Monday, May 14, 2012

REVIEW: THE DRESSMAKER OF KHAIR KHANA BY GAYLE LEMMON

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Lemmon
KINDLE edition

It started out great, and what I learned overall about the plight of women during the time the Taliban ruled is huge.  The author really had a way of helping me to feel and see through the five sister's senses, and for that I am grateful.

And I get that it is a true story, so it's not like she could create drama that wasn't there.

The thing is, once the sewing business was up and running, about half way through the book the story just went no where.  They were successful, and they were fearful of being caught, and then nothing.

She did describe their fear very well, and I cannot even imagine living in those circumstances.

And the most startling thing was the ending, if you could call it that.  There really wasn't one.  It just kind of stopped.  And then there was an "epilogue", and I use that word loosely, which was more or less just a very short summary of "where are they now" kind of thing.

I feel like she was up against a deadline or something?  I would have loved to have had the story fleshed out more towards the end, and then a nice thorough epilogue.

All in all, I did learn a lot and have even more empathy for the Afghan people, and in particular the women, but I don't think I will be recommending it anytime soon.

RATING:  2/5