Harvesting Rosewater

By: Paria Hassouri

Narrated by: Mozhan Navabi

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.

©2025 Paria Hassouri (P)2025 Paria Hassouri

Perfection!

I wasn’t sure if would be able to relate well to this story, but the fact is this is every bit as much a story of rediscovery and evolution as it as a story of growing up in a vastly different culture. I love learning things as I read, and Harvesting Rosewater delivers so much more. I loved that the author made the book so inclusive - it reminded me that despite differences in culture and upbringing, being a female in this world brings challenges that all of us share. I wish we could spend more time focusing on the ways we are the same, while celebrating our differences. There is always a way to relate to one another. I suppose that just means Paria will need to do more writing!

I cannot forget to applaud the narration, either. It was wonderful.