The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak is a profound narrative about love—love of self, love of others, and most of all, love of God. There’s so much to learn in this book. Every other page or so, I find myself highlighting lines and quotes that feel meaningful and worth remembering.
The book follows two parallel narratives: one set in contemporary Massachusetts, where Ella Rubinstein, an unhappy housewife, begins reading a novel that changes her life; and the other set in the 13th century, chronicling the spiritual bond between the poet Rumi and the wandering dervish Shams of Tabriz. I have to be honest, I was more drawn to the latter and found it hard to connect the two stories as one cohesive whole.
Sadly, I felt I lacked a deeper connection to the story, likely because of my limited understanding of Sufism and Islam. I think I would have appreciated this book more, and connected more deeply with the beliefs and ideals presented, if I had more knowledge of both. That said, I’m happy to share that by the time I finished reading, I knew more than when I started. It left me in a reflective mood, especially regarding my own faith and spirituality.
This book came highly recommended by many of my Bookstagram friends, so I feel a little hesitant to say it wasn’t completely for me. That said, I still found it to be a worthwhile read and can see why it resonates with so many others. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right headspace for it, or maybe it’s one of those books that hits harder when you’re at a different point in your spiritual or personal journey. Either way, I still appreciate the quiet moments of reflection this book gave me and the positive impact it’s had on so many readers.
Ella Rubinstein has a husband, three teenage children, and a pleasant home. Everything that should make her confident and fulfilled. Yet there is an emptiness at the heart of Ella's life - an emptiness once filled by love.
So when Ella reads a manuscript about the thirteenth-century Sufi poet Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, and his forty rules of life and love, her world is turned upside down. She embarks on a journey to meet the mysterious author of this work.
It is a quest infused with Sufi mysticism and verse, taking Ella and us into an exotic world where faith and love are heartbreakingly explored. . .