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About The Book

In answer to the question of what happened following her New York Times bestseller Kabul Beauty School, Deborah Rodriquez is back with a new memoir: “a brave and often hilarious tale of reinvention, told with pioneer woman brio and wicked humor” (Wendy Lawless, bestselling author of Chanel Bonfire).

Irreverent, insightful, and blatantly honest, Deborah takes us along on her inspiring journey of self-discovery and renewal after she is forced to flee Afghanistan in 2007. She first lands in California, where she feels like a misfit teetering on the brink of sanity. Where was that fearless redhead who stared danger in the face back in Kabul?

After being advised to commune with glowworms and sit in contemplation for one year, Rodriguez finally packs her life and her cat into her Mini Cooper and moves to a seaside town in Mexico. Despite having no plan, no friends, and no Spanish speaking skills, a determined Rodriguez soon finds herself swept up in a world where the music never stops and a new life can begin. Her adventures and misadventures among the expats and locals help lead the way to new love, new family, and a new sense of herself.

In the magic of Mexico, she finds the hairdresser within, and builds the life she never knew was possible—a life on her own terms.

Reading Group Guide

This reading group guide for Margarita Wednesdays includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.


Introduction

In this riveting and inspiring memoir, Deborah Rodriguez, the author of Kabul Beauty School, unfolds the story of her perilous flight from Afghanistan and how she forged a new life afterwards. In a seaside Mexican town among a group of colorful expats and locals she reinvents herself, finds love, and opens a salon.  

Topics & Questions for Discussion 

1. “My life sometimes seemed like a series of one-act plays starring the same character, a gutsy heroine who over and over seems destined to triumph, yet somehow never quite does,” admits Debbie (page 55). What is your overall impression of her after reading Margarita Wednesdays? How does she view herself versus how others see her?
 
2. How did leaving Afghanistan—and the circumstances surrounding her departure—impact Debbie mentally and emotionally? Why was she reluctant to leave Kabul despite the danger she was in? Why do you think it took her so long to realize and to accept that she had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
 
3. While Debbie is in California, therapist Steve Logan advises her to sit with glowworms, while Larry cautions her to wait a year before making any big decisions. What advice would you have given her at the time?
 
4. Why is Cynthia the person who is able to help Debbie the most with her recovery? What is the energetic force that Debbie describes feeling in Patzcuaro? Share whether you’ve ever experienced something similar.
 
5. What motivates Debbie to settle in places like Afghanistan and Mexico, with language barriers and cultural differences? Would you ever consider living in another country? Why or why not?
 
6. Debbie’s inner voice whispers doubts into her ear during the drive from California to Mexico. What keeps propelling her forward rather than turning back? Is “Debbie Downer” right or wrong when she suggests that Deb is running away by moving to Mexico?
 
7. “Plenty of women would have killed for what I had. So why was it so hard for me?” Debbie asks (page 49). Does her inability to embrace a quiet, secure life in Napa have more to do with her surroundings or with her state of mind? In contrast, what is it about Mazatlan and its expat community that makes her feel at home?
 
8. Debbie is remarkably honest about her rocky romantic past and failed marriages, including her risky union with Sam. What realizations does she come to about her relationships with men and her reasons for marrying? What new perspectives does she bring to her relationship with Denis?
 
9. Owning a home has always been important to Debbie, who acquired her first house when she was twenty-one. Why is home ownership such a crucial factor in her life? What meaning does living on Carnaval Street have for her?
 
10. Do you agree with the “tough love” stance Debbie takes with Noah? Why does she change her mind and allow her son to come live with her in Mazatlan? How does the news that she’s going to be a grandmother affect Debbie and her views about moving to Mexico?
 
11. Discuss Debbie’s conflicted feelings about being a hairdresser. In her view, firefighters, police officers, and military service personnel are the kinds of people who help others through their vocations. But in what ways has she changed lives using her profession?
 
12. Debbie tells Sergio that she has “absolutely no interest in opening a salon here in Mazatlan” (page 223). Why then does she change her mind and do just that? What does she enjoy about working in a salon?
 
13. Debbie makes a list of what the “new her” would look like if she were given a clean slate in Mexico (page 79). How many of these aspirations does she achieve? Did she make the right decision by relocating to Mexico? Ultimately, does she find what she was seeking?
 
14. What universal lessons and insights are there in Margarita Wednesdays that could benefit all women? Which aspects of Debbie’s story particularly resonated with you?

Enhance Your Book Club

Take a virtual visit to Mazatlan, Mexico, Debbie’s adopted hometown, at GoMazatlan.com and AllAboutMazatlan.com.

Prepare a Mexican-inspired feast using recipes found at:
Epicurious.com/RecipesMenus/Global/Mexican/Recipes and:
FoodNetwork.com/Topics/Mexican/Index.html, including ones for guacamole and margaritas.
Craving coconut shrimp like Debbie enjoys in the book? There are variations on that dish that, too.

Enjoy a visit to a salon or spa for your discussion of Margarita Wednesdays, or have members bring supplies and host a “do it yourself” manicure and pedicure party before or after you talk about the book.

Along with Margarita Wednesdays, read Kabul Beauty School, Deborah Rodriguez’s first memoir.

Visit DebbieRodriguez.com to learn more about the author and her books.

About The Author

Photo Credit: Susan Bonk

Deborah Rodriguez is the author of the nonfiction New York Times bestseller Kabul Beauty School and the internationally bestselling novel The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul. The hairdresser and motivational speaker was a cofounder and director of the first modern beauty academy in Afghanistan, and also founded the nonprofit Oasis Rescue. She lives in Mazatlán, Mexico, where she own Tippy Toes salon and spa. Her latest book is Margarita Wednesdays: Making a New Life by the Mexican Sea.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Gallery Books (June 10, 2014)
  • Length: 288 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781476710693

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