The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak, is breathtaking!
Once I started reading it, I did not want to put it down. It truly is a book that every single person on this planet should read.
The story is a simple one, with a book within a book. Ella is a married housewife with three children who starts a job as a reader for a literary agent. Her first book, is by Aziz Z. Zahara about the fabled poet Rumi and how his world view was transformed by the whirling dervish Shams of Tabriz. Ella begins to correspond with Aziz, bringing about a change to her world view.
This story is written in such a way that it speaks to the average person, there is no judgement, there is only Love. Of course, as one reads, one discovers the ‘Forty rules of love’ , hence the title of this novel.
This is a classic and awe inspiring and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Yet, when I got to bed after having finished reading it, it left me pondering about Love. And why we as humans find it so difficult to open out heart. Why there is such fear from ridicule and the thoughts of others. If we all just opened our hearts and lived with Love, then the world would be a vastly different place.
What I enjoyed about this novel is that it struck to the very core of me, and made me realise, that all we have is this present moment.
This book is about Love. About Love of God, and of people. It challenges your opinions on Love and I urge you to find a copy and read it. Now.