Writing style is extremely poor. Even though her story in itself is interesting as we very rarely hear such first hand accounts of her homeland, I had to drag myself to the end.
I did NOT buy the sequel.
Here is a book that would have greatly benefitted from a Ghostwriter's assistance. An opportunity lost.

Such an interesting life history and a courageous woman. I read this in 2 days.

Mi-a placut foarte mult autobibliografia lui Waris, o femeie de la care cu toate avem ce invata. Mi-a placut foarte mult cum a fost prezentata: cu vocea unei femei mature, ce si-a inteles trecutul si s-a impacat cu el, si-a iertat si acceptat parintii si viata pe care i-au oferit-o si iata ca astazi militeaza impotriva acestui gen de viata. Recunosc ca nu auzisem de ea si abia dupa aceasta lectura am cautat-o si am aflat ca este o femeie si un model de succes. Povestea ei de viata e extrem de dura si greu de parcurs din punct de vedere emotional, pentru ca triburile din desert comiteau tot felul de atrocitati, insa asta stiau, acesta era stilul lor de viata, departe de civilizatie, doar ei si natura sub cerul liber. Cum sa judeci niste oameni a caror orizonturi erau atat de inchise? Doar iti e mila de ei si de copiii lor, care nu au nicio vina ca s-au nascut in Somalia si nu in America, spre exemplu.
Cred ca vocea lui Waris trebuie insa auzita, ca reprezentanta a tuturor fetelor al caror mediu de viata le-a distrus copilaria. Lectura aceasta merita citita, de dragul tuturor mamelor ce si-au pierdut fiicele in desertul aspru in care barbatii aveau drept de viata si de moarte...

3.5 stars
Simplistic though certainly not boring writing. It’s like having a cup of tea with Waris while she tells her life story. There are people that don’t like that kind of writing, but I do, it feels very natural. Though I sometimes disliked Waris because of her being so stubborn and headstrong and because of the way she talks about certain things, I also realise that this is the result of our very different upbringing and the completely different lives we’ve lived. Also, I think it’s thanks to her being so stubborn and headstrong that she’s gotten to the point in her life where she is now.
I’ve laughed and I’ve cried while reading this book. It was a very fast read about Waris’ life, touching on a very tough subject and ending with some beautiful messages I will definitely take with me!

“Ik heb geleerd dat geluk niet afhangt van bezit omdat ik nooit iets heb gezeten en erg gelukkig was. De mooiste tijd van mijn leven was vroeger toen mijn familie en ik allemaal samen waren. Ik denk nog aan de avonden dat we na het eten rond het vuur zaten en om elke kleinigheid in lachen uitbarsten. En wanneer de regens begonnen en het leven opnieuw begon vierden we feest. Families die bij elkaar komen zoals wij dat deden om met elkaar te zingen in de handen te klappen en te lachen.

Toen ik in Somalië opgroeide, hadden we oog voor de eenvoudige dingen in het leven. We vierden feest vanwege de regen, omdat de regen betekende dat we over water konden beschikken. Pas als je iets niet hebt, schat je het op zijn waarde, en aangezien wij niets hadden, schatten we alles op zijn waarde.

Aan de ene kant van de wereld hebben we voor de mensen nauwelijks genoeg voedsel. En aan de andere kant van de wereld betalen mensen ervoor om af te vallen.

Vandaag de dag koester ik de waarde van de eenvoudige dingen. Het meest waardevolle in het leven, naast het leven zelf, is gezondheid. Maar de mensen richten hun kostbare gezondheid te gronde door zich zorgen te maken over allerlei overbodige kleine ergernissen: een rekening, nog een rekening, tijd. Niemand heeft tijd. Helemaal geen tijd. De straten zijn vol met mensen die heen en weer rennen achter Joost mag weten wat aan. Mijn kinderjaren in Somalië hebben mijn persoonlijkheid voor altijd gevormd, en mij ervan weerhouden triviale zaken serieus te nemen.

