In "The Forty Rules of Love", Elif Shafak weaves a mesmerizing dual narrative linking modern-day Boston to 13th-century Konya; it follows Ella, a suburban American housewife whose life changes upon reading a manuscript about Rumi and his spiritual companion, Shams of Tabriz; through forty Sufi-inspired rules, the novel explores the essence of love, faith, and self-discovery; Shafak's lyrical prose fuses mysticism and modernity, offering a transformative reading experience that lingers in the soul.
