Harvesting Rosewater - Prologue July 1984 Tehran Iran

Aug 2, 2026

Harvesting Rosewater is a novel centered on Farah, a devoted doctor and mother whose life in America fractures under the weight of secrets from her Iranian childhood. Set against the realities of religious autocracy and the immigrant experience, the story traces her journey of truth, memory, identity, and resilience. Farah navigates love, gender, healing, and the demands of marriage and motherhood while trying to stop running from her past.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages361

Reading Time9 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Prologue

July 1984: Tehran, Iran

PRAISE FOR HARVESTING ROSEWATER “My heart broke and then healed as I read this powerful novel, swept up in Farah’s courageous journey from Iran to America. Her transformation from a guilt-ridden teenager carrying a devastating secret to a brave woman who saves and cherishes lives consumed me. Paria Hassouri captures the beauty of Iran alongside the brutal erosion of its citizens’ rights under religious autocracy, while also celebrating Farah’s deepening awe of the immense diversity around her: the magic of love in all its forms, the spectrum of gender, the dedication of healers, and the wonder of friendship. Through it all, the novel explores the struggle to balance this complex world with the demands of marriage and motherhood. I loved this book.” —RANDY SUSAN MEYERS, internationally bestselling novelist and author of The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone “Harvesting Rosewater is a deeply human, beautifully layered story that explores what it means to live between cultures, between truths, and between the past and present. Farah’s journey is heartbreaking, fierce, and ultimately redemptive. This novel isn’t just about one woman’s reckoning—it’s a testament to the power of truth, memory, and the courage it takes to finally stop running.” —DIANNE C. BRALEY, multi-award-winning author of The Summer Before and The Silence in the Sound “A moving exploration of being caught at a cultural and professional crossroads in midlife and of the transformative power of finally facing the stories we’ve buried to survive.” —MARJAN KAMALI, best-selling author of The Lion Women of Tehran and The Stationery Shop “This haunting and hopeful novel presents the journey of Farah, a devoted doctor and mother whose American life begins to fracture under the weight of secrets from her Iranian childhood. Harvesting Rosewater is an engaging, deeply felt story that shimmers with themes of identity, resilience, the struggles of the immigrant experience, and the long arc of healing.” —LIESE O’HALLORAN SCHWARZ, author of What Could Be Saved “In Harvesting Rosewater, Paria Hassouri deftly and compassionately explores identity through the lens of Farah—newly divorced and trying to reset her life in California wine country on an extended leave from her job as the chief of OBGYN at a New York City hospital—as she learns what it takes to see, understand, and accept who we (and others) are. Along the way, Hassouri captivates readers with a beautiful window into Persian culture juxtaposed against the authoritarian regime that drove Farah’s family to flee to America when Farah was a child. The detours into wine education and tantalizing food are icing on the cake.” —KRISTIN KOVAL, author of Penitence “A powerful, eye-opening narrative that transports readers from the rich, traditional life of a young girl growing up in Iran to her complex, modern identity as a doctor in the United States. This beautifully written story offers an intimate lens into Persian customs, family dynamics, and the quiet strength of women who came of age under a tyrannical regime. The author tackles several tough issues including cultural repression and gender transitioning, with remarkable sensitivity and deep respect. An unforgettable read that is a compelling blend of resilience, identity, and hope.” —MUFFY WALKER, award-winning novelist and author of Memory Weavers “In this impressive debut, Paria Hassouri evokes the painful divide felt by her protagonist, Farah, who comes with her family to America in pursuit of education and professional achievement only to discover in middle age that she has lost a true sense of herself. Hassouri writes with depth and emotion of Farah’s escape to a rural haven where she sheds the denial and distance that have been her survival mode. The rosewater of the title is the healing balm of memory, tears, family, childhood, and culture.” —ANNE MATLACK EVANS, author of The Light Through the Branches [OceanofPDF.com](Oc

FAQs

Who is the main character in Harvesting Rosewater?

The novel follows Farah, a doctor and mother whose American life begins to fracture under secrets from her Iranian childhood.

What themes does the novel emphasize?

It explores identity, resilience, truth and memory, cultural repression, and the immigrant experience, alongside the healing power of love and friendship.

Where does the story begin?

The excerpt begins with a prologue dated July 1984 in Tehran, Iran, showing Farah and her cousin Zareen during a chaotic moment involving an ambulance.

Aug 2, 2026

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