Jun 02 2007
Following the news that women profiled in Deborah Rodriguez's bestselling
Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil dispute her version of events (news
story) comes the more worrying news that the women profiled in the story, under loosely veiled pseudonyms, are not only in danger for their lives but have seen none of the money or help to get them out of Afghanistan that Rodriguez promised them in exchange for having their stories appear in the book. Although the book has not been published in Afghanistan, word of it has leaked out and death threats have been issued against the women. In addition, the landlord is threatening to seize the school's building for non-payment of rent.
As for Rodriguez, a flamboyant beautician from Michigan who is married to an Afghan, she says that she knows the women are angry and terrified — but that
they should realize that things take time. She also claims the girls misunderstood what she promised them. She says she plans to give the girls a small part of the royalties from the book, along with 5 percent of her earnings from the movie Sony Pictures is planning.
"I never, never in a million years would abandon them," Rodriguez said. "I had to leave, but I can do more good for them here. She says she has no plans to return to Afghanistan.
The Funeral Cryer by Wenyan Lu
Debut novelist Wenyan Lu brings us this witty yet profound story about one woman's midlife reawakening in contemporary rural China.
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