I takes place in Turkey, and I think that was the best part. The story was okay, but nothing seemed to happen. I kept waiting, but realized that nothing was going to happen once I reached the last chapter. . .I suspect the author took a lot of license with the story of this woman's life as it appears that there is not much of a record of her. The author made it seem as though the main character lead a life devoted to the discovery of God, but I suspect she was mostly lonely and unhappy. A quick read despite its flaws and faults. Good for the beach or an airplane ride.
The story of Rumi's Daughter (Kimya) is very similar to what I've read before in Elif Shafak's novel "Forty Rules of Love" .. some details were different here or there .. Probably I would have enjoyed it more didn't I read the previous novel ..
The choice of words is actually beautiful, but somehow the book fails to say anything to me. Reading this book was just tiring. I did not stop thinking how far I was to the end. I had such high expectation upon picking up this book from a bookshelf in the library, but sadly I felt nothing more than informed about Kimya's life in chronological order.
My thoughts given that I pretend that I had not read Elif Shafak's The Forty Rules of Love:
I enjoyed the rich and descriptive style of writing. The story was about Rumi's daughter Kimya but it fell short of her for most part of the book.
- The first part of the book paints Kimya as a child and gives us a solid background. - The second part tells the story of Rumi "adopting" Kimya. This part fails to include Kimya's experiences but unsuccessfully attempts to focus on Rumi's life and his union with Shams-i-Tabr墨z墨, which again, may I say, falls short of the grandiosity of this event. - The last part does justice to Kimya's character. It is by far the strongest point of the book. Kimya's marriage with Shams-i-Tabr墨z墨 and the journey thereafter.
Overall I would give it a 3/5.
My thoughts given that I have actually read The Forty Rules of Love
- The way the book is structured is copied to the very last part including the "Glossary". - The first part is different because it focuses on Kimya's life before she comes to live with Rumi. - The second part "attempts" to be different but fails miserably. - The third part is taken from Shafak's book and magnified. Strangely it worked!
This book will work for those who have not read The Forty Rules of Love but if you want the real experience go for Elif Shafak's magic!
Rumi's Daughter is very much similar to Elif Shafak's Forty Rules of Love. This book's protagonist is Kimya, Rumi's adopted daughter. It seemed to me that the author has enlarged the chapter about Kimya's life out of Elif Shafak's book. There are a few events that contradicts with what's written by Elif Shafak in a way that it makes it hard to know the intricacy of events happened to Rumi, Shams and Kimya. The book, nonetheless, is very nicely written. It talks about the same strange connection that's difficult to comprehend but soothing to read. Such books take me to the pits of wonder. I, too, want to understand and comprehend what this connection, this stepping into fire, this whole divine journey is all about. It's beautiful to read about it. It surely would be equally beautiful to have it experienced. Too much to ask for? Well, I don't know. Nice, very nice book, indeed.
I needed to read a novel like this: enjoyable, calm, and beautiful. It had lit up a dark part inside my heart and my mind. '-I don't know how to stop the pain! - You can't stop it. When there is great pain, there are only three rules: not to push the pain away, not to try to understand it, and not to indulge in it. Make yourself as open as a young tree caught in a storm. Let the storm bend you at its will, so not resist it, do not argue with it either - How could one argue with the wind and the rain?- and never, ever feel sorry for yourself.'
This book will peel the numerous layers beneath which you're hiding, & you'll be left bare and open and vulnerable...and that is what you'll love about this book.You will be moved from the very core of your soul.
Rumi's Daughter, written by Muriel Maufroy who has also published a book of Rumi's quotations called the Breathing Truth. Rumi, the great Persian poet and one of the mystical poets of all time, he was acutely famous for his unconventional perspectives and ideas. He lived in Anatolia, which considered being synonymous with Asian Turkey. He had an extraordinary spiritual friendship with a man called Shams Tabriz and had brought and raised an adopted girl, Kimya, into his family who later on married Shams.
This lively novel discussed the life of Kimya and how her life transformed by finding Shams and how, by marrying Shams, her soul begins a journey into a soothing fire.
Holistically, the novel was unbelievable and fascinating. There were moments when I have felt lost in much tenderness and kept on reading all night until comforting morning. Meanwhile reading this unusual novel, it has broadened my horizon, positively influenced the eloquence of life, and taught me to live a life beyond life. There were several startling quotes, stated through conversations and while character's reflections; however, I would like to mention two of them;
"There are many ways to knowledge. Some paths are invisible. Not seeing the path doesn't mean you're not on it; on the contrary."
Furthermore, "Love has no end. It is an ocean without shores. You have to learn to bear it."
Conclusively, this beautiful novel narrates the story of an extraordinary girl who was looking for the true meaning of life, and attentive and nature-loving girl, who shared courtesy to others and embraced the burning fire of her inside, and ultimately, recognized herself and annihilated in that burning fire.