Author: Elif Shafak. Genre: Mysticism, Historical Fiction.
Goodreads rating: 4.15/5🌟
My rating: 5/5🌟
Synopsis: In this lyrical masterpiece, Elif makes use of two parallel narratives, one takes place in the thirteenth century and the second in the twentieth century. In the former narrative we follow the story of the famous Sufi poet Rumi, and his spiritual master Shams of Tabriz. The latter narrative follows the life of Ella Rubinstein, who is a unhappily married housewife, mother of three, and works for a literary agency. Her task is to read a manuscript called “Sweet Blasphemy” by Aziz Zahara. The manuscript is based on the story of Shams and Rumi, primarily the Forty Rules of Love of Shams. As Ella reads the manuscript, she is taken aback by how relatable the content of the manuscript and the Rules of Shams are - and founds herself searching for Aziz Zahara online. They start exchanging emails, and Ella feels the sentiment of love in her heart for Aziz - a sentiment she does not feel for her husband.
The titular Forty Rules of Shams are a very important aspect of the book. Starting from the love of God,
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.
And ending with the importance of a pure heart,
Real filth is the one inside. The rest simply washes off. There is only one type of dirt that cannot be cleansed with pure waters, and that is the stain of hatred and bigotry contaminating the soul. You can purify your body through abstinence and fasting, but only love will purify your heart.
Another important aspect of the book is the life of Ella - how she is living with a man who does not love her nor does she love him, a man who is cheating on her; just for the sake of her children, and the image of her perfectly happy family life, painted in the minds of the society.
The book gives the important message of seeking what your heart wants and yearns for.
The book has multiple point of views and consists of many characters. Not only do we learn about Rumi and Shams, but also the formers kin, and their thoughts about Shams.
Overall, this is one of the best books I have read. It gives a good insight into the lives of Rumi and Shams - if you want to get to know about them. All of the forty rules of Shams teach an important lesson, and the story of Ella is inspiring yet sad.
If you are a fan of this book, then check out other books by Elif - 10 minutes Thirty Eight Seconds in This Strange World is a personal favourite of mine 😌
Other informative books about Rumi are “Rumi’s Secret” by Brad Gooch - and excellent biography of Rumi; and “Rumi’s Daughter” by Muriel Maufroy.