The forty rules of love by Elif Shafak

“The Forty Rules of Love” intertwines two parallel narratives. The contemporary story follows Ella Rubinstein, a forty-year-old housewife and mother, who begins working as a reader for a literary agency. Her first assignment is to read and review a novel about the famous 13th-century poet Rumi and his spiritual teacher, Shams of Tabriz. As she becomes engrossed in the manuscript, Ella finds herself drawn to the transformative love and spiritual teachings within the story. The historical narrative delves into the deep and mystical friendship between Rumi and Shams, exploring themes of love, faith, and the quest for divine truth. Through these intertwined stories, the novel highlights the universal and timeless nature of love and spirituality.