The Forty Rules of Love
Elif Shafak
February 2010
368 pages
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FTC: I saw this book at the bookstore the author day and I bought it so fast it would’ve made your head spin. You know, kind of like that one scene from The Exorcist? Not that I’m saying you’re possessed or anything. I’m just saying I bought this book.
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A couple of years ago I read The Bastard of Istanbul, which is by the same author. I enjoyed it, and I absolutely loved this one. But the books are very different (which is good, I like it when an author’s books are different). I have one more of her books on my shelf, something about fleas and a hotel…
So, first things first. I need you to do me a favor. Go read the Barnes and Noble page on this book. There is a short essay by the author, and a short synopsis of the book. Just ignore that line about Nicholas Sparks, like I did.
Did you read it? Okay, then. It’s going to be hard to explain why I loved this book without sounding like a total sap. You should know that I don’t do religion, and I usually avoid books about religion like the plague (unless they’re non-fiction, impartial, history-like books), because I don’t like feeling like I’m being preached at. But the religion in this book is more about love (and really, I’m not very romantic, either). Actually, I guess I could say it’s more about acceptance, and that’s why I loved this book so much. Hah! I knew if I rambled on long enough it would come to me.
So. Acceptance…accepting yourself, and accepting others. It also has a strong message of focusing on yourself, and not others. Not that you shouldn’t be kind to others and do good deeds, it’s not saying that. It’s saying that you shouldn’t judge others, because, hello, that’s not your job.
However, the book still doesn’t beat you over the head with its message. There are two stories, and multiple narrators. The first story is set in present day, as Ella is assigned to read a book submitted to the publishing company she just started working for as a reader (and yes, awkward sentence, but oh well, I can’t be bothered to fix it). The second story line is the book itself, which is about Rumi, a famous Sufi teacher and poet from the 1200’s, and Shams of Tabriz, a wandering dervish (because they were wandering before they were whirling…the book will explain). As Ella reads about Rumi and Shams and Sufism, she begins to take a closer look at her dissatisfaction with her own life.
One of the things I loved so much about this book is how it takes a historical figure (actually, two of them…Rumi and Shams both existed) and illustrates both their life and the era they lived in. The book is a glimpse into Sufism and dervishes and life in 13th century Turkey (well, it wasn’t Turkey at the time, but you know what I mean). And while I certainly wouldn’t believe that the events layed out in The Forty Rules of Loveall happened, it did pique my interest in Rumi and Shams and Sufism.
Anyhoosie, this a beautifully written book with some beautiful ideas. If you trust me, I recommend it. If you don’t, then I don’t. 
These spiritual window-shoppers,
who idly ask, ‘How much is that?’ Oh, I’m just looking.
They handle a hundred items and put them down,
shadows with no capital.
What is spent is love and two eyes wet with weeping.
But these walk into a shop,
and their whole lives pass suddenly in that moment,
in that shop.
Where did you go? “Nowhere.”
What did you have to eat? “Nothing much.”
Even if you don’t know what you want,
buy something, to be part of the exchanging flow.
Start a huge, foolish project,
like Noah.
It makes absolutely no difference
what people think of you.
Rumi, ‘We Are Three’, Mathnawi VI, 831-845
I think I shall trust you to have read and summarized this for me!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..April 11-17 2010: National Library Week! =-.
I think I may have The Bastard of Instanbul on my TBR shelf but I hadn’t been familiar with this one until your review. I am glad you enjoyed it, Jill! I’m kind of picky about the books I read with religious themes/messages etc, but I do read them occasionally. I am a big supporter of acceptance and it sounds like this book has a good message without using a hammer to hit the reader of the head, which is always a plus.
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Happy April Fool’s Day from Riley and Literary Feline =-.
Well you sold me, awkward sentence and all (I wrote a few of those in my post this morning).
.-= Andi´s last blog ..No Baby, Just Books =-.
Well I probably wouldn’t have looked twice at this until I read your review. Now I say, well, maybe!
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: The Postmistress by Sarah Blake =-.
This looks so cool, except I’ve gotten all nervy about Rumi these days. I thought I luuuuurved him, and then I read this very angry article about the translator of the book of verses I had, and how he Westernized Rumi and didn’t translate him properly, and made it impossible for anyone to understand what Rumi was getting at, and everyone who thought they loved Rumi only thought that because this translator made him all universally touchy-feely-vague-religion. Now I don’t know what to believe!
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Review: Remembrance, Theresa Breslin =-.
But do I trust you?
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev =-.
Wow, you’ve convinced me!
This sounds fantastic and yeah, I can totally understand you when it comes to impulse buying. Turns out it was a great buy after all!
Thanks for cheering for me on the read-a-thon! Looking forward to many more reviews, read-a-thons and book-related extravaganzas!
I did so enjoy reading this review … it is like getting a glimpse into your unedited mind! : )
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..Show Me 5 Saturday: "Whacked" by Jules Asner =-.
Great review Jill. I think you are right that I would not have mined the over-use of the word “dervish” had I read the print vs the audio copy. Still a great reading experience though.
.-= Diane´s last blog ..Sunday Salon ~ April 11, 2010 =-.
my goal for the day is to visit everyone who cheered me on during the Read-A-Thon, thanks for that. I love your sense of humor and hey my favorite things are books and travel too!
Okay–I’m a believer! Now adding to the ridiculously long wish list.
.-= Lisa´s last blog .. =-.
I love Rumi’s poetry and I have been wondering about this book. So glad to hear it is good!
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..Yay for Libraries! =-.
I really enjoyed The Bastard of Istanbul too, and I hadn’t realised the author had a new book out. Great news! I’ll have to get it when I have some cash. Oh wait, is it hardcover?
BTW, was it a Fraudian slip (of sorts) to say “the author day” or is it a pun I’m ignorant of? Curious!
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist =-.
So you’re saying I should get this one?
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris =-.
When you say that a book is beautifully written then I have to research it more and take it seriously. It doesn’t happen often and therefore has merit to it.
.-= lilly´s last blog ..The Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee =-.
I hadn’t heard of this and Rumi is a favorite of mine. Am adding it to my list!
.-= Gavin´s last blog ..Korgi: Book 1 by Christian Slade =-.
I remember reading some Rumi in one of my classes in high school and really enjoying how much the poems made me just think. They are incredibly self-reflexive without being preachy, which I really enjoy a lot. This sounds like a deeply moving read, but also one of those books that is all about what YOU make of it. And those, to me at least, are some of the best books. I’m definitely adding this to my list. And I might even go and buy it today since I am planning on hitting up the bookstore after work.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Review: The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax =-.
1. wow – this looks great (yes, I trust you)
2. only 40 rules?
3. cracking up at your FTC note with ‘author’ for ‘other’. You are book obsessed!!
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: What food magazines do you read? =-.