Desert Flower
The Extraordinary Journey Of A Desert Nomad
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4.7 • 98 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
"Waris's story is one of remarkable courage. From the deserts of Somalia to the world of high fashion, she battles against oppression and emerges a real champion. She is the most beautiful inspiration to anyone." —Elton John
Waris Dirie ran away from her oppressive life in the African desert when she was barely in her teens, illiterate and impoverished, with nothing to her name but a tattered shawl. She traveled alone across the dangerous Somali desert to Mogadishu—the first leg of a remarkable journey that would take her to London, where she worked as a house servant; then to nearly every corner of the globe as an internationally renowned fashion model; and ultimately to New York City, where she became a human rights ambassador for the U.N.
Poignant and powerfully told, Desert Flower is Waris's extraordinary story.
How does a girl with nothing become a voice for millions?
A Dangerous Escape: Barely a teen, Waris flees an arranged marriage, crossing the treacherous Somali desert alone with nothing but a tattered shawl and her own resilience.From Nomad to Supermodel: Discover the astonishing journey of a girl who went from tending goats in the African wilderness to walking the high-fashion runways of London and Paris.Speaking Out Against FGM: The courageous, unflinching account of undergoing female genital mutilation as a child, and Waris’s powerful decision to break the silence on this hidden atrocity.An Unforgettable True Story: A testament to the strength of the human spirit, Waris Dirie's story has inspired millions and proves that hope can blossom in the harshest of places.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Joining the current rage for model memoirs (see review above) is Dirie, a native of Somalia, who has for more than a decade stalked the world's catwalks and appeared in numerous glossy magazines. This, however, is no fluff-job dictated into a tape recorder on transatlantic flights, then recomposed by a hired gun back in New York. Rather, it is a striking account of a personal odyssey that began in the Somali desert, where Dirie grew up without shoes, living amid nomadic tribes and tyrannized by patriarchal strictures. As a pubescent girl, Dirie was circumcised--a procedure described here in chilling detail--before escaping an arranged marriage to stay with an aunt in Mogadishu. Landing a job as a house servant in London, Dirie struggled to launch a modeling career while dodging British immigration authorities and the dreadful results of marriages of convenience. At the end of this affecting and at times very entertaining book, Dirie's metamorphosis from desert nomad into jetsetting nomad culminates in a post as a human rights ambassador to the UN, where, these days, Dirie campaigns for the eradication of female circumcision and women's rights around the globe. It's easy to forget that Dirie's memoir is a book about someone whose success has come from posing for the camera. Indeed, it is Dirie's remarkable lack of narcissism or entitlement that makes her so captivating a raconteur. Photos. Editor: Billy Kelly;
Customer Reviews
My Opi
Great story!!. My sister advised me to watched the movie. After watching it, I needed to know more details of Waris life and FGM. It's truly sad. I hope a lot has changed since 1998 in the African communities regarding this outrageous and dangerous practice.
Waris has done a great and honorable deed! Thank you!!
Phenomenal
This book has touch me like no other. As an African American women, whose family originated from the slave trade, but grew up here in a much different way, I can't tell you how much I appreciate these words. There is so much that we take for granted in the states and so much to be thankful for. So thank you Waris for opening my eyes and letting me go through this adventure with you.
Very inspiring book
Very inspiring and fascinating