Book Review : The 40 Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
Reading is a great way to fill the void of a wise friend - at least for a little while. Would you agree?
Life happens you know. To the best of us.All of us.
It often changes in ways you don’t expect. Like that break-up with the one you thought you would spend your life with. Happily ever after. Or losing someone dear forever. Like a parent who made sure you never slept hungry. The one who was your go-to person on the hardest days. Perhaps you are now with someone you wanted to be with. Yet lonely.
And now, you are tired. Exhausted. Done. Left with the last ounce of strength within you. Maybe, all you want is some wise words or someone to tell you, “It’s going to be okay.”
You and I are the same. On certain days, I find myself pondering, “What’s next? Is it too much to ask for someone to show me the way? Or promise me it will all be okay”
When a friend is out of reach, I say, find the book at your arm’s length.
There’s a solace in knowing that someone out there knows what it’s like to be in your shoes. There’s relief when a friend or your favourite author reminds you of the rainbows that show up after rain. This promise is a refreshing hope and is often found in the journey of the friends and family around; and sometimes in stories and books.
It's in these moments that turning to the wisdom held within the pages of a book can be incredibly comforting, and one such book that resonated with me is…The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak.
The book is like a river of emotions that will take you through various landscapes - the curves, the highs , the lows, the rocky terrains of life and love. It beautifully highlights what love can be . The divinity of love , its oblivion to the situations - the geography, age, stage of life - and its ability to show up in most suprising ways.
However, what captivated me most was the character of Rumi. I admire reading Rumi’s work and this book wonderfully highlights his journey and transformation from a respected but conventional scholar into a passionate poet of love and spirituality. The narrative follows the Sufi poet Jalal al-Din Rumi - his spiritual journey, shaped by his encounter with Shams of Tabriz- a wandering mystic, free spirited, unorthodox figure.
Shams teaches Rumi the "forty rules of love," a series of Sufi principles that emphasize selflessness, devotion, and the transformative power of love.
Their relationship is intense and, at times, controversial, as Shams pushes Rumi to question conventional religious practices and embrace a deeper, more personal connection with the divine.
This is the kind of story that you can relate with during confounding phase of life. During the times of longing, separation whether its geographical, physical or emotional. During the times when you feel its time to move forward but you are not there yet - not bold enough yet.
This book will light up the corners in your heart that you feel are now dark and are pining for hope, love, divinity and comfort.
Do you have a book that you turned to for comfort? If so, don’t hesitate to let me know.