Kabul Beauty School (Deborah Rodriguez )
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Pickup available at JHB North East Pickup Point Usually ready in 2-4 days
Pickup available
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JHB North East Pickup Point
Pickup available, usually ready in 2-4 days
63 Dunrobin Street
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Sydenham
Johannesburg
Gauteng
2192
South Africa
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Kabul Beauty School (Deborah Rodriguez )
Medium Paperback
Soon after the fall of the Taliban, in 2001, Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan as part of a group offering humanitarian aid to this war-torn nation. Surrounded by men and women whose skills–as doctors, nurses, and therapists–seemed eminently more practical than her own, Rodriguez, a hairdresser and mother of two from Michigan, despaired of being of any real use. Yet she soon found she had a gift for befriending Afghans, and once her profession became known she was eagerly sought out by Westerners desperate for a good haircut and by Afghan women, who have a long and proud tradition of running their own beauty salons. Thus an idea was born.
With the help of corporate and international sponsors, the Kabul Beauty School welcomed its first class in 2003. Well meaning but sometimes brazen, Rodriguez stumbled through language barriers, overstepped cultural customs, and constantly juggled the challenges of a postwar nation even as she learned how to empower her students to become their families’ breadwinners by learning the fundamentals of coloring techniques, haircutting, and makeup.
Yet within the small haven of the beauty school, the line between teacher and student quickly blurred as these vibrant women shared with Rodriguez their stories and their hearts: the newlywed who faked her virginity on her wedding night, the twelve-year-old bride sold into marriage to pay her family’s debts, the Taliban member’s wife who pursued her training despite her husband’s constant beatings. Through these and other stories, Rodriguez found the strength to leave her own unhealthy marriage and allow herself to love again, Afghan style.
With warmth and humor, Rodriguez details the lushness of a seemingly desolate region and reveals the magnificence behind the burqa. Kabul Beauty School is a remarkable tale of an extraordinary community of women who come together and learn the arts of perms, friendship, and freedom.
We do not measure every book by hand but instead use the size table below and AI to list the size. Please note that US and UK sizes may differ slightly; where applicable, we provide dimensions for both. If you would like the exact size of a book, please WhatsApp us, and we will be happy to measure it for you.
| Format | Colloquially Called | Typical Dimensions (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format A | Small | 10.8 x 17.5 cm | Mass-market paperback, pocket-sized format. |
| Format B | Medium | UK: 12.9 x 19.8 cm US: 13.2 x 20.3 cm |
Medium paperback size, used in both UK and US editions. |
| Format C | Large | UK: 13.8 x 21.6 cm US: 14.0 x 21.6 cm |
Demi-size, often used for trade paperbacks in UK and US. |
| Extra Large | Extra Large | Greater than 14.0 x 21.6 cm | Larger books, including oversized trade paperbacks or hardcovers. |
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Format A
Colloquially Called: Small
Typical Dimensions: 10.8 x 17.5 cm
Description: Mass-market paperback, pocket-sized format.
-
Format B
Colloquially Called: Medium
Typical Dimensions: UK: 12.9 x 19.8 cm
US: 13.2 x 20.3 cmDescription: Medium paperback size, used in both UK and US editions.
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Format C
Colloquially Called: Large
Typical Dimensions: UK: 13.8 x 21.6 cm
US: 14.0 x 21.6 cmDescription: Demi-size, often used for trade paperbacks in UK and US.
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Extra Large
Colloquially Called: Extra Large
Typical Dimensions: Greater than 14.0 x 21.6 cm
Description: Larger books, including oversized trade paperbacks or hardcovers.
This is a high-level condition guideline. If you would like more information about a specific book's condition, please WhatsApp us. Please note that book clubs are one of our main avenues for sourcing books, and as such, names and book club notes are allowed on all conditions from "As New" downwards and may not always be explicitly mentioned. Please look carefully at the pictures of the book to assess its condition. Any other notable defects, aside from those in the "Key Features" column, will be listed above in the "At a Glance" column under "Observations."
| Condition | RM Rating | Description | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand New | 10/10 | Completely new and unread. | Crisp pages, no marks, and no signs of wear. |
| As New | 9/10 | Almost brand new; typically in read-once condition. | No visible damage, but may have small marks or the previous owner's name. |
| Excellent | 8/10 | Lacks the crispness of a new book, but no major damage. | Clean and intact; very slight creasing on spine. |
| Very Good | 7/10 | Good condition with some signs of wear. | Slight spine concavity, off-white pages, and small bends on corners. |
| Good | 6/10 | More wear but still usable and readable. | Creased spine, yellowing pages, curling corners. |
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Condition: Brand New
RM Rating: 10/10
Description: Completely new and unread.
Key Features: Crisp pages, no marks, and no signs of wear.
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Condition: As New
RM Rating: 9/10
Description: Almost brand new; typically in read-once condition.
Key Features: No visible damage, but may have small marks or the previous owner's name.
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Condition: Excellent
RM Rating: 8/10
Description: Lacks the crispness of a new book, but no major damage.
Key Features: Clean and intact; very slight creasing on spine.
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Condition: Very Good
RM Rating: 7/10
Description: Good condition with some signs of wear.
Key Features: Slight spine concavity, off-white pages, and small bends on corners.
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Condition: Good
RM Rating: 6/10
Description: More wear but still usable and readable.
Key Features: Creased spine, yellowing pages, curling corners.
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Born from a dream during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, ReadMatter has blossomed into one of South Africa's premier online used bookstores. Operating from three strategic depots in Gauteng, we diligently deliver hundreds of books weekly, illuminating minds, enriching souls, and bringing the joy of reading to every corner of the nation.
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