Critique of Novel/ A review and analysis of two novels: Nation of Love and Kimiakhatoon with an approach to Rumi's life, Aida Chahragani

Abstract The Nation of Love by Elif Shafak is one of the most read and most frequently translated novels in this decade that attracted an audience from all walks of life in a short time, as it did in the original language in Turkey (2009), and became a bestselling novel quickly. The collection of the works by this Turkish writer (16 books, mostly novels) has been translated to over 40 languages and published by internationally renowned publishers. The Nation of Love consists of two stories that are narrated side by side. First is the story of an affluent family living in America (the land of opportunities and failed chances) and the second story or The Nation of Love, is a historical-mystical story portraying the encounter between Shams and Molana. The Nation of Love is merely a novel, and not all of its events are based on historical documentations. Consequently, an almost new persona is presented of Shams, and most of the attention to the book is due to this second story, and if the first story (love of Ella to Aziz) was presented in a separate book as a novel, the book could not have been this popular. Shafak (as the narrator and writer) hides herself behind the Aziz Zahara character (the in-text narrator of the story of Shams), in such a way that we forget throughout the story that she is the actual author. The main theme of The Nation of Love is two types of love (divine and earthly); today's earthly love (Ella and Aziz Zahara), and the old-timely divine love (Shams and Molana). The author tries to tie these two together. In this article, The Nation of Love is analyzed with a critical approach and with regards to factors that make is a popular novel.