The Forty Rules of Love : A Novel of Rumi

Listen to Elif Shafak's The Forty Rules of Love reviewed on NPR In this lyrical, exuberant follow-up to her 2007 novel, The Bastard of Istanbul, acclaimed Turkish author Elif Shafak unfolds two tantalizing parallel narratives—one contemporary and the other set in the thirteenth century, when Rumi encountered his spiritual mentor, the whirling dervish known as Shams of Tabriz—that together incarnate the poet's timeless message of love.Ella Rubenstein is forty years old and unhappily married when she takes a job as a reader for a literary agent. Her first assignment is to read and report on Sweet Blasphemy, a novel written by a man named Aziz Zahara. Ella is mesmerized by his tale of Shams's search for Rumi and the dervish's role in transforming the successful but unhappy cleric into a committed mystic, passionate poet, and advocate of love. She is also taken with Shams's lessons, or rules, that offer insight into an ancient philosophy based on the unity of all people and religions, and the presence of love in each and every one of us. As she reads on, she realizes that Rumi's story mir­rors her own and that Zahara—like Shams—has come to set her free.This is a mesmerizing novel about finding love and inspiration in the most unlikely of places.

An American Housewife Is Transformed By An Intriguing Manuscript About The Sufi Mystic Poet Rumi

in This Lyrical, Exuberant Follow-up To Her 2007 Novel, the Bastard Of Istanbul, Acclaimed Turkish Author Elif Shafak Unfolds Two Tantalizing Parallel Narratives- One Contemporary And The Other Set In The Thirteenth Century, When Rumi Encountered His Spiritual Mentor, The Whirling Dervish Known As Shams Of Tabriz-that Together Incarnate The Poet's Timeless Message Of Love.

ella Rubenstein Is Forty Years Old And Unhappily Married When She Takes A Job As A Reader For A Literary Agent. Her First Assignment Is To Read And Report On sweet Blasphemy, A Novel Written By A Man Named Aziz Zahara. Ella Is Mesmerized By His Tale Of Shams's Search For Rumi And The Dervish's Role In Transforming The Successful But Unhappy Cleric Into A Committed Mystic, Passionate Poet, And Advocate Of Love. She Is Also Taken With Shams's Lessons, Or Rules, That Offer Insight Into An Ancient Philosophy Based On The Unity Of All People And Religions, And The Presence Of Love In Each And Every One Of Us. As She Reads On, She Realizes That Rumi's Story Mir­rors Her Own And That Zahara-like Shams-has Come To Set Her Free.

library Journal

parallel Spiritual Experiences Leap Across Hundreds Of Years In This Story Of Searching And Awakening By Turkish Author Shafak (the Bastard Of Istanbul). Nearing 40, Ella Rubenstein Runs Her American Suburban Household With Grace, Denying Any Evidence That All Is Not Well (her Husband Is Unfaithful, And Her Kids Are Distant). Once She Gets A Job Assignment To Read The Manuscript Of A Novel Involving Rumi, The Poet And Sufi Master, Her Well-ordered World Is Changed Forever. She Begins An Email Correspondence With Aziz, The Charming And Mystical Author, That Becomes The Impetus For Her Own Personal Renaissance. Moving Rapidly Across Continents And Across Time, Shafak's Allegorical Tale Functions As A Vehicle For The Titular 40 Rules, Which Are Woven Throughout. Chapters Alternate Between Ella's Life In 2008 And The Lives Of Rumi And Other Characters From The Manuscript, Set Around 1245. The Tantalizing Possibility Of Romance Lingers, Although With Much Vexation, As These Forty Rules Of Love Point Not To Eros But To Agape, The Love Of God And Of All Beings. Verdict This Novel, A Best Seller In Turkey, May Appeal To Fans Of Nicholas Sparks Or Robert James Waller. [see Prepub Alert, Lj 10/15/09.]—susanne Wells, P.l. Of Cincinnati & Hamilton Cty.

In this lyrical, exuberant tale, acclaimed Turkish author Elif Shafak, author of The Island of Missing Trees (a Reese's Book Club Pick), incarnates Rumi's timeless message of loveThe Forty Rules of Love unfolds two tantalizing parallel narratives—one contemporary and the other set in the thirteenth century, when Rumi encountered his spiritual mentor, the whirling dervish known as Shams of Tabriz—that together explore the enduring power of Rumi's work. Ella Rubenstein is forty years old and unhappily married when she takes a job as a reader for a literary agent. Her first assignment is to read and report on Sweet Blasphemy, a novel written by a man named Aziz Zahara. Ella is mesmerized by his tale of Shams's search for Rumi and the dervish's role in transforming the successful but unhappy cleric into a committed mystic, passionate poet, and advocate of love. She is also taken with Shams's lessons, or rules, that offer insight into an ancient philosophy based on the unity of all people and religions, and the presence of love in each and every one of us. As she reads on, she realizes that Rumi's story mir­rors her own and that Zahara—like Shams—has come to set her free. Listen to Elif Shafak's The Forty Rules of Love reviewed on NPR In this lyrical, exuberant follow-up to her 2007 novel, The Bastard of Istanbul , acclaimed Turkish author Elif Shafak unfolds two tantalizing parallel narratives—one contemporary and the other set in the thirteenth century, when Rumi encountered his spiritual mentor, the whirling dervish known as Shams of Tabriz—that together incarnate the poet's timeless message of love. Ella Rubenstein is forty years old and unhappily married when she takes a job as a reader for a literary agent. Her first assignment is to read and report on Sweet Blasphemy , a novel written by a man named Aziz Zahara. Ella is mesmerized by his tale of Shams's search for Rumi and the dervish's role in transforming the successful but unhappy cleric into a committed mystic, passionate poet, and advocate of love. She is also taken with Shams's lessons, or rules, that offer insight into an ancient philosophy based on the unity of all people and religions, and the presence of love in each and every one of us. As she reads on, she realizes that Rumi's story mir­rors her own and that Zahara—like Shams—has come to set her free. Traces the parallel stories of a present day Massachusetts, unhappily married professional reader, Ella Rubinstein's inspiration of the story of Shams of Tabriz, and her own transformation, and, the 13th-century transformation of a successful but unhappy cleric, Rumi, into a mystic and poet. Shafik blends the East and the West, past and present, and presents an account of how love works in the world Traces the parallel stories of unhappily married professional reader Ella Rubinstein's fascination with the story of Shams of Tabriz and the 13th-century transformation of Rumi into a mystic and poet