Seen Elegy, Essence of Love

The book “Seen Elegy, Essence of Love” written by Ghazaleh Sadr is a personal yet investigative and documented narrative of the author’s grieving experience after the death of her father, Hamidreza Sadr. From the moment she learns of her father’s cancer diagnosis, Ghazaleh begins studying and researching grief and loss of loved ones. One year after her father’s passing and upon returning to Iran, she realizes that existing books on the subject do not align well with Iranian culture and social context. Therefore, she decides to compile and publish her personal experiences alongside scientific findings in a book. The title “Seen Elegy, Essence of Love” beautifully and profoundly alludes to the connection between the two fundamental concepts of grief and love. Ghazaleh argues that the pain and suffering experienced after losing a loved one stem from the love and affection held for that person; the greater the love, the heavier the grief. In this book, the author depicts her personal experiences through various stages of mourning including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and ultimately acceptance. She speaks in detail about her emotions, behaviors, and reactions as well as those of her acquaintances during this period. Besides her personal experiences, Sadr conducts extensive research from over forty books, podcasts, interviews, and articles, incorporating relevant scientific findings in her work. She also covers her father’s final days and the experience of writing his last book, “From Qeytariyeh to Orange County,” indicating the deep connection of this book with her personal life. One interesting aspect of the book is Sadr’s reference to her father’s thoughts on mortality and his views on the impermanence of life. According to Hamidreza Sadr, reflecting on death and life’s transience can profoundly influence how we live and interact with others. Overall, “Seen Elegy, Essence of Love” is a refined, multi-layered work that explores the fundamental subjects of death and grieving from personal, scientific, and philosophical dimensions. The book’s fluent and emotional prose combined with extensive research make it a rich and enlightening resource for those experiencing loss or seeking to understand this essential human concept. The author blends personal feelings and scientific findings with an intimate, elegant, yet clear style, effectively conveying the emotional and intellectual weight of the subject matter.