Funny in Farsi Study Guide

Book Information

Title: Funny In Farsi
Author: Firoozeh Dumas
Date Published: 2003
Genre: Memoir
Setting: Throughout the course of this memoir, stories are told from Whittier, California, Berkeley, California, Newport Beach, California, Abadan, Iran, Hawaii, Spanish Wells, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles .

Style

Dumas writes in a very conversational tone, as if telling a friend the story of her life. Along with that, there is not always a chronological order to the chapters or the events they detail, with some things being referenced in early chapters that do not occur until the later ones.

Main Characters

Firoozeh Dumas - The book's author and main character. The book is Firoozeh's memoir. Dumas is her married name, and she never reveals her last name. The book begins in 1972 when she is seven years old, and has just moved to America with her family from Iran. She's a bright, inquisitive girl, who adapts to American culture much more easily than the rest of her family, especially her parents. Despite knowing hardly any English before coming to America, she soon picked up enough that she became her mother's interpreter.

Kazem - Firoozeh's dad. He received a Fulbright scholarship to study in America while a student in Iran. Once he had a family of his own, he wanted to move them back to America since he viewed it as the land of dreams. He doesn't partake in much of the traditional Iranian culture (though his marriage was arranged), including religion, which, for the most part, he does not follow. He is always trying to get rich quick, loves him family, and takes great pride in the stories he tells.

Nazireh - Firoozeh's mother. She never comes to grasp English as well as Firoozeh does, but shows appreciation for those around her, despite not being able to communicate with them. She loves watching television

Francois - Firoozeh's husband. He's a frenchman, and loves hearing her stories about Iran, since it sounds like an adventurous lifestyle to him. He marries Firoozeh despite not having his family's support.

Minor Characters

Farshid - Firoozeh's older brother. His decision making skills are extremely valued by his family.

Uncle Nematollah - Kazem's brother. Stayed with the family for almost a year while getting over a bad divorce. He gained a lot of weight due to American food, then tried various methods to burn it off.

Aunt Parvine - Viewed as a deity in the family due to the fact that she was able to become a doctor in Geneva, despite the fact that was a hard task for a woman and Iranians were not prevalent in Switzerland.

Aunt Sedigeh - Gardner and talented cook.

Uncle Abdullah - Loves learning for learning's sake. Now works as a translator.

Uncle Muhammad - Kazem's oldest brother. Became a doctor twice: once in Iran and again in America.

Noelle - The concierge in Paris who Firoozeh befriended and attended Bastille Day festivities with.

Golda - An elderly lady who lived beneath Firoozeh and Francois in San Francisco. During an earthquake Firoozeh assisted her, and she showed her gratitude by bringing a cake every month.