us to do what we can to end the horrible practise of female genital mutilation.
watziznaym@gmail.com