Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America
I enjoyed Firoozeh Dumas's Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America. While this is a story of one specific family acclimating to life in the U.S., there were many familiar themes common to the immigrant experience. Dumas's style is easy to follow and what she writes should be accessible to any age. All of that is good. Still, there was a disconnect for me which probably has more to do with my expectations. Despite the title, Dumas doesn't try to make everything funny; however, she treats everything with a light touch. There was a passing nod to the Iranian Revolution and her family's inability to return to their homeland, but very little about what the revolution was about or the real impact it had. Likewise, the serious challenges of growing up as an immigrant, if it didn't make for a somewhat amusing story, were either dropped or glossed over. There were a couple of things at the very end which resonated with me, though. In talking about the writing of the book, Dumas says that everyone's story counts. I absolutel
1. Immigrant Experience: Culture Shock and Adaptation in America
To be left out of Christmas is the ultimate minority experience.
Culture shock is a significant aspect of the immigrant experience. Firoozeh Dumas and her family faced numerous challenges adapting to life in America:
- Unfamiliar customs and traditions (e.g., Christmas, Halloween)
- Different social norms and expectations
- Navigating a new education system
- Adjusting to American food and consumer culture
The family's attempts to integrate often led to humorous situations, such as:
- Misunderstandings due to language barriers
- Confusion over American idioms and expressions
- Overenthusiastic embrace of new experiences (e.g., fast food, TV dinners)
Despite these challenges, the Dumas family gradually adapted to their new home, finding ways to blend their Iranian heritage with American culture.
2. Family Dynamics: The Influence of Persian Heritage
Without my relatives, I am but a thread; together, we form a colorful and elaborate Persian carpet.
Strong family ties are central to Persian culture and play a crucial role in the Dumas family's life:
- Extended family members provide support and companionshi
Laughing Without an Accent: Adventures of a Global Citizen
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “There’s such warmth to Dumas’ writing that it invites the reader to pull up a seat at her table and smile right along with her at the quirks of her family and Iranians and Americans in general.”—Booklist
In the New York Times bestselling memoir Funny in Farsi, Firoozeh Dumas recounted her adventures growing up Iranian American in Southern California. Now she again mines her rich Persian heritage in Laughing Without an Accent, sharing stories both tender and humorous on being a citizen of the world, on her well-meaning family, and on amusing cultural conundrums, all told with insights into the universality of the human condition. (Hint: It may have to do with brushing and flossing daily.)
With dry wit and a bold spirit, Dumas puts her own unique mark on the themes of family, community, and tradition. She braves the uncommon palate of her French-born husband and learns the nuances of having her book translated for Persian audiences (the censors edit out all references to ham). And along the way, she reconciles her beloved Iranian customs with her Western ideals.
ExplainFiroozeh Dumas was born in Abadan, Iran and moved to Whittier, California at the age of seven. After a two-year stay, she and her family moved back to Iran and lived in Ahvaz and Tehran. Two years later, they moved back to Whittier, then to Newport Beach. Firoozeh then attended UC Berkeley where she studied Humanities, which changed her life.
Firoozeh grew up listening to her father, a former Fulbright Scholar, recount the many colorful stories of his life. In , with no prior writing experience, Firoozeh decided to write her stories as a gift for her children. Random House published these stories in Funny in Farsi was on the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and was a finalist for the PEN/USA award in and a finalist in for an Audie Award for best audio book. She lost to Bob Dylan. She was also a finalist for the prestigious Thurber Prize for American Humor, the first Middle Eastern woman ever to receive this honor. Unfortunately, she lost that one to Jon Stewart. According to Firoozeh&#;s father, Firoozeh should have won.
In , Firoozeh published a second set of stories, Laughing Without an Accent, which also became a New York Ti
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