Laughing Without an Accent: Adventures of an Iranian American, at Home and Abroad (Unabridged)
-
- $17.99
-
- $17.99
Publisher Description
In the best-selling 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.
Explaining crossover cultural food fare, Dumas says, "The weirdest American culinary marriage is yams with melted marshmallows. I don't know who thought of this Thanksgiving tradition, but I'm guessing a hyperactive, toothless three-year-old." On Iranian wedding anniversaries: "It just initially seemed odd to celebrate the day that 'our families decided we should marry even though I had never met you, and frankly, it's not working out so well.'" On trying to fit in with her American peers: "At the time, my father drove a Buick LeSabre, a fancy French word meaning 'OPEC thanks you.'"
Dumas also documents her first year as a new mother, the familial chaos that ensues after she removes the television set from the house, the experience of taking 51 family members on a birthday cruise to Alaska, and a road trip to Iowa with an American once held hostage in Iran.
Droll, moving, and relevant, Laughing Without an Accent shows how our differences can unite us - and provides indelible proof that Firoozeh Dumas is a humorist of the highest order.
Customer Reviews
An Incredible Sequel
After listening to Funny in Farsi, I was delighted to discover that Firoozeh's story continues in Laughing Without an Accent. And I was not disappointed! It was a pleasure to hear more about the characters I got to know so well in the first book, and to hear more about Firoozeh's adventures as an adult.
It is rare to find the piece of non-fiction that is as entertaining as it is informative. Firoozeh is a gifted storyteller, and, as to be expected, Laughing Without an Accent includes colorful stories about growing up in Iran. However, the primary focus of the book is Firoozeh's journey into adulthood. I truly enjoyed her stories about marriage and motherhood, and the story of how Firoozeh met her husband is sure to become a classic.
I am keeping both of her books on my iPod, and am looking forward to listening to them again.
Icing on the cake
Over the years I have become a big Firoozeh Dumas fan. I have read, re-read, talked family & friends into reading her books. I enjoy them immensely. As well as those that listen to me and read them! I was hosting my book club this past month and chose this book. I wanted to read the book to refresh my mind on it before leading the book club. But I had lent out my copies. So I downloaded the audible. I have to say listening to it from Firoozeh Dumas' lips was just the icing on the cake. I laughed out loud even harder, learned even more from it, and could picture things even brighter in my mind. 5 stars!