Funny in Farsi
Registered by ukcanaus of Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on 12/22/2013
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
3 journalers for this copy...
In 1972, when she was seven, Firoozeh Dumas and her family moved from Iran to Southern California, arriving with no firsthand knowledge of this country beyond her father’s glowing memories of his graduate school years here. Funny in Farsi chronicles the American journey of Dumas's wonderfully engaging family: her engineer father, a sweetly quixotic dreamer who first sought riches on Bowling for Dollars and in Las Vegas, and later lost his job during the Iranian revolution; her elegant mother, who never fully mastered English (nor cared to); her uncle, who combated the effects of American fast food with an army of miraculous American weight-loss gadgets; and Firoozeh herself, who as a girl changed her name to Julie, and who encountered a second wave of culture shock when she met and married a Frenchman, becoming part of a one-couple melting pot.
In a series of deftly drawn scenes, we watch the family grapple with American English (hot dogs and hush puppies?--a complete mystery), American traditions (Thanksgiving turkey?--an even greater mystery, since it tastes like nothing), and American culture (Firoozeh's parents laugh uproariously at Bob Hope on television, although they don't get the jokes even when she translates them into Farsi). Above all, this is an unforgettable story of identity, discovery, and the power of family love. It is a book that will leave us all laughing--without an accent.
I bought this for a BC friend as it was on her wishlist and I could not resist reading it before I sent it today. It was very funny at times, but also interesting to see a different perspective of the USA.
In a series of deftly drawn scenes, we watch the family grapple with American English (hot dogs and hush puppies?--a complete mystery), American traditions (Thanksgiving turkey?--an even greater mystery, since it tastes like nothing), and American culture (Firoozeh's parents laugh uproariously at Bob Hope on television, although they don't get the jokes even when she translates them into Farsi). Above all, this is an unforgettable story of identity, discovery, and the power of family love. It is a book that will leave us all laughing--without an accent.
I bought this for a BC friend as it was on her wishlist and I could not resist reading it before I sent it today. It was very funny at times, but also interesting to see a different perspective of the USA.
Sent to a wonderful BC friend - I hope this reaches you in time for Christmas!
Journal Entry 3 by Carole888 at Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Monday, December 30, 2013
Thank you so much for this wish-list book. A wonderful surprise! I am looking forward to reading it :)
Journal Entry 4 by Carole888 at Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, January 22, 2015
This was a delightful read, very interesting and at the same time most entertaining. The chapters are short, each with a new tale from the past. The author is an amazing story teller. I loved her memoir and was pleased to see an extra chapter included at the end of this book, for I wasn't ready for it to end.
Thank you ukcanaus for this lovely surprise. It has become one of my favourite books xx
Thank you ukcanaus for this lovely surprise. It has become one of my favourite books xx
Journal Entry 5 by Carole888 at Kettle Cafe in Lathlain, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, February 15, 2015
Released 9 yrs ago (2/15/2015 UTC) at Kettle Cafe in Lathlain, Western Australia Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I am taking this lovely book to share at our Bookcrossing Meetup today.
Picked up at today's meetup. Looks interesting.
Nice little memoir. Very funny and nicely written. I have taken it on holiday with me, and it has been a perfect book to read in small instalments.
My very first overseas bookcrossing release. I hope this book finds a home and someone who will enjoy reading it! I am not sure exactly where I will leave this, but I am visiting Osaka, so it will be somewhere in this area.
Please journal this book if you are the finder. You can remain anonymous if you wish, but I hope you will join in the bookcrossing fun! Happy reading.
Please journal this book if you are the finder. You can remain anonymous if you wish, but I hope you will join in the bookcrossing fun! Happy reading.