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| Laughing Without an Accent: Adventures of an Iranian American, at Home and Abroad | 
 enlarge | Author: Firoozeh Dumas
Publisher: Villard
Category: Book
List Price: $22.00
Buy New: $12.36
You Save: $9.64 (44%)
New (24) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $12.36
Avg. Customer Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 13612
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.1
ISBN: 0345499565
Dewey Decimal Number: 910.4
EAN: 9780345499561
ASIN: 0345499565
Publication Date: April 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW
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Product Description
In the 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.
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 fifty-one 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
 I love a good surprise May 9, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Got this for my wife, peeked at it, and was hooked. Dumas' family is MY family, only from somewhere else. I have uncles and aunts that are loopy (but whom I love), and sisters that I turn to when my parents do something crazy. No, there's no rocket science here - that we all tend to drive each other to distraction occasionally, and often in ways that are funny in retrospect, but a book doesn't have to be rocket science to have value and be something good and worthwhile. I was surprised by how much this book moved me, and that is rare. I liked it so much I contacted the author for an interview in The Blotter Magazine (www.blotterrag.com).
Another great book by Firoozeh Dumas May 6, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
If you liked Funny in Farsi, then you will love this book.
Another collection of short stories with insightful and funny observations.
My favorite is the last chapter, where she tells the story of where she met one of the people that was taken hostage in the US embassy in Tehran years ago.
Funny and touching May 30, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
As an expatriate like Firoozeh Dumas, but not Iranian and in my case living in Europe, I was thrilled to hear that Firoozeh had written another memoir.
Laughing Without An Accent continues to delight and amuse, much like her earlier book Funny In Farsi. Each of the stories seem to somehow touch the heart and can connect with people of any culture. She tells her stories about her family with wit and affection.
Many of my friends live outside of the country they were born in. All found Funny In Farsi to be right on the mark and they could really relate to the situations and family issues in the book.
If you're reading Laughing Without An Accent as you relax on vacation, you should know that people will constantly be asking what you're reading that's so funny.
Another very enjoyable book by Firoozeh Dumas June 6, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I just purchased this book and read it while commuting on the NY subway. It made my commuting experience a pleasure.
Both books are very human and also very funny. Almost every paragraph has a surprise. She is finely attuned to the differences between Iranian and American culture. She does succeed in having us "laugh with her." I have read both of her books and highly recommend them.
I have zero sympathy with the Iranian regime, but we do need more "cultural ambassadors" like Ms. Dumas who can maintain perspective and a sense of humor, and fewer Reading Lolita in Tehran's.
Our entire family loved it May 28, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I learned about Funni in Farsi when my children had to read the book as part of their school work in Junior High School. They laughed so much, at first I thought they were playing a prank on me. But when Mom and I read it too, we knew we had found something special. This was the only book that the whole family enjoyed reading and re-reading together. We often joke about things that happen and remind us of that book.
So it was with great anticipation when we got Ms. Dumas' new book "Laughing without an accent". This book too is a masterpiece. We all loved it and we were fighting about who should be reading it at any time. Ms. Dumas, you have brought great joy and understanding to our family and we thank you for it.
I recommend this book to all. It is easy reading, enjoyable, and awakens something deep inside you about our humanity. Way to go Ms. Dumas.
We can't wait for the next book!
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