Pakistani Readers discussion

The Forty Rules of Love is the book for April, Read n discuss it here. n do mark (html tags) the spoilers.

Awesome will start next week.

Already read. Gave the book four stars (if I remember correctly)

i have already read it. The character of Shams-i-Tabriz is very beautiful and full of mysteries in the book.

Also gave it 4. I absolutely loved the beginning. It was enticing, poetic and unique. The symbolism about how a stone thrown in a river has no effect but one thrown in a lake has so much impact and that's what the whole story builds on.
It's quite intense, I read it slowly over a month I think. Will see what others have to say, I really wanted to give it 5 stars but it fell short of my expectations towards the last quarter. Will go into the reasons after others have read it.

My local bookstore doesn't have a copy. Sold out. They probably only had one copy to begin with. Had to borrow from the library. Now i'm under a deadline to read it... Don't like deadlines. But seeing all this praise, can't wait to read it. Really excited about this BOTM.

I have completed it today and I am totally under its charm. Sufism has always attracted me and due to this reason i have loved it or maybe there is also the reason that I was having a difficult phase in my life through which this book has helped me out in a great way.
Yes its last quarter somewhat lost its effect but still it is captivating and has potential to alter the way of thinking.

Maryam I agree, I was so blown away in the beginning, that I expected more at the end. It's also a great skill to write about two different eras and still make it seamless. Apparently the Turkish government accused her of being a U.s. agent ...poor writers trying to build on positive thinking get rewarded this way

My friend is doing her thesis on this book. I haven't started reading it but am going to now. This discussion is interesting.

Are we allowed to talk about a certain part of the book yet. Like the first 50 or 100 pages? Or the whole thing later?

Lara wrote: "Also gave it 4. I absolutely loved the beginning. It was enticing, poetic and unique. The symbolism about how a stone thrown in a river has no effect but one thrown in a lake has so much impact and..."

Agreed, the beginning was amazing. I started reading it yesterday.

@zenab, I don't think it should be an issue. Just mention some sort of reference in the beginning. like, if you haven't read till page 57, stop reading these posts instead go n read the book :)
btw i am on page 57.

I'm about half way through and I think I'm not getting this book? Couple of things are bothering me.... The dialogue of the 13th century world is too modern for me, esp. when Rumi and Shams are talking. They sound like basic simpletons merely reciting what someone great has written. If the point is to read and understand their greatness, there are books that they've written, Better! But they are also the only interesting part of the book. I don't like going back to the Ella parts. So far I do not understand what she is doing or where she is headed. And why. The coincidence of her reading this book doesn't come off as divine but something contrived by the author... So far I do not like Aziz... No one who is actually on the mystic path calls himself a sufi... As far as I think someone who calls himself a sufi is being a little big headed. I don't know maybe it is just me. I remember reading something in college about a true sufi never labels himself a sufi. If one is trying to lose himself to be one with Him... then labeling oneself is counterproductive.... I'll read on and see if it gets better.

Oh another thing... This is a personal issue I guess. I took an Islamic Mysticism class in college and our professor was this amazing guy. He was Allama Iqbal obsessed. He visit universities all over the US to teach these classes. Any-who, he hated the word Blasphemy when applied to Islam. He thought the connotations and historic events have made this a very christian word. So in using it to refer to something in Islam, esp. when people use it in reference to the mystics was not proper. What Muslim thought as blasphemous was different from what christians thought and punished as blasphemous. I remember how while reading a book and coming across this word, he'd make it a point to bring this up. That was his opinion obviously... I just think of that everytime I read the word.

Zenab agree with some of the things you said. The dialogue of rumi and shams appearing too modern--yes. But I actually liked Ella's part (except the end) where she was going through a phase of feeling lost and unappreciated as she reflected on her life, and then her quest to rediscover herself through Aziz and indirectly through rumi and shams.
I hadn't read about sufiism, until this, but I have seen others who have, like you, and they were underwhelmed by the rumi/shams portrayal in comparison to other mystic writings.
Your professor was right in saying that blasphemy is a very misunderstood word, and I wish he could have given this teaching to so many out there who have killed for it without even knowing its meaning.
I found the writing of this book to be very poetic and I found peace within its pages.

So what did the Pakistani readers think of this book, and the ending?

I couldn't finish... Motivation wasn't there. But the 40 rules were amazing. I felt if I could incorporate even a few of them in my life, my life would be so much better and happier. If everyone else did also, the world would be a much better place, more tolerant. I also loved the incorporation of the critics of sufism in the book. Even though these people were from a time so long ago, it was so sad to realize that people like them exist in our supposedly civilized, modern and educated society. Plus now they have modern weapons and not just a stick....

Already Read It And Enjoyed It Alot <3

So I'm new to this but just wanted to add my thoughts in regards to this beautiful and ever so enlightening book. First of all, the title speaks for itself, how lovely has Elif Shafak compiled the forty rules into an enchanting and wonderful novel; it really does touch your soul to know of a friendship that was formed so long ago between two great souls. If you haven't read this already, please do so!! These rules will surely bring an impact to your lives, God willing :-).

Haven't read the books but I have read the rules on Wikipedia. I was on a 'mystical journey' in those days and I needed to get more intelligence on Shams Tabrizi and his meeting with Rumi.

Maira wrote: "My friend is doing her thesis on this book. I haven't started reading it but am going to now. This discussion is interesting."

hey maira
I'd like to read her thesis! :)) send me da link ef you coulkd. thanks

The ending was a bit of a paradox, I thought, and I was a bit disappointed by it, not because it was bad or anything, but perhaps because my expectations were higher in the setting of such a brilliant beginning. Shams and Rumis conclusion was good, but Ella's wrapping up felt a bit abrupt. Still overall, the writing was very good, and I do look forward to reading shafaks other novel.

Read the book in 3 days. Got to appreciate the fluent prose and coalescing style. But the message itself was anything but beautiful.

Shams' treatment of Kimya is a direct contradiction of his rule #3, rule#4 and rule#15. I used to be a fan of mysticism but then I realized the folly of it: through denial of instincts, comes only dissatisfaction and unhappiness. A true Sufi, by that rationale, is most likely mentally disturbed - and they are, evidently.

Also, am I the only one who noticed that Desert Rose's brother was only 5 years old when he used to go outside home and learn all the 'bad habits' and later killed his parents at the SAME AGE?!

Agreed With the self contradiction. Hadn't noticed the 5 year old stuff, good observation.

I remember I had absolutely loved this book and had resolved to read it again, only much more carefully because there was so much wisdom in the words that I felt gripped, overwhelmed and positively wonderstruck. *o*

Heard good things about this book I saw a copy the other day in my university library. Went there the next day and it was gone. I guess somebody issued it.
Sadly it was the only copy there.
I'll have to wait 'till it becomes available again.

hey ahmad the book is pretty good but I could read it completely as a pdf, if you want to read you can read here too

Tania wrote: "hey ahmad the book is pretty good but I could read it completely as a pdf, if you want to read you can read here too"
Thanks but I can't stand reading books in PDF format. So unfortunately I'll have to wait.

Maira wrote: "My friend is doing her thesis on this book. I haven't started reading it but am going to now. This discussion is interesting."

hey..please tell me that your friend is doing research on this book in MA/MPHIL English or in any other language.

I haven't read this book yet. A very dear friend of my recommended this book yesterday.

Awesome book will start reading today

one of my favorites.