Welcome to Litsy!

Ella‘s been a SAHM most of her married life, but now the kids are old so she has gotten a job as a reader for a literary agent. The first script is Sweet Blasphemy. A book about Rumi and his spiritual companion Shams of Tabriz. Shams is a traveling dervish, and he has 40 rules for life and love, and he follows a philosophy on unity of people and religion. Not everyone agrees with this

#Turkey #foodandlit #2009 #192025

I really wanted to like this one, and as a piece of historical fiction, based on the meeting of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, it‘s interesting - I had no knowledge of either men or of Sufism. But the parallel story set in modern era America is a bit mundane. If feels maybe it was added to make the novel palatable for Western tastes?

This novel has given me much thought on humans, religions, choices we make and our future. I may not enjoy some of its context but overall, it was an enlightening and engaging read. So in the end, I‘ve rated this 4/5.

#BookBinge Day 16: The #Dancing of whirling dervishes is featured in the book cover of this novel from Turkish novelist, Elif Shafak. Paired with delicious crabs.

#BookBinge Day 12: This novel apparently #InvolvesDivorce but I didn‘t get a chance to read it while in Bodrum a week ago. 🏖️ But good enough for photoshoots, lols.

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

Awesome read! I love this author. None of her books ever disappoints.

I really wanted to love this book. The concept is great, the subject matter fascinating, the historical research deep…but it was all undone for me by the two dimensional American housewife Ella. I stuck it out to the finish, hoping the choice she made would redeem her and somehow make it all believable but I was sadly disappointed. That said, there are some beautiful moments and quotes within the subplot & I guess that‘s what got me to the end.

Well that was a blast from the past! Twenty years ago I taught myself Persian so I could read Rumi's actual words. This book is two parallel narratives, that of the extraordinary friendship between Rumi and the dervish Shams of Tabriz, framed as a novel read by unfulfilled middle-aged housewife Ella. It was all rather "romantic" but I enjoyed catching up with an old friend!?

Intellect and love are made of two different materials. Intellect ties people in knots and risks nothing, but love dissolves all tangles and risks everything. Intellect is always cautious and advises, “Beware too much ecstasy,” whereas Love says, “Oh never mind. Take the plunge!” Intellect does not easily break down, whereas love can effortlessly reduce itself to rubble. But treasures are hidden amongst ruins. A broken heart hides treasure.

Ella, a forty years old ordinary housewife, encounter love for the first time in her life at an unexpected moment. There is another story line behind this, one about the greatest poet Rumi and his companion Shams of Tabriz. They made the perfect companionship. Or, it is Love, made the perfect companionship. It is all about Love and only about Love. A book that can be read like a silent prayer... A sweet blasphemy!! ❤️

Keep building something of yours 🖤

“The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in a silent conversation“ (207).

“Every true love and friendship is a story of unexpected transformation. If we are the same person before and after we loved, that means we haven't loved enough“ (277).

I just finished reading this book.
This book is so mystical.
The simplicity and complexity of this book are extraordinary
The story of Ella and Aziz and Rumi and SHAMS OF TABRIZ is very engaging.
SHAMS OF TABRIZ is my favorite character 🥰
This book is a masterpiece! Every bit of it felt so realistic like l was playing a part in the story
Absolutely in love ❤️

Join in at Freda's Voice: http://www.fredasvoice.com
#Friday56 #Instagram56 - @fredasphotos

What a wonderful well told beautiful story. This book is woven with insight and love. I absolutely loved this book! A wonderful read. I highly recommend this book.

“Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire!
“The universe turns differently when fire loves water.”

“It‘s Rule Number Forty,” she said slowly. ‘A life without love is of no account. Don‘t ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine or mundane, Eastern or Western. . . . Divisions only lead to more divisions. Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple.”

How gorgeous is this cover (picture taken by yours truly)? Diving in next weekend!

I received this as a Christmas gift from my son. I really enjoyed it! I am fascinated by Sufism and this book had me wishing I could jump on a plane to Turkey and see the whirling dervishes of Konya. The world being as it is at the moment with the pandemic all I could manage was to purchase some Turkish Apple tea and drink that whilst I read! 😊

No matter who we are or where we live, deep inside we all feel incomplete. It‘s like we have lost something and need to get it back. Just what that something is, most of us never find out. And of those who do, even fewer manage to go out and look for it.

