Perspective

"Funny in Farsi" is written by Firoozeh Dumas who emigrated to the United States from Iran with her family. The story begins when seven-year-old Firoozeh, who spoke only Persian at the time, was quickly indoctrinated into the American culture and assimilated into the English language since she was required to immediately begin attending school. Having been central to the episodes and experiences that she describes, no one could provide more insight than Dumas as to the feelings, reactions and barriers that she and her family faced.

"Funny is Farsi" lives up to its name since the book has a comic and light touch throughout. Even in potentially dangerous and serious situations, Dumas keeps them delicately balanced with her airy recounting of them. Although Firoozeh and her family were faced with ethnic bias, particularly during the Iranian revolution that sparked the tense Iranian hostage crisis, Dumas displays no bitterness...