Rating: 
Summary: An amazing story of courage--great autobiography
Review: Waris Dirie is from Somalia, home of some of the most beautiful women in the world, many of whom become supermodels like the famous Iman and Dirie herself. This book is a story of her desert semi-nomad life, the story of the horrifying practice of Pharonic circumcision of women that she suffered, and Dirie's escape from several oppressive situations ultimately to a better life. The practice of female circumcision or FGM (female genital multilation) is not well-understood by Europeans and Americans. The practice, though not ordained by the Koran, is common in parts of Islamic Africa. It may have had tribal origins before some of the lands became Islamic. Dirie gives a blunt description of the primitive practice that leads to the death of many girls and to constant pain and suffering for those who survive it. In addition to the story of FGM, Dirie also tells how she escaped her engagment to a man she didn't know, how she got to London to live with relatives, only to escape virtual enslavement and ended up working at a MacDonalds. From there, fame and success. This book is written well, in a plain but well-told style. In addition to enlightening people about FGM, it tells a story of great courage.
Rating:
Summary: A dignified woman tells her 'exotic' story
Review: Quite an extraordinary book. In the 'West'we don't see very many books of this kind - written by someone who might be viewed as a victim" of barbaric cultural practices (female circumcision), but who allows us a real insight into her culture and life. Dirie rejects only ONE aspect of that culture, the outdated and ignorant practice, but otherwise embraces her cultural and familial roots. That is as refreshing as this book is readable.
Rating: 
Summary: An eye-opener....
Review: Too many Americans do not understand the customs and traditions in many countries, and the ritual of female circumcision is one of those little known things. Waris' story taught me that you can overcome many obstacles, including life as a nomad, and aspire to great things. I wish Waris all the luck in her endeavors. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Rating:
Summary: A Poignant Autobiography and a Moral Challenge
Review: Waris Dirie tells us the extraordinary story of her life, beginning as a nomad in Africa, her escape on foot thru the desert from the prospect of an arranged marriage, going first to the city where her sister lived, then to England, where she knew not a word of the language, and finally to America. She became an internationally famous model, learned to speak English, got married, divorced, and remarried, and finally became a spokeswoman for the United Nations against female genital mutilation. The story of her life is fascinating, but the genital mutilation she and her sisters suffered is disgusting. Dirie relates that no man of her native culture would want to marry a woman who had not been mutilated in such a way as to make it impossible for her to feel the intense pleasure of sexual intercourse. Thus mutilated, she supposedly cannot be tempted by other men. Many young girls die from infections contracted from unsanitary instruments used in this barbarous procedure. Both men and women there are really missing out on the joy they could have, were men to give women the respect they deserve. Such a man may experience orgasm, but he can never experience the far greater joy of knowing that he has given the greatest and most intense pleasure to someone he deeply loves and respects. If I were married to a woman so mutilated, I would feel sorely cheated because I could never give her the pleasure I would want her to have. Like the Texas oilman who married a much younger wife and was warned that she would soon take on other lovers, I would rather own five percent of a gusher than lock, stock, and barrel of a dry hole. I hope Dirie's husband will always be loving, thoughtful, and kind to her, because after the hell she has been thru, she deserves all the happiness he can give her, and then some. Her story is an inspiration, but at the same time it is a challenge to the rest of us to do what we can to end the horrible practise of female genital mutilation.
Rating: 
Summary: Won't read it a second time !
Review: I'm innocent ! I did't want to read this book ! My teacher wanted me to do this ! But I want to give an objective point of view of this book, as far as I can. It is really interesting to know how a Somalian women made career in western society. I was fascinated from the beginning when Waris had a fight for her life with an ugly, bloodlusty lion. Nothing for real men !
Rating:
Summary: An unrealistic exaggerated story
Review: The book "Desert Flower" is an interesting and fascinating biography. The book itself is easy to read and to understand. Of course I was shocked about Somalian traditions and religion. But in my opinion, every traditon and religion has to be respected. The Western Countries cannot believe that their religion and their system are the correct ones. I also think that Waris Dirie has exaggerated in some passages which seem more ridiculous than serious to me. I don't know if she wanted to write the parts in that way or if the women who wrote the book believed that would be the right way to get a bestseller.
Rating:
Summary: The astonishing life of Waris Dirie
Review: Reading Desert Flower I was very fascinated the way Waris Dirie writes. It is a simple but very personal and emotional style. She sometimes goes deep into detail which make her book an astonishing personal report abot an even more astonishing life. Altough using such a simple language the story does not seem to be less interesting. It even allows the reader to feel like Waris - in funny as in terrifying situations. One critical aspect might be that she sometimes writes kind of unrealistic but that ain't just that bad because it surely has to be hard to run through her own past by remembering every detail. The main thing is to get an impression of her way of life - as a nomand and later as a successful model. And that is in which she succeeded perfectly. After having read the book I could imagine what a nomad's life is like. And for me it was impossible to close the book before I've read the very last word. Reading it with tears in your eyes - tears of joy or shock.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional story
Review: It was one of our typical English lessons when we discussed about what to read next. Whereas our English teacher suggested to read some old stuff, we decided to read a modern novel. We had a great discussion and after a while we chose Waris Diries' "Desert Flower". After having read the book the reactions were quite different. Some of us, especially women, were shocked about her story and about FGM, which still exists. But there were also soms negative responses, which criticised the truth of the story. In my opinion it is very important to deal with books like this in class, because we can't imagine how hard life can be in other cultures. After a long period of discussions and having written a test about this subject, we draw the following conclusion: It is necessary to inform about the problem of FGM to encourage women all over the world and to tell them they are not alone.
Rating: 
Summary: critical viewpoint
Review: I do definitely not consider "desert flower" as a novel I enjoyed to read. In my viewpoint it is quite horrible and boring. Actually I do not sympathise with Waris Dirie.
Rating:
Summary: An unforgettable book
Review: I'm a German student and read the absolutly remarkable peace of literature in our English class. My mother recommended this book to me, so, after starting reading it, I really wanted to share this experience with my class. And here we go, this book, full of emotions, extreme experiences, uncontrolable fate, this book really is brilliant.
| 
