Jun
22
This morning, some of you heard my NPR interview on Weekend Edition. For those of you who missed it, cut and paste the link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91769870
I have always been a fan of Scott Simon. That voice…so trustworthy, so smooth, so intelligent, yet approachable! Now that I have been interviewed by him, let me make it official: I love Scott Simon. He is one of the last remaining interviewers who actually reads the whole book before interviewing the author. You have no idea how rare that is! I can’t tell you how many interviews I had for FUNNY IN FARSI where the first question was, “Were you born in Iran?” The first sentence in my book answers that question.
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Firoozeh:
I just listened to your interview with Scott Simon and I am so excited to read “Laughing Without an Accent”! I purchased your book a week ago and I am saving it for my upcoming vacation. Please tell me you will be having some book signings upcoming soon in the Bay Area or on the Central Coast (Monterey County).
I wrote to you earlier this year about reading your first book while recovering from an accident. I wanted to let you know that I am doing well. I look forward to meeting you at a book signing soon!
Laura Lawrence
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 am
Hi Laura,
I do remember you. I am glad you are well enough to go on vacation. I hope it’s somewhere fabulous! ( I define fabulous as anywhere without housework.)
I don’t have any Bay Area events coming up, however, keep checking my website. Events get added all the time.
I hope you continue on your path to recovery. And I hope you enjoy LWAA!
Thanks again,
Firoozeh
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:22 am
Hi Firoozeh,
I just wrote you the other day and I want you to know that I finished reading LWAA this afternoon. I enjoyed it as much as the Funny In Farsi! I work at a Barnes & Noble in the San Jose area, we’re a smaller store without a Community Relations Manager but I would really love to have you come to our store. I will talk to my store manager and get in touch with your agent(?) that is listed on your site. Do you only do independent book stores?? Anyway, I have read books like Kite Runner, Bookseller of Kabul and by the time I got to Kabul Beauty School. .. well, I really wanted to go to Iran. I love your sense of humor and your intelligence. I can’t wait to meet you!
Dora
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:35 am
Hi Firoozeh,
I heard about your book through friends that heard your interview on NPR yesterday. They were discussing the humorous conversation between you and the interviewer, and I decided I would do my best to find out who this Iranian author was. Needless to say, I found the interview on NPR, listened to it, and then googled your name. I ended up reading a few passages of your books online and decided that I would have to purchase these books when I found myself LOL.
Today, I purchased your books at Barnes & Noble. It has been a great gift to read these stories (Funny in Farsi) and LOL. These stories remind me of some of the discussions that I have had with my Kurdish friend about our cultural, political, and religious differences. For example, we have talked about differences in our skin color. While I have commented that I want to get a tan, she encourages me to remain, as I describe it, a pasty white. In fact, I usually forego the tan, because I can’t take the summer heat.
I will pass these books along to my friend, and I sincerely hope she finds as much humor in them as I do. I will encourage her to read them to take her mind off of some of the cancer treatments that she is undergoing. Thank you for sharing your stories, they encourage me to share more with my dear friend. I look forward to reading the next book!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hi Dora,
Thank you for your note! Glad you finally “travelled” to Iran.
I probably won’t be able to speak at your store since my schedule is pretty packed but I promise to stop by and say hello and sign books next time I am in the area. What is the address of your store?
Best,
Firoozeh
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Hi Elizabeth,
I’m glad your friends told you about my interview. What dear friends you have! I assume you are now part of the Scott Simon Fan Club, which I am now heading.
Let me know what your Kurdish friend says. I bet she’ll be able to relate. Our cultures have much in common. More importantly, I wish her strength during her cancer treatments. When will they end?
Best,
Firoozeh
June 24th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Oh! This is great! We are at 1600 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA in the Westgate Mall. I hope I am there when you drop by. Could you give us a ‘heads up’,maybe? I would really love to meet you.
Dora
June 24th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Dora,
I’m not in that area very often but next time I come there, I promise to give you a call ahead of time.
Thanks,
Firoozeh
June 25th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Thanks!
dora
June 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Firoozeh,
I also heard you on NPR this past weekend and your interview inspired me to pick up a copy of “Funny in Farsi” on Monday. You are hilarious and your stories deeply resonate with all! I have decided to pass your book along to my wife’s 96-year-old grandfather, who is also a writer and shares a similar literary style/approach as you. Looking forward to reading “Laughing Without an Accent”. Wishing you great success!
