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reading_rita 's review for:
The Forty Rules of Love
by Elif Shafak
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
As someone who’s read and enjoyed several of Elif Shafak’s books, "The Island of Missing Trees being" my favourite, I was genuinely disappointed by this one.
With the release of a new edition, almost 20 years after its original publication, I figured it was finally time to read it. The premise sounded intriguing enough: a story within a story, exploring love, faith, and personal transformation. But the execution just didn’t work for me.
I’m not religious or particularly spiritual, and I found the themes in this book uninteresting at best, and at times frustrating. I ended up skimming large chunks of the “book within the book” as it felt repetitive, overly sentimental, and frankly, a bit eye-rolly. The only part that resonated was Ella’s decision at the end, which gave a tiny glimpse of something real.
Overall, this just wasn’t the book for me, despite liking Shafak’s other work. But if the spiritual framing and Sufi philosophy appeal to you, there’s a chance you’ll connect with it in a way I didn’t.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
With the release of a new edition, almost 20 years after its original publication, I figured it was finally time to read it. The premise sounded intriguing enough: a story within a story, exploring love, faith, and personal transformation. But the execution just didn’t work for me.
I’m not religious or particularly spiritual, and I found the themes in this book uninteresting at best, and at times frustrating. I ended up skimming large chunks of the “book within the book” as it felt repetitive, overly sentimental, and frankly, a bit eye-rolly. The only part that resonated was Ella’s decision at the end, which gave a tiny glimpse of something real.
Overall, this just wasn’t the book for me, despite liking Shafak’s other work. But if the spiritual framing and Sufi philosophy appeal to you, there’s a chance you’ll connect with it in a way I didn’t.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.