Een van de grootste voordelen van het leven in het Westen is de vrede. Ik weet niet zeker hoeveel mensen zich ervan bewust zijn wat een grote zegen die vrede is. Weliswaar is er criminaliteit, maar misdaad is nog wat anders dan een oorlog waar je middenin zit.

Ik meen dat bij mijn geboorte mijn lichaam volmaakt was naar Gods schepping. Als God had gewild dat die lichaamsdelen ontbraken, waarom heeft hij ze dan geschapen?”

قبل از سفرم ،،، کتاب را از بوک لند پالادیوم خریدم،،، کتاب سبک با جلد تسخیر کننده ای از یک زن سومالیایی که در شرح پشت جلد از مساله ختنه زنان در سومالی صحبت کرده بود
در طی داستان ختنه و آداب و سنت ان‌با جزییات مطرح نشده بود
تنها به نظرم ختنه مساله ای بود که واریس دیری ( قهرمان داستان) توانسته بود در خبرگزاری ها و کنفرانس ها بابت ش درآمدی داشته باشد
در کل اتو بیوگرافی با سطح ادبیات متوسط و ضعیفی داشت

Poorly written....

My 9 year old granddaughter writes better than this.... And boring as well. I'm not sure it was even worth the small amount I paid.

Worte, die das Herz erreichen.
(zum zweiten Mal gelesen)

Ein SEHR WICHTIGES Buch! Am liebsten würde ich es jedem in die Hand drücken, mit der wärmsten Empfehlung es zu lesen.

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. In this case, it happened to the author as a pre-teen in Somalia: female circumcision or, more commonly called, FGM (female genital mutilation). 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. This "prepared" her to be marriageable and a daughter who was suitably marriageable could bring a good bride price for her family, generally through the acquisition of livestock.

But the book is far more than merely an experience of bearing witness to what was done to one girl and what continues to be done to others. For Waris Dirie, promised in marriage to an old man she couldn't bear to regard as a future husband, she made the decision to run away, into the desert where she and her family belonged to a tribe of nomads who went from place to place, always seeking water for their flocks and simple food to keep people and animals alive. From the moment Waris runs, the book becomes not only a survival challenge for the young girl but also a cultural and educational challenge. For she has always lived with her family in the desert, she cannot read, she cannot write, and the only language she speaks is the language of her immediate tribe. Her story thus begins in the desert and moves from there to Mogadishu, to London, to Paris, to New York. Against all odds, she becomes a sought-after model for such publications as Vogue and Elle. She sets her own course and she follows it and nothing dissuades her from the pursuit of the life she dreams of. Ultimately, she becomes a spokesperson through the United Nations, fighting against the mutilation of girls around the world. She becomes every inch her own woman.

Desert Flower is one of the most amazing memoirs I've ever read, and I highly, highly recommend it. There is much to admire in the life of this woman.

Labai patiko ir norėjosi perskaityti šią knygą vienu prisėdimu!

گل صحرا، اولین جلد از سه گانه نویسنده است که در آن ضمن اینکه به روایت ختنه کردنش در کودکی می پردازد، ماجرای فرارش به لندن و مدل شدنش را و اینکه تصمیم می‌گیرد در زمینه جلوگیری از ختنه دختران آفریقایی، سفیر سازمان ملل بشود، بیان می کند...

گل صحرا، واریس دیری و کاتلین میلر، شهلا فیلسوفی و خورشید نجفی، نشر چشمه، چاپ پانزدهم زمستان 1395

1399/2/10

I found this book at a festival i was attending in Würzburg, it was the happiest moment when i opened it to discover that it belongs to an organization called BookCrossing, its main idea is to let book travel the world, on the book there is a sticker saying “ I’m a very special book. You see, i’m traveling around the world making new friends. I hope I’ve met another friend in you, please go to www.bookcrossing.com and enter my code number. You will discover where i have been and who has read me, and can let them now I’m save here in your hands. THEN...READ AND RELEASE ME!”
The idea of having and reading a book which was in a completely different place with different people is so amazing and inspiring just like this book!
Can’t wait to release it somewhere special ❤️