Best regards,
Shawn
June 25th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Thank you Shawn. You’ll have to tell me what your wife’s 96-year-old grandfather thinks!
Scott Simon’s interview was magical for me. I reached so many people who had never heard of me. Long live NPR!
Best,
Firoozeh
June 25th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Hi,
I listened to your NPR interview and enjoyed it. My favorite aunt’s name is also Firoozeh, and she is very funny too. I am an engineer,live in Texas and almost went to Texas A & M, went to UT instead. I am married to an american and have 3 kids and we will be reading and laughing with your book.
Best Regards,
Farhad
June 25th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Hi Farhad,
I hope you enjoy both books. I don’t know how old your kids are but if they are over 10, you can read the stories together.
I am coming to speak at a couple of conferences this year in Texas for the first time. I look forward to seeing your state!
Thanks again for writing to me.
Best,
Firoozeh
June 27th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Salaam.
Chera inja Farsi ro support nemikone?
Nemidoonam ba Finglish (Farsi ba horoofe English) Ashna hastid ya na. be har haal man finglish minvisam.
Ketabe “Atre Sonbol Atre Kaj” aali bood. Por az Idea va besiaar Salis va ravaan.
Omidvaaram Ketab-e jadid-e shoma zoodtar be dast-e man berese.
Baa Behtarin aarezooha
Touraj az Tehran
June 27th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Hello Firoozeh,
I am so sad that I won’t be at your event at the Pasadena Public Library this weekend!
I’ve practically launched a PR campaign at USC and LA because I loved your book “Funny in Farsi” so much.
I’m interning at a Pasadena newspaper and seriously felt like the plants were aligned when I saw you were scheduled to stop by! I thought I’d send a note with a friend but felt like this would be less stalker-ish.
Your fan,
Silva
June 27th, 2008 at 4:03 am
Hi Silva,
Now, why won’t you be there?
THANK YOU for launching a PR campaign. I would have thanked you person but you’re not coming. Why? I don’t know.
I hope you enjoy LAUGHING WITHOUT AN ACCENT as well. I need a PR campaign for that one too.
Cheers,
Firoozeh
June 27th, 2008 at 4:06 am
Salam Touraj,
Khayli mamnooon!
Ketabeh jadeed ra bedooneh-ye ejaze-ye man tarjomeh meekonand va fekr nemeekonam khoob bashad.
Be omideh deedar,
Firoozeh
June 27th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Dear Firoozeh,
I’ll be out of town for the weekend. (I know, it’s lame).
Take this comment as my confession –I have not yet read “Laughing Without an Accent” but WILL be picking up a copy before I head out on my trip. Pinky-Swear.
Once read, I will launch my second campaign
in exchange for another visit to Los Angeles. Pretty Please.
I hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Silva
June 27th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Chera Farsi edition Tahayyeh nemikonid?
ketabe Funny in Farsi ke man daaram chaape 12 hastesh. dar faaseleye kamtar az 2 saal, 12 baar chaap shode. farsi edition ro tahayye konid, be yeki az aashnaayaanetoon dar iran bedid taa az hoghooghe maaddi ham estefaade konid.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Touraj,
Tarjomeyeh tanz khayli sakht hast. Man kassi nemeeshnossam keh betavanad een kar ra bekonad. Motarjemeh Funny in Farsi khayli khoob bood valli oo mashghool ast.
Firoozeh
June 28th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Dear Firoozeh,
After reading a couple of pages of your books, I kind of think that we knew your family in Aghajari, But since you say you have lived in Abadan, It could be your Uncle perhaps????Do you have a cousin by the name Ladan Jazayeri??? She was my brother’s (Hossein )classmate . I just called iran and talked to him and the funny thing is that he was reading the Funny in Farsi at the same time that I am reading it!!!
And he told me that he is thinking the same thing,
Please ask your dad if he knows my dad , Dr. Amini ( dentist) in Aghajari,?
It is nice to hear from you anyway.
Thanks
Nazanin
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:33 am
Hi Nazanin,
I do have a distant cousin named Ladan but there are a lot of Jazayeris. I don’t know if she is the same one that your brother knew.
I asked my dad and he did not know your dad. I don’t think my dad ever went to the dentist! He probably should have.
