Introduction
Today, the book I want to talk about is The Forty Rules of Love. This is a famous book by Elif Shafak. If you’re hearing the name of this book for the first time, like most people, you might assume that it is a romantic novel. It’s natural to think so based on the title, isn’t it? If that’s the case, then you’re in the majority—and we’re all mistaken. I also initially thought this would be a romantic novel, but in reality, it is nowhere near romanticism.
This is a very interesting aspect of the book—its title suggests something entirely different from what it actually is.
What Is This Book About?
The novel is primarily about love, but more specifically, spiritual love—not religious love, but a love that is deeply spiritual in nature.
Today, we will discuss The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak, where I will explain:
✔️ The essence of the book
✔️ What it is about
✔️ What you can learn from it
✔️ Whether I recommend reading it or not
A Masterpiece by Elif Shafak
In my opinion, this is one of the most famous books by Elif Shafak, a Turkish-British author. In this book, she weaves a magical narrative that tells two parallel stories from two different centuries—one set in the 21st century and the other in the 13th century.
The Story of Ella: A Woman in Search of Meaning
The novel begins with the story of a woman named Ella, who is 40 years old. She has three children, and her husband is a loving and wealthy man. From the outside, Ella seems like a happy woman, but deep down, the truth is quite different.
As the story progresses, the author takes us into the life of Jalaluddin Rumi, the famous 13th-century Sufi poet.
The Story of Rumi: A Poet’s Transformation
Many of us know Rumi as a poet, but he was originally a Maulana, a religious scholar and preacher. How did he transform into a poet? Who influenced this transformation? That is the story told in this book.
On one side, we have Ella’s story, and on the other, we have Rumi’s story—both narratives run parallel to each other, masterfully crafted by Elif Shafak.
Ella’s Personality: A Logical Thinker
Ella is a very rational and realistic woman. She sees things in a straightforward, logical manner rather than following her heart. One of her dialogues in the book states:
📖 “Women don’t marry the man they love; they marry the one who will be a responsible husband and a good father.”
Such hard-hitting, brutal truths beautifully portray her character.
The Book Within the Book: Sweet Blasphemy
When Ella starts working at a literary agency, she is assigned to read a manuscript titled “Sweet Blasphemy”, written by Aziz Zahara. As she reads the manuscript, she not only gets engrossed in the story but also finds herself drawn to the author.
The story in “Sweet Blasphemy” is primarily about Rumi’s life, focusing on his relationship with Shams of Tabriz—the man who completely transformed him.
Shams of Tabriz: The Man Who Changed Rumi
When Shams of Tabriz entered Rumi’s life, Rumi began to change. This transformation altered not only his personal life but also his fame and society’s perception of him. This change is beautifully depicted in the book.
Unique Storytelling: Self-Narrative Style
One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is that Elif Shafak presents each character through self-narrative—meaning, every character tells their own story in their own voice.
✔️ When Maulana Rumi speaks, he narrates his own story.
✔️ When Shams of Tabriz speaks, he tells his own tale.
Key Characters in the Novel
The novel features nearly 30 to 40 characters, but the key ones are:
✅ Ella – A middle-aged woman on a journey of self-discovery.
✅ Rumi – Initially a religious scholar, later a Sufi poet.
✅ Shams of Tabriz – Rumi’s spiritual guide who gives him a new perspective on life.
✅ Desert Rose – A prostitute whose story deeply touches the readers.
✅ Kimya – A young girl whose life path adds another dimension to the story.
✅ Suleiman the Drunk – An alcoholic whose character adds depth to the novel.
Read more – 70+ Love Messages to Say Exactly How You Feel
Memorable Quotes from the Book
📖 “Don’t go with the flow, be the flow.”‘
📖 “Love can’t be explained, it has to be experienced.”
Final Thoughts: Should You Read This Book?
Each character in this book is so vivid that it feels like Elif Shafak is painting a colorful canvas with her storytelling. She knows how to captivate readers, and her writing style is so engaging that there’s no chance of boredom.
For book lovers, The Forty Rules of Love is an exceptional novel. If you enjoy Elif Shafak’s writing and are interested in stories about spiritual love, Sufism, and deeper life lessons, then this book is perfect for you.
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