Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey Of A Desert Nomad

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The most compelling portions of Dirie's story are her graphic portrayals of the practice of female genital mutilation and the impact it has on women who long to control their bodies and their lives. Some goodreaders perceived her as disingenuous, which is something that occurred to me as well although that may just be general memoir skepticism (thank you James Frey for stealing my innocence). Using an old razor blade, a woman cut off all parts of the author's genitals: labia major, labia minor, and clitoris, leaving in their place a tiny hole through which both urine and menstrual blood were supposed to flow. You think of the millions of girls and women trapped in the situation Dirie survived (death from FMG is not uncommon - Dirie may have lost a sister from it, but no one speaks of it).

At the same time, she makes a complaint of this inhumane practice, putting her own contribution in the struggle to eradicate this inhuman practice, a struggle that shows the first positive results 20 years after the writing of the book. Her book offers extraordinary firsthand insight into FGM, thought to be performed now on more than two million girls a year. Grown up in a slum, she was chosen for the role of Waris as a child in the screening of the international bestseller “Desert Flower”. Ben fatto, equilibrato, forte nella denuncia, delicato nel far prevalere i sentimenti su tutto e nonostante tutto. Dirie's beauty led her to a career as a fashion model; her experience as a young girl subjected to circumcision led her to speak out against the practice and eventually become a human rights ambassador to the United Nations.An important book that manages to pass its message without melodramatics and exaggerations, talking about the difficulties but above all about the joy of life. An interesting and unusual memoir,noteworthy for putting a cruel cultural practice,under the spotlight. That same year, she was appointed UN Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM). the writing style is horribly amateurish and immature, as if her experiences were copied down as she rambled on. This story will make you weep for what people are capable of doing to their children, and fill you with admiration for one woman's strength".

With her story Waris Dirie brings awareness to the terrible tradition of female genital mutilation in Africa. As a special ambassador to the United Nations, Somalian supermodel Dirie speaks out against the custom of genital mutilation, a "barbaric rite" that she underwent at age five. Raised in a nomadic Somali family, apparently raped at age four and then mutilated in a female circumcision ritual at age five, Dirie bravely ran away from home at thirteen to avoid being married off to an old man.Cathleen Miller taught creative writing at San José State University, where today she is an emeritus professor. As she gives birth to her son, Leon, she resolves to give to her child, what she has never had herself: a real home.

In March 2008 producer and Oscar-winner Peter Hermann (“Nowhere in Africa”) commenced with the shooting of “Desert Flower” (the budget: USD 16 Mio). a fascinating and harrowing memoir, especially during the first half, but waris has such an incredible story to tell. From the deserts of Somalia to the world of high fashion, she battles against oppression and emerges a real champion.Eventually,she started working with the UN to raise awareness,about the damage done to millions of girls,because of FGM. As a novel it would be unbelievable, as Waris survives circumcision, rape, arranged marriage, a lion attack--you name it, she's lived through it. She’s an accomplished public speaker who has performed at numerous venues, including Cinequest, LitQuake, the Ford Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, the Women, Peace and Conflict Lecture and Film Series, and the American Women’s Association of Rome.

I was under the impression that this memoir strongly focused on the author's experiences with FGM and her work with the Desert Flower Foundation to advocate for women's rights in Africa.She moved from London to New York and became one of the first African Supermodels receiving an exclusive agreement with the cosmetic group Revlon. This is one of the most courageous books I've ever read, and one of the most important when it comes to understanding what has happened for centuries to women in areas of Africa. She shared, in detail, her personal experiences as FGM was performed on her when she was only 5-years-old, as well as her painful issues while urinating and menstruating as she grew older.