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jess_mango's review
4.0
Funny in Farsi was a quick, humorous read. This memoir tells of the author's experiences moving to America from Iran with her family when she was 7 years old. She lightheartedly recounts her trials and tribulations of adapting to life in America. A very good read!
nickscoby's review
2.0
In retrospect, I suppose this book didn't really stand a chance with me. Persepolis is one of my all-time favorites, and I just finished reading Fresh Off The Boat (Huang), which is HILARIOUS, as well as pointed and highly critical of assimilation. But as the saying goes, this is not that. Funny In Farsi does have some choice moments, and there were times when I laughed out loud, especially in the first half of the book. The chapter about the uncle trying to lose weight had me in stitches. But overall, the book was safe. Written in a way not to offend Dumas' neighbors in Newport Beach. I was also completely annoyed by the pat way every chapter ends, like high school essays. The formula is thus: begin with some bland humorous anecdote, spend a few pages talking about a family member (usually Dad) and then end with some trite connection to said bland humorous anecdote. The more I think about it, the less I like this book, so I'm going to stop here.
sara_o's review
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.75
It was fine? I wanted to like it more than I did. Interesting, but I don't think I'll pick up the second one.
alidottie's review
4.0
I really enjoyed Firoozeh's short memoir about moving to America with her Iranian family in the '70's.
hnbb's review
4.0
I truly enjoyed this one. Being the OCD person I am I wish the stories were linear, but it worked well. I think I might suggest it for a book club book even.
mgouker's review against another edition
3.0
A refreshing memoir by a talented, entertaining author who speaks in clear direct language and tells great stories, especially about her extended family. This valuable book illuminates the life of an immigrant and narrates the American dream in humorous and ever optimistic language. It's an especially important book at a time when the value of immigration is questioned by self-proclaimed patriots who would have us stick our heads in the sand. The lesson I learned from Dumas's story is how worthy she and her family are, not just to be in America, but to represent the ideal of American life.
I would have given four stars but I felt she could have elaborated on the aftermath of the revolution in Iran more, especially the plight of its people. In any case, I liked it quite a lot. It is a very good and informative read! Time well spent!
I would have given four stars but I felt she could have elaborated on the aftermath of the revolution in Iran more, especially the plight of its people. In any case, I liked it quite a lot. It is a very good and informative read! Time well spent!
solariscrescent's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
kevin_shepherd's review
5.0
"Ever since we had arrived in the United States, my classmates kept asking me about magic carpets. 'They don't exist,' I always said. I was wrong. Magic carpets do exist, but they are called library cards."
At the tender age of seven, Firoozeh and her family moved from Abadan, Iran to Southern California, and we, her readers, will never be quite the same. There is an abundance of humor and love and warmth here. This is a treasure worthy of more stars than Goodreads will allow.
At the tender age of seven, Firoozeh and her family moved from Abadan, Iran to Southern California, and we, her readers, will never be quite the same. There is an abundance of humor and love and warmth here. This is a treasure worthy of more stars than Goodreads will allow.