The forty rules of love by Elif Shafak Book Review

One might get into a conclusion by reading the title of the book, the forty rules of love, that this is another kind of romance novel but oh dear no, it is the novel way more well and different than any other romance novel.

Uniqueness

The book is as unique as an individual. Unlike other novels, this novel has two stories. It is one of the appreciable factors of the book forty rules of love. Two parallel stories in it made the book the forty rules of love interesting to read.

Set up

Ella

The forty rules of love set up with a 40 year old woman name Ella, who lived in America, was a mother of three children and was a good wife. She led a good and happy life with a happy family plus with all kinds of luxury. She also got a new job as Editor. Instead of having a go-to perfect life, she felt she missed out something in her life.

Love

On a fine day, Ella and her family gathered in their dinner table and her eldest daughter announced that she is going to be married to a boy she loved. Her mother went in shock and told her that she was just 18 year old. She cannot decide on marrying somebody like that just in the name of love.

The daughter got upset on this. The feeling she has might not be real and futuristic. She made her understood that

Ella then tells her

Love is just a sweet feeling that comes and goes

Second story

After the whole argument ended, Ella went to her room and opened a book she was meant to read for her editing job. The book’s name was Sweet Blasphemy by a new author named Aziz. It was described as historical and mystical novel about the greatest Sufi Poet of all times named Rumi, an Islamic preacher who lived in Konya and his beloved Shams-e-Tabriz.

At first Ella was not really excited to read it but then she came across the line

Love is not the sweet feeling to come and then quickly go

The exact opposite sentence she just told her daughter before entering her room. This line interests her to read the book and she starts reading.

Here we are not only getting to read Ella’s journey but also another book named Sweet Blasphemy along side.

About the book

The book the forty rules of love is a unique and clever way of storytelling. There were a lot of things to be appreciated in the book. Especially the quotes and wise meaningful line and thoughts spread in the book.

One of the beautiful quotes is

Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead live life through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come.

Also the author Elif portrays different characters in the book beautifully and it shows the talent the author possesses. It has a beautiful touch of Sufism and love.

Point of view

The stories run sequentially and meet a common destination in the book. The novel is a healthy food for the stomach. Therefore you must have it.

I would rate the book 5 on 5. It is a must read book.

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…

To buy the forty rules of love, click here