Harvesting Rosewater

By Paria Hassouri

Book Overview

"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

As the first female chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai, Farah Afshar is struggling with the demands of her job while adjusting to her newly divorced and empty-nester status. When the pretext of improper hijab leads to the arrest and death of Mahsa Amini, a global awareness of women's fight for freedom in Iran ensues, triggering memories of the Islamic Revolution and Iran-Iraq War that Farah has held for forty years-along with a secret she has never shared with anyone.

Bombarded by the heightened momentum of the Women, Life, Freedom movement and threatened by a malpractice lawsuit, Farah's life begins to unravel. Will escaping to wine country for a period of solitude and self-discovery be the answer, or is her only hope for moving forward-with her children, her career, and herself-sharing her truth with everyone? Most importantly, can they forgive her once they know what she did?

Moving between Manhattan, Tehran, and Paso Robles, Harvesting Rosewater explores how our unresolved histories infiltrate our adult lives, disrupting our search for identity, with the weight of living a dual existence ultimately confronting us in midlife.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FB5L5QCN
• ISBN13: 9798888247983
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Koehler Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A great read

A poignant, emotional, and moving story following a middle aged mother, wife, and doctor at a cultural and professional crossroad. It handled many vital elements that many women in our world face. I appreciated the cultural aspects and that we also got insight into the migrant experience. This also portrays how past trauma and secrets change you, and impact every aspect of your life. If you enjoy character driven stories of self discovery paired with confronting and reckoning with your past - no matter how painful - then you'd enjoy this.