This is not a book review, it’s more of an expression of my love to this novel! The people who know me well are highly aware that I hardly read. I start reading a (fiction) book and my mind escapes into a universe of thoughts and I forget that I’m even reading a book, as my attention span disappears within seconds. Until, one day, my mum got me a novel and she stated that it had a very unique structure and that it has been translated into several languages, so I thought I’d give it a go, since I’m taking English at school, so I better start getting used to reading.
The truth is, I’d recommend this novel to people who love reading, but I’d recommend it even more to people who don’t!
It takes you to a magical place, where you seriously just can’t put it down. I can’t believe I just finished reading a book (massive achievement for me!)
Firstly, it teaches you to discover a deeper dimension of yourself and the people around you. It’s very spiritually charged, yet humble, that would appeal to everyone of any beliefs or backgrounds.
Secondly, it links modern times to ancient times, as it talks about events in history like the crusades, the Mongolian empire as well as exploring lands from an ancient perspective such as Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, which makes it so mysteriously and exotically beautiful. It ties religions and faiths together, as the author wanted closeness of traditions that we’re often encouraged to see as distant from each other.
Thirdly, every chapter is an insight of a character, so you get in their mind, whether it’s the star of the book, a killer, a prostitute, a beggar, and so much more. It’s like you get connected to people of all shades so powerfully. Yet, every single character is somehow spiritually inclined as time goes, so you grow with them.
Fourth, it talks about Rumi (a very popular Sufi poet) and the hardships he faced as he declined in the eyes of society as being a ‘respected scholar’ to a very spiritually humble individual, as he was inspired by the star of the book, Shams of Tabriz, who you will inevitably fall in love with! In fact, the title, ’40 Rules of Love’, was written by Shams, who was an enlightened man who enabled to change and inspire every single character in the book, no matter who they were.
Finally, the story is simply touching and it made me experience larger-than-life emotions while reading it, I must admit, it made me cry (not because it’s so sad, but because it’s so heart-touching). It made me laugh, smile, and think. In addition, every rule of love is something that you can tie to your own life, for me, it’s: While everyone in this world strives to get somewhere and become someone, only to leave it all behind after death, you aim for the supreme stage of nothingness. Live this life as light and empty as the number zero. We are no different from a pot. It is not the decorations outside but the emptiness inside that holds us straight. Just like that, it is not what we aspire to achieve but the consciousness of nothingness that keeps us going – (Rule 33). It inspires me to leave my false ego alone, and to connect more with my true self, not my image. Hence, this website is called ‘Our Beautiful Souls’ as it’s meant to encourage people to focus more on their mysterious and beautiful souls, rather than their outer appearance. This is absolutely relevant to this age today, as a lot of things, such as music, for example, depend on image rather than quality.
To conclude, you have homework, get this book today!
Our Beautiful Souls 