In this follow-up to her acclaimed 2007 novel The Bastard of Istanbul, Turkish author Elif Shafak unfolds two tantalizing parallel narratives—one contemporary and the other set in the thirteenth century, when Rumi encountered his spiritual mentor, the whirling dervish known as Shams of Tabriz—that together incarnate the poet's timeless message of love.
Ella Rubenstein is forty years old and unhappily married when she takes a job as a reader for a literary agent. Her first assignment is to read and report on Sweet Blasphemy, a novel written by a man named Aziz Zahara. Ella is mesmerized by his tale of Shams' search for Rumi and the dervish's role in transforming the successful but unhappy cleric into a committed mystic, passionate poet, and advocate of love. She is also taken with Shams's lessons, or rules, which offer insight into an ancient philosophy based on the unity of all people and religions, and the presence of love in each and every one of us. As she reads on, she realizes that Rumi's story mirrors her own and that Zahara—like Shams—has come to set her free.
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"This book was awesome. It was very thought provoking and makes you take a good look at your life. It is about an American woman in the present day and Rumi in Turkey in the 1200s. The author did a great job in tying these two time periods together as well as connecting the East and West."
— Carol (4 out of 5 stars)
“Shafak’s seductive, shrewd, and affecting novel brilliantly revives the revelations of Shams and Rumi, and daringly illuminates the differences between religion and spirituality, censure and compassion, fear and love of life in our own violent world.”
— Booklist, starred review" The past and the present fit well together. In this story, characters from different times connect magically through the universal theme which is love. "
— Niyousha, 6/13/2017" Lots of fun for those who love Rumi! "
— Mary, 2/17/2014" Loved it - in the beginning but by the end I was ready for it to be over. I loved the history of Rumi and Shams but Ella bored me. "
— Sharon, 2/10/2014" If you skip the parts about Ella book becomes much more fluent and you do not miss anything in the end (you may just read the last part about Ella that will not harm I suppose). "
— S., 1/26/2014" Surprisingly well written. Grasping. Thumbs Up. "
— Era, 12/27/2013" I really liked the historical part of this book, but the modern story interwoven with i didn't keep my interest as well. I guess I prefer historical fiction over contemporary anyway, but it made the book a lot slower I thought. "
— Sheri, 12/25/2013" At the moment I am halfway through this book and thoroughly enjoying it. Especially enjoy the part of the book that has to do with the 12th century. "
— debra47, 9/24/2013" I didn't know what to expect but I really loved this. In hindsight I suppose it's a bit predictable but I really wasn't sure what it was. I think I might even re-read it at some point. Everyone needs a good love story. I do like a happy ending. "
— Christine, 8/20/2013" One of those books that should be started, again, promptly, when you finish.... "
— Keira, 8/9/2013" this is a beautiful book. it now has me searching for the works of rumi "
— Latressa, 5/14/2013Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and the most widely read female author in Turkey. She writes in both Turkish and English, and her work has been translated into fifty languages. She holds a PhD in political science and has taught at various universities in Turkey, the United States, and the United Kingdom, including St Anne’s College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow. She is a member of Weforum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. She has been awarded the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and in 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people who would make the world better.
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.