<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25701206-the-forty-rules-of-love" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Forty Rules of Love" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1433967035m/25701206.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25701206-the-forty-rules-of-love">The Forty Rules of Love</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6542440.Elif_Shafak">Elif Shafak</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2449646183">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Finally, I finished reading this novel named The Forty Rules of Love. This book by one of the most read Turkish writer Elif Shafak details the relationship between famous Persian romantic poet Rumi and his spiritual instructor a Dervish named Shams of Tabrizi. This is a historical fiction which runs parallel in two periods separated by the centuries. First story line is narrated around Rumi and Shams and other characters which primarily include Rumi’s second wife, two sons, an adopted daughter, a harlot etc. Another story runs in present which has Ella, a middle aged housewife (who recently got a job of reading the manuscripts for a literacy agency) and a writer named Aziz (Whose first novel Ella is reading for her employer). This novel of Aziz is nothing but the unique story of Rumi and Shams of Tabrizi. Shams of Tabrizi is murdered by Aladin (the estranged son of Rumi) and his allies. Rumi bemoans death of his beloved spiritual companion Shams and becomes a poet of love and compassion. Later it is revealed that Aziz is akin to Shams and Ella is akin to Rumi. Ella falls in love with Aziz, the writer and goes with him in search of her unfulfilled longing for true love saying good bye to her family (which consists of her husband and three kids) and complicated relations with her husband. Like the Rumi couldn’t get the companionship of Shams of Tabrizi forever, Ella too is unfortunate that she couldn’t cherish the companionship of Aziz, the writer forever. Aziz (who is said to be present form of Shams) succumbed to his ailment while he visited Konya, the birthplace of Rumi. <br /><br />You should read this fine novel to understand the love, life, religion and the almighty God. You should read this novel to understand that every true love and friendship is a story of unexpected transformation. If we are the same person before and after we loved, that means we haven’t loved enough. You should read this novel to know that whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighborhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! While reading the novel you will get to know that where there is love, there is bound to be heartache. You’ll learn that the words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space, and they will come back to us in due time. The novel tells us that do not go with the flow. Be the flow. It further tells that what we need is sincere self-examination. Not being on the watch for the fault of others.<br />The novel explains a lot about the God and religion and necessity of God and love as a tool of getting closer to the almighty. You will learn while reading this novel that you can study God through everything and everyone in the universe, because God is not confined in a mosque, synagogue or church. But if you are still in need of knowing where exactly His abode is, there is only one place to look for Him: in the heart of a true lover. The novel encourages us to try not to resist the changes that come our way. Instead, let life live through us. And do not worry that our life is turning upside down. How do we know that the side we are used to is better than the one to come? You should learn that no matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey a journey within.<br />The novel depicts a lot of fundamental rules of love. The quest for Love changes us. There is no seeker among those who search for Love who has not matured on the way. The moment you start looking for Love, you start to change within and without. Just as clay needs to go through intense heat to become strong, Love can only be perfected in pain. A life without love is of no account… Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple. Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire. The universe turns differently when fire loves water. The real challenge is to love the good and the bad together, not because you need to take the rough with the smooth but because you need to go beyond such descriptions and accept love in its entirety. You can purify your body through fasting and abstinence, but only love will purify your heart.<br />The novel strengthens your faith, encourages you to imbibe softness within and opening the heart for welcoming all sort of love, love towards kids, love towards partners, love towards human beings and above all love towards almighty who created us to love and not to hate.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/22959624-antonio-d-cruz">View all my reviews</a>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2449646183">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Finally, I finished reading this novel named The Forty Rules of Love. This book by one of the most read Turkish writer Elif Shafak details the relationship between famous Persian romantic poet Rumi and his spiritual instructor a Dervish named Shams of Tabrizi. This is a historical fiction which runs parallel in two periods separated by the centuries. First story line is narrated around Rumi and Shams and other characters which primarily include Rumi’s second wife, two sons, an adopted daughter, a harlot etc. Another story runs in present which has Ella, a middle aged housewife (who recently got a job of reading the manuscripts for a literacy agency) and a writer named Aziz (Whose first novel Ella is reading for her employer). This novel of Aziz is nothing but the unique story of Rumi and Shams of Tabrizi. Shams of Tabrizi is murdered by Aladin (the estranged son of Rumi) and his allies. Rumi bemoans death of his beloved spiritual companion Shams and becomes a poet of love and compassion. Later it is revealed that Aziz is akin to Shams and Ella is akin to Rumi. Ella falls in love with Aziz, the writer and goes with him in search of her unfulfilled longing for true love saying good bye to her family (which consists of her husband and three kids) and complicated relations with her husband. Like the Rumi couldn’t get the companionship of Shams of Tabrizi forever, Ella too is unfortunate that she couldn’t cherish the companionship of Aziz, the writer forever. Aziz (who is said to be present form of Shams) succumbed to his ailment while he visited Konya, the birthplace of Rumi. <br /><br />You should read this fine novel to understand the love, life, religion and the almighty God. You should read this novel to understand that every true love and friendship is a story of unexpected transformation. If we are the same person before and after we loved, that means we haven’t loved enough. You should read this novel to know that whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighborhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! While reading the novel you will get to know that where there is love, there is bound to be heartache. You’ll learn that the words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space, and they will come back to us in due time. The novel tells us that do not go with the flow. Be the flow. It further tells that what we need is sincere self-examination. Not being on the watch for the fault of others.<br />The novel explains a lot about the God and religion and necessity of God and love as a tool of getting closer to the almighty. You will learn while reading this novel that you can study God through everything and everyone in the universe, because God is not confined in a mosque, synagogue or church. But if you are still in need of knowing where exactly His abode is, there is only one place to look for Him: in the heart of a true lover. The novel encourages us to try not to resist the changes that come our way. Instead, let life live through us. And do not worry that our life is turning upside down. How do we know that the side we are used to is better than the one to come? You should learn that no matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey a journey within.<br />The novel depicts a lot of fundamental rules of love. The quest for Love changes us. There is no seeker among those who search for Love who has not matured on the way. The moment you start looking for Love, you start to change within and without. Just as clay needs to go through intense heat to become strong, Love can only be perfected in pain. A life without love is of no account… Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple. Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire. The universe turns differently when fire loves water. The real challenge is to love the good and the bad together, not because you need to take the rough with the smooth but because you need to go beyond such descriptions and accept love in its entirety. You can purify your body through fasting and abstinence, but only love will purify your heart.<br />The novel strengthens your faith, encourages you to imbibe softness within and opening the heart for welcoming all sort of love, love towards kids, love towards partners, love towards human beings and above all love towards almighty who created us to love and not to hate.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/22959624-antonio-d-cruz">View all my reviews</a>
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