Continuing my TBR project:
This is one of the oldest selections on my TBR list - Originally added October 18, 2017.

From the Publisher:
The Forty Rules of Love unfolds two tantalizing parallel narratives—one contemporary and the other set in the thirteenth century, when Rumi encountered his spiritual mentor, the whirling dervish known as Shams of Tabriz—that together explore the enduring power of Rumi‘s work.

Having roots no where, I have everywhere to go.

The Forty Rules of Love has two parallel narratives- one based in 2008 with the story of a forty year old woman named Ella and the other based in 13th century with the story of Shams who is said to be the inspiration behind Rumi‘s poems. The book presents a blend of the two stories connecting the past with present.I liked the part about Shams and Rumi but Ella‘s story made me cringe a little.It can be read for the love of Rumi and all things Sufi.

It was a really good book! Rdcommended!

#QuotsyJuly20 Day 19: #Resist

Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path. Solitude is better for us, as it means being alone without feeling alone. But eventually it is best to find a person, the person who will be your mirror. Remember, only in another person‘s heart can you truly see yourself and the presence of God within you.

This world is erected upon the principle of reciprocity. Neither a drop of kindness nor a speck of evil will remain unreciprocated. Fear not the plots, deceptions, or tricks of other people. If somebody is setting a trap, remenber, so is God. He is the biggest plotter. Not even a leaf stirs outside God's knowledge. Simply and fully believe in that. Whatever God does, He does beautifully..
Forty rules of love @elifshafak #fortyrulesoflove

If you like Rumi, mysticism and believe in the power of self-transformation through your relationships and love, you will enjoy this book! #Spirituality #mysticism #ElifShafak #love #travel

I wasn‘t sure if this would be a book for me, but I loved it. I‘d like to own it because there are so many thoughtful lines to revisit. I enjoyed the POV switch between current day (well almost) and the 1240s since it showed those rules having significance nearly 800 years later. I sure hope we can apply the above quote after lessons are learned from the current world situation.

#ReadingEurope2020 Turkey

Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple.
#bookblogger #fortyrulesoflove #elifshafak #thoughtsbrewery

Between a pick and a so-so. The story has 2 timelines- the past focusing on the story of the real Shams of Tabriz who was a companion/teacher to the famous poet, Rumi, and the 2008 timeline of Ella, a wife and mother of 3 who reads Sweet Blasphemy, a story focusing on Shams and Rumi. The forty rules of love/religion/Sufism are beautiful but the multiple POV s seemed repetitive at times. I wanted to know more about Ella. #covercrush #booked2020

I read this quite speedily as the short and diverse chapters made it very appealing.
I liked the numerous viewpoints very much. Whilst Ella was integral to the story, she was the least appealing as she was simply a conduit for both the modern story and the ancient take.
Really recommend this.

Blimey this is brilliant 😆😆😆😆.
Not as keen on Ella as she's a stereotypical mid life housewife but am really appreciating the eastern philosophy.

A contemplative book that entwines two stories - Ella's, and Shams and Rumi. The sections on Shans and Rumi are further split into the stories of those whose lives they touched, giving the reader multiple perspectives. YMMV with this book, but I found nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout via the 40 rules of the title.

#unpopularopinion This is a novel with two stories-one, a decent historical fiction account of the poet Rumi‘s spiritual awakening courtesy of the Shams of Tabriz & the other, a modern day literary fiction tale that is everything I HATE about lit fic-a sad, middle aged woman in a bad marriage with disrespectful kids , who begins an emotional affair with a stranger. I defeated the audio narrator, which didn‘t help. Bailing at 60%.

The only way to develop compression. it is not similarities or regularities that take us a step forward, but blunt opposites. And all the opposites in the universe are present within each and every one of us.

Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire!
The universe turns differently when fire loves water

Fantastic book that has got me fascinated by Sufi mysticism - a beautiful, loving, peaceful part of Islam you can go decades in Britain without hearing a word about apparently 🙄 this was such a poignant inspiring story about a woman who thought it was too late to change her life, and the lives of the 13th century mystics who impacted her 700 years later, as well as a gorgeous romance.

#tbrread #wintergames #merryreaders @Clwojick @StayCurious

I'm sure the book is amazing but philosophy is not my type. I think Paulo Coelho lovers will really enjoy this one