The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi

This is one of the best books I have ever read. The Forty Rules of Love is beautifully written, with a powerful way of telling stories within stories. I especially loved how the novel connects the modern story with the life, teachings, and spiritual world of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz. The book is not only enjoyable as a novel, but also meaningful and thought-provoking. It gives the reader a deeper appreciation for love, faith, friendship, and inner transformation. The writing is poetic, emotional, and inspiring. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Rumi’s poetry, is interested in Sufi wisdom, or simply wants to read a beautiful story that stays with you after you finish it.

A book that stays with you. The Forty Rules of Love is one of those rare books that gently changes the way you see life. It beautifully weaves together love, spirituality, and self-discovery through unforgettable characters and timeless wisdom. I found myself highlighting passage after passage and often pausing just to reflect. It's a slow, thoughtful read in the best possible way, and by the end, I felt inspired, more open-hearted, and deeply moved. A truly beautiful book that I won't forget.

I loved the parallel stories. On one hand, Ella’s timid lifestyle turning into one of full of love. Another story, dated back to the 13th century- uniting Rumi & Shams of Tabriz. The 40 rules of love were brought up effortlessly and had a deep impact on me.

The question is not "Is this a good book?" The question is "Are you good enough to read it?" I did not so much read The Forty Rules of Love as I marveled at the artistry of its construction and, I admit, as I turned the pages I congratulated myself on my ability to recognize that artistry. To hold this book between your hands and read it is to be in the presence of a master storyteller who has an important, possibly the most important, story to tell: the story of Love and how it manifests in this world. Elif Shafak, a writer famous for her novels in Turkish, wrote this book in English - flawlessly, beautifully, lucidly. Her use of the English language in its American variant reflects a masterful cultural sensibility. The book gains credibility by the use of cultural references that could only be known to and have meaning for cultural insiders. For example, a convert to Islam is said to have done so "after Kareem Abdul Jabbar and before Cat Stevens." The use of phrases such as "right as rain" and "talk the talk" indicates that Shafak does not use English as she was taught in school; she writes English as it is absorbed from years of deep conversation, wide reading and intense observation. As a true daughter of Turkey and lover of Istanbul, Elif Shafak is a bridge between East and West. Europe and Asia, Orient and Occident, reason and emotion, head and heart, scholar and mystic, left and right half of the human brain: to the materialist these are distinct entities and are doomed to endless conflict. Elif Shafak patiently assures us that, in the end, there is no difference. Running through her book like a leitmotif is the soothing and confident confirmation that dualism is an illusion and oneness is reality. All stories, characters, and plots tell of the struggle to realize truth and return once again to the state before knowledge of good and evil caused eviction from paradise. At one point in the novel the 13th century poet Rumi visits a tavern in Konya to teach and learn from its inhabitants. He says, "At the end of the day whoever wants to drink will drink and whoever wants to stay away from wine will stay away. We have no right to impose our way on others. There is no compulsion in religion." I love the way Elif Shafak slipped my favorite quote from the Qur'an (La iqraha fi din: There is no compulsion in religion, Sura 2, Line 256) into the story without reference. Muslims will know the quote and realize that it adds authority to Rumi's point. But those who are unaware that this is a Qur'anic quotation will receive the teaching fresh and pure, as if this is a new and fanciful notion of a novelist who merely wishes to bring harmony from conflict. That is what great art does: it brings harmony from conflict. Ultimately, there is only one book with one message. Each author writes that one book to explain that one message for a different audience so that all may learn and know about the primacy of love and the unity of humanity. Some books distinguish themselves and rise above the mass of others by the sheer quantity of light, truth, and goodness they convey. Mikhail Naimy's The Book of Mirdad is one example. The Forty Rules of Love is another. One sure way to tell whether a work of art is great, any work of art - a book, a film, music, painting, is whether it moves you to tears. I burst into tears on page 172, but that does not mean you will do the same. Each person will be moved by something different. It is the ability to touch the heart and stir the deepest emotions that makes a work of art powerful and beautiful and valuable. This book has that ability. There is nothing more to say.

To begin with, I have always had great respect and affection for Rumi and Shams, and I am quite familiar with Rumi’s works, not only his poetry but his correspondence together with the history and stories of his life. That is probably why I have conflicting feelings about this novel. On the one hand, the author has done great service to make Rumi, Shams, and their specific mysticism more familiar to the Western World, while offering a version of Islam that is exalted and very different from today’s Islamists. On the other hand, the author’s attempt at inserting a contemporary love story and making it mirror Rumi’s story, however with good intentions, took away from my enjoyment of the book. Especially likening Aziz to Shams in a few places, even though Aziz himself denied it to Ella at the end, felt like disrespect to Shams and Rumi’s lofty spiritual idealism to me. The thirteenth-century story--that is Rumi’s and Shams’-- is quite correct, and thankfully, very little fictionalizing has been done to it. Most of the fictionalizing show itself in secondary and supporting characters. The interweaving of Ella’s story into Rumi’s story gave me something like small electrical jolts together with disbelief because from my point of view, the contemporary story either needed to be left out or developed much better. On top of that, Aziz is not a Shams and Ella is not a Rumi, not by a long shot. For me, these two stories do not illuminate or relate to each other at all. Having said all this, I did like the author’s handling of the supporting characters such as Suleiman the Drunk, the Zealot, and the Desert Rose. Within the small confines of these characters’ roles, the author succeeded in giving them many sides and conflicting characteristics. The story is told in the first person from the viewpoint of many characters, which I didn’t mind and even liked. Generally speaking, this author handles her characters quite masterfully by evoking empathy or sympathy in the readers Especially the historical sections are written with skill and accuracy. The dialogues in Ella’s story felt dull and not very credible, maybe because I couldn’t wrap my head around the believability of the entire contemporary plot sections. The dialogues in the thirteenth-century story felt more authentic. As to the plot weaving, thirteenth-century story’s plot shines probably due to the author’s minute attention to the original histories of the main and secondary characters. Yet, Ella’s story’s plot that takes place our time is a much inferior one, and probably that is why its mirroring Rumi’s story is a letdown. As a reader, I would have enjoyed Rumi and Shams’ story more if Ella’s story were to be taken out of the book.

