They say some books change your life. For me, it’s The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak, which I read twice. Yes, this book captured my soul so much that I couldn’t resist myself to read it again! This book not only changed my perspective to see the life, but also helped me explore those beautiful places through its lens.
I bought this book in 2023. And when I started reading this book, this book. I wanted my new year to start with a beautiful knot, so I was just rummaging through my bookshelf for something to read, and this book again caught my attention. It turned into a journey across time zones, cultures, and mystical truths. I completely related myself to the story of suburban woman Ella’s journey of self-discovery.
And this time, I immersed myself in it so deeply that I finished it in just 15 days. And in these 15 days, I got a chance to visit those beautiful places again, which are beautifully captured in this book. I got to know about Sufism through only this book – The Forty Rules of Love.
So let’s embark on a journey – woven between past and present, where spiritual awakening meets cultural richness.
1. Northampton – Massachusetts:-
When I flipped the first page, I got to visit this place where Ella lived with her husband and three children, Avi, Jeannette, and Orly. Northampton – a place of quiet streets, simple houses, and familiar routines. I walked to a bookstore and I saw Ella was picking up a book – Sweet Blasphemy, written by Aziz Z. Zahara, to whom she later writes emails. I got a chance to roam along with her pet Spirit in cozy winter and play with him. I saw how, as Ella reads this book and communicates with the author through emails, she realizes that she has forgotten about herself. Thus begins her journey of self-care, and for me, this place becomes a spot of self-discovery.
2. Konya – Turkey:-
This Turkish city holds Rumi’s heart, both literally and spiritually. I closely observed the city of Rumi, whose journey from a scholar to a mystic poet. I saw that people come and pay obeisance. I stepped into the Mevlana Museum, where Rumi’s tomb is located – a sanctuary of whirling dervishes, calligraphic art, and the sweet whispers of Sufi prayers. I witnessed the Sema ceremony that evening, I understood what Shams had evoked in Rumi: whirling was not just dancing – it was surrender, union, love. Konya doesn’t just hold history; it breathes it.
3. Boston – Massachusetts:-
Ella finally decides to meet Aziz in Boston. Though the city is bustling and modern, the feelings between them are very Sufi. I felt deeply the moment when she met Aziz, who stirred her soul with just words. There was magic in the air – even the noise of the harbor seemed poetic. Boston was a turning point for Ella. For me, it was a wonderful moment of how the two timelines of the novel complemented each other – ancient mysticism and present-day adventure. It was truly a wonderful union.
4. Tabriz – Iran:-
Tabriz- a birthplace of Shams, who is a traveler and questioner. I felt that Shams was a free-spirited person who had nothing to do with worldly affairs and just wanted to roam around and see the world through his eyes. So I too saw his city through his eyes. Colorful markets, the fragrance of saffron wafting from the houses, and Shams roaming the streets. It was a city that gave the world a mystic who dared to challenge convention. Shams spoke The Forty Rules of Love to each person he met during his journey until he met Rumi.
Final Thoughts
When I finished the book, I felt like I had taken an extraordinary journey. I had passed through cities that taught love, trust. Just as Ella decided to step out of her comfort zone and into the extraordinary, I decided mine too.
The Forty Rules of Love is not just a story – it’s a map. A map of mysterious cities, quiet towns, and the geography of the heart. And if you ever feel the urge to not just read a story, but live it – this book is yours.
I just didn’t read this book, I lived it to the fullest. I felt every word, touched its handwriting with my fingers, and felt it by heart that it is not just imaginary but reality.
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