Thanks for reading my books!
Best,
Firoozeh
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 am
Baaz ham Salam.
agar man betunam kasi ro peida konam khoobe?
jostojoo konam?
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:16 am
Hi Firoozeh,
I am listening to your book Funny in Farsi after hearing the wonderful interview with Scott Simon…My question is about your father’s sister…I’m a little confused about the aunt who is a doctor in Switzerland who tried to teach you to swim and the aunt who was denied the opportunity to study medicine…Otherwise I am thoroughly enjoying listening to your delightful stories.
Cheers
Lisa
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 am
Hi Lisa,
The aunt in Switzerland, Parvine, is my mother’s sister. My aunt Sedigeh is my father’s sister.
Glad you are enjoying the audio. If you do end up liking it, please write a review for Audible.com. I have quite a few bad ones there!
Thanks,
Firoozeh
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:49 am
Consider it done…they’re nuts! I also recommended it to two Persian co-teachers at the school where I teach…
Lisa
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:40 am
hi!
i am an iranian woman and thank,very thank for “funni in farsi”.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Hi Azam,
Thank you!
Best,
Firoozeh
PS Persian font does not work on my website, unfortunately so I don’t know what you wrote.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:17 am
i wrote:
whit the best wish for your family and you!:)
July 7th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Hi Firoozeh,
It was your interview with Scott Simon and a review in Bust magazine that led me to your incredible book, “Laughing Without an Accent.” I read the book in less than a week - a record because I am no speed reader. I love your humorous tales of dual cultures. Growing up in the South as a daughter of Indian immigrants, I always found it extremely difficult to navigate and comprehend the two cultural landscapes. Although my perspective has mainly been out of frustration, your book has opened me up to humor! (For example, I can now laugh instead of grunt when I find yet another new-and-improved gadget in my mom’s overstuffed cupboard.) Thank you so much for your stories - you have no idea what a huge shift in perspective they have caused.
Sincerely,
Roshani
P.S. And because of your book, I saw the Persian works at the Metropolitan Museum in a totally different light this weekend. A newfound appreciation has emerged!
P.P.S. And yes, I have “Funny in Farsi” in my bag. It’s day three, and I’m almost done!
July 7th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Dear Roshani,
I didn’t even know I had a review in BUST until your email. I just went and bought a copy so thank you!
I’m thrilled that my stories have given you a more tolerant and humorous view of cultural differences. Just think how much you just saved in therapy!
By the way, I absolutely love the Persian works at the Metropolitan. I see them every time I’m in NY and somehow, they get better each time.
Thank you again for your email.
Best,
Firoozeh
July 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I just finished reading Laughing without an Accent and Funny in Farsi. They are wonderful books and I got such much out of them. I learned so much about the culture and that a lot of your culture and the Jewish culture are very similar. I thought we had the exclusive rights on worry and guilt. I guess I was wrong. I am very much looking forward to you next book!
Naava
July 11th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Thank you Naava!
We need to have a Guilt and Worry Olympics. It would be a close race.
Keep reading!
Best,
Firoozeh
July 13th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Hi Firoozeh
I, too, heard your interview with Scott Simon and the next day I was talking to a friend in S.F. who was reading Funny in Farsi (she heard you, too). She read a few exerpts and we were both hysterical (especially, “Fritzy Dumbass” sorry to say.) I immediately took both books out of the library. My local library, Northbrook (IL) Public Library is fabulous, by the way. I devoured both books and I just wanted to tell you how much I loved them.
I was able to relate somewhat to your moving to So. Cal. as a youngster. I moved there from the midwest at about the same time you did and although I am american, Southern California is has a culture of it’s own.
I see by the blog that you were recently in Illinios. I wish I would have known, I would have definitly come to see you. I hope you are able to come back this way soon.
Your books touched me somehow. I laughed out loud (which usually doesn’t happen when reading) but I was also touched by your stories about your family and observations about American Culture. Please please please keep writing!
Thanks,
Lee
July 13th, 2008 at 2:52 am
Hi Lee,
I hope I find a reason to come back to Illinois! (Hey Oprah, are you reading this?)
Glad to hear you have a fabulous library. Tell the librarians I said hello. There’s nothing like living in a town with a great library. You are very lucky.
