Book Review: The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
2 min read
Zafar Anjum reviews Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love (Penguin Books, 2010) observing how reading it is a journey from being someone to nothingness, exploring how to die before death.
Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love is a profound exploration of love, mysticism, and spiritual transformation, set against the backdrop of two converging narratives—one contemporary and the other rooted in the 13th century. The novel is not merely a story but a journey through the essence of love and the transformative power of mysticism, as captured in Rule Number 40: “A life without love is of no account.” This Sufi rule underscores the book’s central theme: love, in its purest form, transcends all divisions and definitions.
The novel is structured around two distinct yet interconnected narratives. The contemporary storyline follows Ella Rubinstein, a middle-aged Jewish housewife whose life is in turmoil. Her marriage is faltering, and she feels increasingly disconnected from her children. Ella’s mundane existence takes a transformative turn when she begins working as a reader for a literary agency and is assigned to review a novel titled Sweet Blasphemy by Aziz Zahara. This book within a book becomes the catalyst for Ella’s journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.
The historical narrative transports readers to 13th-century Anatolia, where the famed poet Rumi and his spiritual guide, Shams of Tabriz, are central figures. Rumi, initially portrayed as a respected Islamic scholar with a rigid demeanor, encounters Shams, a wandering dervish whose unconventional methods challenge Rumi’s traditional beliefs. Shams’ presence in Rumi’s life is disruptive, not only to Rumi’s personal world but also to the broader community. His unorthodox behavior, including visits to taverns and interactions with marginalized individuals, scandalizes Rumi’s family and society at large. Yet, it is this very disruption that leads to Rumi’s profound transformation, shifting him from a rule-bound scholar to a soulful poet.
