The Forty Rules of Love: The magical tale of love and self-discovery from the bestselling author of The Island of Missing Trees Paperback – 2 April 2015

We all have book that we mean to read at some point and The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak is one of those books for me. This book has been named by the BBC as one of the hundred novels that have shaped the world, and after reading it I can see why. I was excited to be invited to take part in the blog tour for this book by Penguin books and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours to celebrate being part of the list.I really didn’t know what to expect when I started The Forty Rules of Love, although I have heard amazing things about it. Sufism is not something I know anything about so this was a learning curve for me as it was for the main character Ella. Ella is approaching forty and has always put her family first, but when her eldest daughter announces she is getting married Ella is shocked and it makes her reasses her life. After twenty years of marriage Ella realises she is unhappy in her marriage and in her life in general. This realisation coincides with her starting a new job reading manuscripts for a publisher and her first book is Sweet Blasphemy by Aziz. Z Zahara, a book about the relationship between dervish Shams of Tabriz and scholar and poet Rami in thirteenth century Turkey.I think that Ella’s story will resonate with many that realisation that your children are growing up and don’t need you as much, and you begin to question who you are and what you want from life. I felt empathetic to Ella’s story, having to deal with teenage children who think they know best, and as a mother making the wrong decisions for the right reasons. She begins to email the author of the manuscript Aziz.Z Zahara and in him finds someone who understands her, someone who listens to her and someone who makes her look at her life differently.At the heart of this book is the story of Shams of Tabriz, a travelling dervish, in thirteenth century Turkey, and Sufist who is destined to meet scholar and teacher Rumi and become his spiritual leader. What I liked was that their story was told not only through their eyes but also through those that Shams meets on his journey, a beggar, a harlot, a man with leprosy all of whom he treats with compassion and Rumi’s family, his wife, sons and a female student, Kimya. The women’s plight is highlighted through his wife and Kimya in that they are not normally aloud to read, study or enter a Mosque: Kimya has a gift and is an exception to the rule. I really enjoyed learning about Sufism, the concept of love but not necessarily the romantic kind, but a love of the world, of those around you and of yourself; if you can’t love yourself you can’t love others including God. The forty rules of love from the book’s title are the rules that Shams teaches and lives by. Whilst reading about Sufism the realisation grew that even todays society could benefit from these rules of acceptance of yourself and others, of loving yourself before you can love others, and the importance of living in the present.I’m really glad this blog tour came along making me finally read The Forty Rules of Love. This is a thought provoking and enlightening read that really made me stop and think about life and about myself. Elif Shafak’s writing is beautiful and nuanced, she really gets into her characters lives, their vunrabilitues and strengths. Her descriptions of thirteenth century Turkey really capture the atmosphere of that period in both the sights and sounds and the many different people living there. This is truly a stunning read and if you haven’t read it then I highly recommend you do.

I enjoyed reading this novel set in 2008 Massachusetts and Persia of the 13th century. I took off a star because I got lost reading all the proverbs and also the way in which there is God and nothing else.Ella is in the 21st century reading a novel by Aziz about Rumi, the poet and the several characters involved in his life. Gradually, Ella’s life begins to change and to say more would be a spoiler.Aziz’s novel is recounted and it is involving. Nevertheless, I found myself wanting to go back to Ella’s story.I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers.

Very interesting how it weaves old and new and what beautiful yet painful accounts of love and life. Really good food for thought. I wish the 40 rules were in a list at the end though!

There were many moments I teared up, not because of the story itself per say (which is truly an incredible story, truly incredible story) but because of what it triggered within me. It’s message of love, patience, companionship, finding yourself…..of devastation and loss. It had all the philosophical lessons which are needed even today, it had the mystery and story and history which sparked my curiosity, all in a relatively small book.These days I struggle to read, to stay focused, but this book really did something to me and maybe it’s because of the place I am now in my life as I am reading it, I feel soulfully the rules and the story of Shams and Rumi. Ella makes a good lighter grounding of the book, she brings the story back into the present which makes the story often feel practically relatable and gives a break from the emotional heaviness of the “manuscript” and we see how the manuscript affects her, and I understand it. I am also affected.The book beautifully introduced Sufism to me, which I had only heard of but never knew. As a Christian who is struggling with the lack of love and compassion we see from people in this day and age (Inc Christian’s, Muslims…people from all walks, and and evidently was lacking in the 13th century also), the book encompasses many lessons that I wish was widely understood.Elif Shafak has blessed fingers which can write this book and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

I really tried hard to like this novel but it never really came alive for me. Perhaps if I had more of an interest in Sufism it might have gelled.

I loved this story. Poetically written, pieces of wisdom dotted through the book and within the story itself. The author masterfully links the 2 stories that we are reading concurrently. It's a love story, a spiritual journey and a mystical tale all in one.Even though I am a Muslim, I am unfamiliar with Sufism, this tale was an interesting introduction to Sufi beliefs. Although this book, hasn't influenced me in a religious way, I have a deep appreciation for the story and all the complexity of love and life it described, infact at some points I thought the author took a look into my own head and put my thoughts/experiences down on paper. Her insights and words of wisdom make this story one of my most highlighted books! Looking forward to reading more of her stories on the not too distant future!

The book is amazing. I took off 1 star because the print size is terrible. So small it gave me headaches, i had to pause so many times even though i wanted to keep reading

I am a slow reader & dyslexic, however I managed to finish this book in 3 days it's such a wonderful story. I like the way it is written & sectioned into bite size sections as it was easier for me to keep up & felt more manageable to read. I don't think I have read a book so quickly in my life.