Thank you for taking the time to write!
Best,
Firoozeh
July 18th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Dear Firooseh,
My name is jessica a fourteen year old girl, I spent hours and hours trying to find an autobiography for my project and nothing cought my eye not even marlyn manroe other than your book “Funny in Fari”. I am persian aswell so it was very funny to me. Im still reading your book and i cant wait to right about it for my project. I just wanted to let you know that your book is great so far and that out of all the great celeberties and people to my project on i picked your terrific book. i cant wait to finish it.
with much love,
Jessica
July 18th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Hi Jessica,
I am glad that you stumbled upon my book! I hope you enjoy reading it and doing your project.
If you like my book, there is now a sequel called LAUGHING WITHOUT AN ACCENT so you’ll have another book to read this summer. If you don’t like FUNNY IN FARSI, though, don’t read the second book.
Thanks for writing to me!
Best,
Firoozeh
July 20th, 2008 at 1:57 am
Dear firoozeh
much congradulationes on your new book, laughing without an accent, you are hillarious!!! An absolute, unique excellence of writting, You made me laugh to tears.
Much love and admiration
khatereh
July 20th, 2008 at 2:50 am
Thank you Khatereh. I love your name!
Best,
Firoozeh
July 21st, 2008 at 6:12 am
Hi Firooseh,
I also heard the interview on NPR and bought the book afterward. I finished reading it this morning. I so much enjoyed it that I reviewed it on my blog.
I’m looking forward to reading your first book.
Take care,
Fayrouz Hancock
Dallas, Texas
July 21st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Thank you Fayrouz! I loved your review.
I hope I get to meet you person one of these days. I don’t have any events in Dallas at the moment, but keep checking my website.
Thanks again,
Firoozeh
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:00 am
Hi Firooseh,
I hope you make it to Dallas. I’ll make my best to meet you then.
July 25th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
hi firooze!
i translate my mother words becouse she dont know english(and i dont know very well)
she said i like your book special your father character
she wants to read all of your books.if you have another book please introduce them to us
she said you should write every year…!
we all like funny in farsi
sorry if have mistakes in my comment
thanks again
roya & shaghayegh
July 25th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Thank you Roya and Shaghayegh and a BIG thank you to your mother. My father has become quite popular!
I have another book that is being illegally translated into Persian. I do not recommend it. And those are my only two books. I have articles on my website. Maybe you can translate them for your mother.
Your English is good! No need to apologize ever!
Thank you again.
Best,
Firoozeh
July 26th, 2008 at 3:10 am
Firoozeh Jan,
I read your book funny in Farsi a few years ago when my american doctor told me about it. I loved your book so much, I think, I wont be exagerating, if I say I bought at least 10 copies for my iranian as well as american friends. (for any occasion you can imagine.) I think some of your experiences are shared by many other Iranians who moved here but I don’t think any one could describe them the way you have.
You have truley a “ghalameh Shirine”.
I just bought your new book Laughing with out an accent and have read the first chapter and it is looking amazing. Reading the book I realized you have a farsi translation of it. The funny thing is , I tried reading and translating Funny in Farsi for my in-laws (who speak Farsi only) with out much success I was laughing so hard myself yet i was getting blank stares from them. Now that I know there is a farsi translation I will definitely let them know. I actually would love to read the Farsi (or more correctly I guess persian) version of it. Is it available here in the US?
Any way thank you for bringing tears of laughter to my eyes and may others who read your books. Wishing you and your family all the best and take care
Homi
July 26th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
hi
thanks for reply
infinity waiting for your new book,loughing without accent in persian
i hope this book is more funny than funny in farsi!
my mother is reading your book for 6th time(but i read it just for 2 :D)she recommend it to all of her collegues
my father read your book too but he dont like to express an opinion about anything!
again thanks
July 26th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Dear Homi,
You have a great and wise doctor!
If you email my agent with your home address, I will send you a Persian version of FIF. My agent’s email is steven@barclayagency.com.
Thank you for your support and your kind words!
Best,
Firoozeh
July 28th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Dear Firoozeh,
Thank you for your reply. And I have to agree with you.
Mill merci (as my grand mother always used to say said) for your very very kind and sweet offer, I will contact Steven. I am truely greatful.
Again I wish you all the best and please keep sharing your wonderful sense of humor with us all.
Homi