A beautiful book that explores the concept of Sufism. It is a brilliant introduction to the theory and practice. It is communicated through story that is gripping. A wonderful read

Ella is unhappily married when she obtains a position as a reader for a literary agency. Her first assignment is to read and report on a manuscript titled Sweet Blasphemy by an amateur writer. It is about Rumi, a poet and a spiritual leader in the history of Islam, who is also an unconventional dervish full of scandals and surprises. As she reads about his transformation, it sets her on her own revolution. Turkey, 13th century. Following God’s guidance, Shams of Tabriz, a wandering dervish, embarks on an inner journey of Love by traveling to Baghdad to fulfill his destiny to pass on his knowledge to another person. His journey takes him farther to Konya where he meets a respected scholar named Rumi. Shams sees the suffering of ordinary people and questions if Rumi sees them or if he is one of those scholars who fail to see those suffering “while sitting in their ivory towers.” Shams puts Rumi through “trial and tests, states and stages, each of which make Rumi look more deranged in the eyes of even his most loyal followers.” But Rumi understands a purpose of all that and it’s a purpose to serve him to become a better person. “Shams deliberately fanned the flames of gossip, touched raw nerves, and spoke words that sounded like blasphemy to ordinary ears, shocking and provoking people, even those who loved him.” Their story is intertwined with secondary characters whose sufferings enforce the powerful message of the story which is loving oneself first, to be connected with the One, to mirror what we expect in return. Everything serves a purpose. Behind all hardships there is a larger scheme. There is a group of loving supporters of Rumi and there are those who despise him. A leper questions “Why was God so unfair? To me He had given poverty, sickness, and misery. To Rumi, riches, success, and wisdom.” Why? The 13th century story is a testament to author’s incredible knowledge to weave such story with so much wisdom, wisdom you can reflect on. And it also proves the author’s incredible talent for writing, weaving seamlessly the knowledge with all the characters. Touching story, engrossingly imagined and beautifully written. P.S. I’m one of those readers for whom modern timeline doesn’t work within historical fiction; however, most of this story is set in the 13th century.

This work is a very peaceful and inspiring read, and yet a bit confusing in its carelessness. It is a bit jarring to be reading accounts from characters from the 13th century who use idioms from 19th or 20th century, for example, bright eyed and bushy tailed. There are errors in the timeline of events. One character who spends a week in bed and then another week and so on, but later describes things that happened within ten days, not weeks. It could be because the character writing this work is a novice or is it because the true author and editor are careless? It really shouldn't matter but then I have to wonder what else they might have been careless about when it comes to understanding historical events or the elements of the mysticism the author wants to convey. It has definitely left me wanting to read and learn more about Rumi and Sufi beliefs, but using my own prism, not the author's.

“The Forty Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak is more than just a story—it’s an experience that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. It follows Ella Rubinstein, a woman who feels trapped in the monotony of her seemingly perfect life, as she discovers a manuscript that shakes her to her core. Through the story of Rumi and his spiritual guide, Shams of Tabriz, Ella begins to question everything she thought she knew about love, purpose, and the divine. What makes this book so personal is how it speaks directly to the heart. The “forty rules of love” scattered throughout the narrative aren’t just for the characters—they feel like quiet whispers to the reader, nudging you to reflect on your own relationships, beliefs, and the courage it takes to embrace a life of true authenticity. Reading this book feels like embarking on a spiritual journey, one that challenges and uplifts you, leaving you with a sense of wonder about the power of love—in all its forms.

Great 🥰🥳💗

Good as anticipated

Ella a forty year old homemaker, unhappily married finds herself in a midlife crisis. She decides to take up a job as a literary reader, her first manuscript is called 'Sweet Blasphemy'. It is a story about Rumi (the mysterious sufi poet). Ms. Shafaq delivers a mesmerising tale with powerful dual narrative. I found myself immersed and couldn't stop myself from underlning multiple passages that resonated deeply with me. The second narration is set in 1200 and reveals the story of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz. Profound, transformative friendship that delivers thought provoking perception on faith, life and human relationships. The forty rules of love interspersed throughout the novel talks about universal understanding of love that inspires deep reflection. This is a kind of story that touches one deep inside and that stays with you long after you finish it. For all those who love a life changing spiritual journey, wrapped in a captivating tale, then you got to grab a copy of this gem!

This was recommended to me and it resonated on so many levels throughout, I absolutely loved it!