Reading Group for Muslim Women

Currently, we are reading the book ‘Forty rules of love’ by Elif Shafaq

Synopsis:  In this lyrical, exuberant follow-up to her 2007 novel, The Bastard of Istanbul, acclaimed Turkish author Elif Shafak unfolds two tantalising 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 mesmerised by his tale of Shams’s 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, that 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 realises that Rumi’s story mirrors her own and that Zahara-like Shams-has come to set her free.

We will be discussing this book on Friday 18th November at 10.30am to 12.30pm

GWL’s Reading group for Muslim Women is a place to explore books written by Muslim women for and about Muslim women chosen by the group members. If you are passionate about books and love to share them with others, or you simply want to read more widely or get into the habit of reading but find it challenging, then this group is for you.

Reading Group Participants have told us, “I enjoyed the discussions and meeting others in the book group, and of course the tea and muffins! It was great to hear the view of others on issues affecting Muslim women.”

To find out about upcoming books or for more information contact Syma Ahmed at GWL. You can find out more on this Facebook group.