A Beginner's Guide To Acting English
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Product Description
Review
"really funny and warm, just an amazing story" -- Graham Norton, The Graham Norton Show BBC One 19th April 2010
Review
"filled with laughter, wonder and compassion...It plunges us into the vibrant heart of a loud, loving Iranian family and vividly recreates the experience of being a child torn between vastly different cultures"
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A Beginners Guide To Acting English is a memoir of Shappi Khorsandi's childhood, incorporating her move to the UK and dalliance with a fatwa.
The front cover suggests comedy. Perhaps some farce, with quotes lauding Britains Best Young Female Comic.
Within a few pages, I realised that I shouldn't have judged the book by its cover.
To clarify, Shappi is Iranian, she has an older brother, a mother, and her father is a famous satirical poet and cartoonist (in Iran at least). We join the family in Iran; everything is viewed through Shappi's pre-school eyes. Once I'd got over the fact that there was no way that Shappi could have remembered all this detail, and that much of her material must have been passed down from family, I really got into the sights, sounds and smells of Tehran.
The Khorsandis move to London at the time that the Ayatollah takes over rulership from the Shah. The childlike innocence with which Shaparak views everything is beautiful. There is no partisan view, no political standpoint. The view is always "If the Ayatollah met my Baba (dad), he'd find him really funny too."
In London they are dismissed as "Pakis", "terrorists" and suffer other verbal abuse. But Shappi and her brother are still just kids, and play just like kids. Even while the police tell them to disappear because of death threats.
My favourite quote comes as Hadi Khorsandi checks under his car for bombs. "Do any of you know what a bomb looks like?" "No." comes the reply. "Neither do I." But such gallows humour is always followed by a sigh of relief when the car doesn't blow up.
Charming, enjoyable, delightful. These are all how this book should be described. Shappi's affection for her friends, family and her homeland is touching and inspiring.
The front cover suggests comedy. Perhaps some farce, with quotes lauding Britains Best Young Female Comic.
Within a few pages, I realised that I shouldn't have judged the book by its cover.
To clarify, Shappi is Iranian, she has an older brother, a mother, and her father is a famous satirical poet and cartoonist (in Iran at least). We join the family in Iran; everything is viewed through Shappi's pre-school eyes. Once I'd got over the fact that there was no way that Shappi could have remembered all this detail, and that much of her material must have been passed down from family, I really got into the sights, sounds and smells of Tehran.
The Khorsandis move to London at the time that the Ayatollah takes over rulership from the Shah. The childlike innocence with which Shaparak views everything is beautiful. There is no partisan view, no political standpoint. The view is always "If the Ayatollah met my Baba (dad), he'd find him really funny too."
In London they are dismissed as "Pakis", "terrorists" and suffer other verbal abuse. But Shappi and her brother are still just kids, and play just like kids. Even while the police tell them to disappear because of death threats.
My favourite quote comes as Hadi Khorsandi checks under his car for bombs. "Do any of you know what a bomb looks like?" "No." comes the reply. "Neither do I." But such gallows humour is always followed by a sigh of relief when the car doesn't blow up.
Charming, enjoyable, delightful. These are all how this book should be described. Shappi's affection for her friends, family and her homeland is touching and inspiring.
36 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm often a little wary of books written by comedians, they don't always tend to be very good at it. This is a total exception though. Shappi perfectly captures the voice of her child self and you find yourself looking upon her world through a 6 year olds eyes. Her story is touching and funny, but also incredibly accessible. A must read for anyone.
38 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Absolute genius. I bought this book for 3 reasons:
1) I'm a massive Shappi fan
2) I'm half Iranian
3) I needed something to help me procrastinate from the masses of coursework I have to complete
I started reading at 9pm whilst waiting for Big Brother to start and was so absorbed by the time 9.25pm came that I forgot to even switch on the TV. I was crying with laughter, crying tears of joy for all the sad bits, and cried just a little bit more as the hilarious stories of growing up with Iranian parents (in my case, just the one Iranian influence) reminded me of my own childhood.
Recommended to ANYONE, but beware of getting so hooked that you read the WHOLE thing in one sitting....it's now 5.23am and I just had to share my joy now that I've finished.
RAVING REVIEW FOR SHAPPI.....Fan-bloody-tastic!!!!xx
1) I'm a massive Shappi fan
2) I'm half Iranian
3) I needed something to help me procrastinate from the masses of coursework I have to complete
I started reading at 9pm whilst waiting for Big Brother to start and was so absorbed by the time 9.25pm came that I forgot to even switch on the TV. I was crying with laughter, crying tears of joy for all the sad bits, and cried just a little bit more as the hilarious stories of growing up with Iranian parents (in my case, just the one Iranian influence) reminded me of my own childhood.
Recommended to ANYONE, but beware of getting so hooked that you read the WHOLE thing in one sitting....it's now 5.23am and I just had to share my joy now that I've finished.
RAVING REVIEW FOR SHAPPI.....Fan-bloody-tastic!!!!xx
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Superb
Absolutely loved this book! Written in such a way that you can picture the five-year-old author experiencing her life as it happened; both the highs and the terrible lows. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Mrs. S. Cullen
An excellent read and great insight
I was gripped by this book which addresses deep issues from a personal perspective in a very readable and light-hearted way. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Farah
Light But Profound Memoir
Shappi Khorsandi is an Iranian born comedian who is quite well known here in the UK due to her performances on Live At The Apollo and as a panellist on shows such as 8 out of 10... Read more
Published 5 months ago by S O'Hara
A guide to Iran...
I do not usually read auto biographies, however I would recommend this one!
Shappi Khorsandi does not only offer insight into own life, but helps the reader to... Read more
Shappi Khorsandi does not only offer insight into own life, but helps the reader to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by shelia
What a waste of paper!
This woman is so incredibly unfunny that it's almost amusing. We are supposed to be saving paper these days so why did they let someone who is totally maladjusted to living in this... Read more
Published 9 months ago by The Truth
about, book and story
honestly when i start this book i known this book is not philosophical or logical ,this book about lifestyle ,,
my job is teaching philosophy moreover i read to many book... Read more
my job is teaching philosophy moreover i read to many book... Read more
Published 11 months ago by samoel
Stitches
Shappi has written a fantastic book. Her account is detailed and the whole book is full with warmth and honesty.
Published 12 months ago by Becca
A Beginner's Guide To Acting English
This is a very funny book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is very easy to read and I will definately be reading it again soon.
Published 12 months ago by KC
Not a typical comedian's book...
I am a huge fan of Stand Up comedy and only bought this based on a few short viewings of Shappi on Live at the Apollo etc. Read more
Published 14 months ago by The Goose
Addictively wonderful!
This book drew me in with its warmth and love from the beginning. Shappi's family is the backbone of this book, her love for them just shines through everything. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Singlemum2kids
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