"The Dressmaker of Khair Khana," by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

 "The Dressmaker of Khair Khana," by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Former ABC journalist Gayle Tzemach Lemmon tells the riveting true story of Kamila Sidiqi and other women of Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s fearful rise to power. In what Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, calls “one of the most inspiring books I have ever read,” Lemmon recounts with novelistic vividness the true story of a fearless young woman who not only reinvented herself as an entrepreneur to save her family but, in the face of ferocious opposition, brought hope to the lives of dozens of women in war-torn Kabul.

This book is the true story of how the Sidiqi sisters survived and prospered against all odds when the Taliban took over Afghanistan when the Russians left in 1992 .  It shows despite being forced to give up jobs and being unfairly restricted on what they could or could not do, they were able to start a business and survive when many were starving and/or fleeing the country.

What they did though was not without great danger, that could have put their whole family at risk.  In fact there were a couple of times in the book that you were sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what would happen next.  Kamila proved to be a very level headed entrepreneurial woman who figured out how to make the best of a terrible situation.  She was also a kind hearted woman who wanted to help other women out as well.  

Between her and her sisters they helped many other women earn money to help their own families.  This books ends in 2002 when the Taliban left Afghanistan when the Americans took over.  What would be interesting now would be to see what these sisters are doing now in 2024 with the Taliban back in power?

Stars out of 5 : 4 This was an interesting read and an insight to what it was like to live in Afghanistan as a woman.  It did make you realize how lucky I am as a woman that I can do what I want when I want without asking permission from a male member of the household.  I am glad I read the book and would like to read Gayle's other book called Ashley's War again set in Afghanistan.  She has also released a book called The Daughter's of Kobani which also looks good and is set in Syria.

These are my own words and I purchased this book for myself.