Book Review: I really enjoyed the lightheartedness of this book, the conversational tone and the simple language. It strung together Firoozeh's different experiences, being an immigrant from Iran in America. A lot of writing on the immigrant experience is preoccupied with the nostalgia for the homeland and the hardships of understanding a new culture. Even though this book did discuss the process of adjustment, it was permeated by a sense of innocence that made it refreshing.
The book, which is a memoir, is humorous. Firoozeh is able to laugh at herself and her family without demeaning them or her culture. Even though there is a sense of wonder about America, it is not blind, and she is able recognize the shortcomings of the culture, just as she can see the good and the bad in her own culture. I really liked the lack of bitterness in her tone, even as she discussed important issues, such as being discriminated against for being Iranian, after the incident where several Americans were taken as hostages in Iran.
In Firoozeh, one sees the intermingling of both the Iranian and American cultures. There is no pining for an idyllic Iran and no blind devotion to a perfect America. The ease of the writing and the honesty of tone makes it a delightful read. It is a quick read, that one can finish in one sitting.
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