THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE BY ELIF SHAFAK

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BOOK NAME: THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE

AUTHOR NAME: ELIF SHAFAK

GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION 

PUBLISHER: PENGUIN BOOKS

BOOK BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.in/Forty-Rules-Love-Elif-Shafak/dp/0241972930



BOOK COVER IMAGE




BOOK REVIEW

I waited almost two long years to get my hands on this book until I finally decided to read it. But maybe because I was reading it after patiently and impatiently waiting for a long time, the book turned out to be a sour experience for me. I know this is one of the most loved books by most readers or, let's say, by almost all of bookstagram. 


About the book, there is Ella Rubinstein, who is the protagonist in one half of the story. Ella is a mother of three, unhappy in her marriage and is currently working on her client's manuscript 'Sweet Blasphemy', based on the story of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, the other major part of the book. While Ella finds the book intriguing, she starts investing her time in finding the one behind the story instead of actually working on the book. What follows naturally is a series of emails back and forth between the author and Ella, who eventually fall for each other. Meanwhile, Rumi and Shams' story is loaded with spiritualism and the rules of love and its appeal depends on how you like to take it.


To put my thoughts exactly in words, I did not hate the book at all, for that matter. I liked the book in parts, and many characters (not the protagonists, though) managed to capture my interest throughout. But was the book a nonfiction disguised as fiction? Because there were way too many quotes at odd places. The dreamy narrative and the preachy tone only strengthened my opinion. Yes, the differentiation between religion and spirituality worked, but for how long is the real question. The whole book was the author trying to emphasise that spirituality is different from religion in each and every sentence, and it was becoming tiring at one point. I know I am supposed to like this book. I tried; I really did try. But it was getting out of hand slowly, and I had to surrender to the fact that I wasn't really enjoying it anymore. 


Now, let's come to the main character of the book. Ella, Ella, Ella! What were you even doing? Was I supposed to feel sad for her? For me, Ella was the least exciting character. She first casually disrupts her daughter's love life, claiming that her own wasn't perfect, and hence, she feared the same for her daughter. She then lets everyone walk over her and conveniently ignores the fact that her husband might be cheating on her, only to play the victim later. Lady, what were you doing sitting at home, letting everything happen and messing things up while doing absolutely nothing about them except sending back-and-forth emails to your client?! If anyone had to be blamed for her misery, it was no one but her. I could not care less about her. And don't even get me started with Rumi and Shams part. Abandoning your perfect wife, kids, students, disciples and many others in the name of spiritual connection felt very wrong on many levels. No God ever tells someone to do so, no matter what level of spirituality you want to attain. I seriously couldn't feel the same love for Shams as everyone else who praised him for breaking Rumi's family like that. Rumi's wife and children were being very patient and deserved much better.


This one definitely did not work out for me. But maybe you could try your luck because I know many people who worship this book.



MY REVIEW: 2/5

This is a part of Blogchatter’s #TBRchallenge

#penbooksandscalpel

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