Review of The Forty Rules of Love

After reading this book, I can only say one thing: that I am grateful to the salesperson in the book store who recommended this book to me. It is worth reading!

The author of the Forty Rules of Love is a writer from Istanbul, Elif Shafaq. I was having my doubts because I didn't want to read about Istanbul. But I took the word of the salesman anyway and purchased the book. And I didn't regret it!

The forty rules of love is not any ordinary love story but it is about the extra ordinary and divine love that was between shams of Tabriz and Maulana Rumi. A person with little knowledge about history, I didn't know who they were. Reading the book, I found out how important these figures were in the history of Islam. Shams of Tabriz was a Sufi while Rumi was a scholar. Shams of Tabriz travelled the world to meet Rumi with the mission of enlightening him. The moment they both met, was iconic that changed the life of Rumi. Rumi transformed from a scholar to a poet and a Sufi. The love between these two men was immense. They both considered them as reflections of each other. If you kill one person, the reflection would be gone forever.

The story, as it shifts from 2008 Massachusetts to 13th century Konya, is about a 40 year old American housewife, Ella, who gets a manuscript to review from the literary agency where she works. During a confusing period in her life, Ella doesn't want to read a manuscript about historical times in Konya and about Islam and mysticism. However, reading the manuscript and exchanging emails with the author of the book, her life changes and she is able to make some important decisions in her life.

The best thing which I liked about the book is the wisdom of shams of Tabriz, the stories he tells to everyone and his forty rules. The rules related to patience and changes in life were the best rules because I could relate to them. I liked how Shams of Tabriz was so reckless and didn't care about what the society thought of him. The way he talked to common and downtrodden people and encouraged them was very heart touching.

In the end, when shams was murdered and Rumi cried and mourned, it was so provocative that I wanted to cry too. Rumi became a poet after the death of shams.

Everything in the book from beginning to end was perfect. However, I have some doubts about the accuracy and truth of the events described here. The book doesn't have any reference section, which gives me the doubts. While I loved the wisdom of Shams of Tabriz, there are some things which were contradictory to Islam. I have really begun to love Shams of Tabriz so I like to believe that all those things which are contradictory are portrayed wrongly in the book. I am believing all the good parts and disbelieving all the bad.

This book definitely leaves a long lasting impression on the reader. I am feeling enlightened after reading it. I am even thinking of copying those forth rules and treasuring them somewhere!

Overall, this book is worth the time and money. It is definitely recommended for all!