Customer Reviews

Searching for Hassan: A Journey to the Heart of Iran

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I didn't know too much about this book when I picked it up, but judging by its cover I thought it would be a quest in search of Hassan. The title, however, is a little misleading, the book is a far richer spiritual journey, breathing life into the past with a depth and richness rarely seen. I'd call the book a "hard" read for the average reader, not because the language is difficult, but because it is such a rich piece of work that you simply can not rush through it. So rich, in fact, that you have to absorb bits at a time and let it sink in. This is a gorgeous recollection by Terence Ward and is about him and his 3 brothers and parents, as they return to Iran during a time when it was not so safe for travelling foreigners, to rediscover a part of their childhood and past. The Wards have not been back to Iran since the 1960's and this adventure takes place around about 1998. The Ward family travels to desinations near and far and the prose that Ward uses to describe the terrain and people, and to also weave their past back into the story is nothing short of breathtaking. He is truly a gifted writer with a special talent for capturing moments and people and experiences, managing to flawlessly translate them into colorful prose. Searching for Hassan comes to fruition towards the end of the book, and is a beautiful story in and of itself. But I highly reccommend this book as a informative source on culture and history. I do agree with the other reviewers that the political outlook is skewed--thsi is not a better future for Iranians. The Shah might have been cruel and greedy, BUT the regime that followed was and is a classic example of "out of the frying pan and into the FIRE." One cannot help but to think that maybe Mr. Ward was influenced to write kindly about the current political regime...but read the other reviews for a deeper analysis of that as one reviewer pegs it completely, explaining all about LA Iranians and their persecution, etc. Other than the soft political views, this is actually a great piece of work---and kudos to Mr. Ward for being such an amazing man and sharing the wonderful story of his journey with his family to Iran, and bringing it all to life so movingly. His knowledge of Persian culture and history by far outrivals most of his peers. Thank you Mr. Ward!

The Ward Family's almost quixotic journey back to Iran to find their former housekeeper is the background to what, in many respects, is a primer on Iranian history. For me, the actual search for Hassan was a subtext to the more interesting historical and religious insights offered by the author into Islam, Iranian history and culture. At times, the book is a bit unbalanced, and anti-Western in sentiment. But, I recommend it to anyone who (like me) knows very little about Iran and its history and culture.

Searching for Hassan is a beautifully written book that should be read by everyone interested in humanity and the ties that bind us all. I wish this book had gotten more press...readers of every age will enjoy this story.

I am really impressed by the manner in which Terence Ward weaved his family's pre-revolution past with their journey in the quest of Hassan, throwing in gems of information about the Iranian history in between. Very well laid out book.

Amongst all of the books I read about Iran, this certainly deserves the top podium.

Mr. Ward's story is not only a well written account of a personal journey to reconnect with his past but it also opens our minds to an entirely different culture where even today there are "secret groups" whose intention is integrating the divine into daily life and not being concerned with transient power possessors located either in the east or west because they know the only real power, the only lasting power is the divine. Reading the book sparked in me enthusiasm to return to Iran having spent a month there in March 2001 where I met (real) Sufis with occupations such as carpet dealers, healers, taxi drivers, business men. They met secretly or "under cover" continuing the ancient practices specific to their traditions... Naqshband, Netamahali, Qadiri,etc...

If I could, I'd give this book 6 stars. It's absolutely wonderful!! Although I'm Iranian, this book taught me so much more about my culture- things that I didn't know, I learned, and things that I had a vague idea about, it cleared up. I think this book is a must read for anyone- especially Americans. I wish we had more writers like Terrence Ward to help clear up such a misunderstood culture. He is very compassionate and has a clear and educated understanding of Iranians and our culture.

Equipped with little more than a garbled village name, a photograph and their indomitable sense of adventure, the Ward family embarks on a quest to find Hassan, the Iranian man they had all grown to love during their expatriate life decades earlier. Swaying across the Islamic Republic in a rented bus, the four now grown sons and their parents discover the new, the enduring and the comic in an enigmatic country swept by some of the most startling events of recent history. Readers prone to wanderlust beware...

This is an Amazing book. I read it four times. I have learned a lots of things about my culture that I didn't know before. You learn all about history, culture and current events in Iran at the same time. we are going to read this book in Persian Club of my high school, which I preside. you will enjoy reading this book.

I am Avo the tour guide in this book.It is not my real name but Terry checked with me before.Well I had agreat time with them.We laughed a lot,lot of interesting and exciting moments.His dad and mom were very helpful and funny,ricardo later returned to Iran and asked me to tour him and his family and 2 other families.Christopher was artist and fun to be with,Kevin was about to punch me once because I would wake them up every day early.and terry would take a lot of pictures and mingled with Iranian girls(just talking)I probably saved them from major trouble few times(from commitee or police),and other problems(drivers and food poisening and other)and gave them 110% safe and secure tour(the most important thing in my mind at the time)
altough he was not very kind with me in the book,I called him and said I frgive you for not so kind comments,he admitted that the publisher had to change few things to make the book more interesting.it is a good book altogether.I recommend this book to every artist,poet,traveler,history lover and...good luck Terrance

Amazon's "Better Together" recommender worked well here: I read "Searching for Hassan" after reading Firoozeh Dumas' charming memoir "Funny in Farsi." Terence Ward's "Hassan" is a compelling read, especially the chapter "Appointment in Tudeshk" which thrillingly recounts the Ward family's reunion with the Ghasemi family after 29 years apart. I'll sheepishly tell you that I skimmed some of Mr. Ward's erudite sidebars about certain long-ago aspects of Persian history and focused on his more recent accountings of the days of the Shah, the transition to theocratic rule and life since the revolution. But the recounting of the trip itself is pure magic, as are Mr. Ward's remembrances of Hassan and Fatimeh Ghasemi. You can clearly see why these two inspired such devotion from the Ward family.

A couple of quick observations:

1. The Iranian people - as a whole - are incredible hosts. As the author notes at one point: "Expect to suffer from excessive hospitality." Never have a people been so misrepresented in the mainstream press.

2. Conventional wisdom to the contrary, the Ward family feels that the Iranian people - as a whole - have faired better under theocratic rule than under the Shah (the poverty witnessed by the author's parents pre-Revolution appears - under observation - to be not as widespread or abject). Again, this is their observation and opinion.

3. You get a sense of the lost opportunity of the reformers. The Wards' trip comes on the heels of the election of the then-Prime Minister Khatami, and the sense of promise is palpable throughout the country. Not without reason, thanks to his good looks, stylishness and Western manners (fluent in English and German, for example), Khatami is described as "our country's JFK." Looking back at this now in 2006 with the reform movement clearly set back in the last election, one can't help but be disheartened. I'm sure the author feels the same way.