In The Golem and the Jinni, a chance meeting between mythical beings takes readers on a dazzling journey through cultures in turn-of-the-century New York.
Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic and dies at sea on the voyage from Poland. Chava is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899.
… York harbor in 1899.
Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire born in the ancient Syrian desert, trapped in an old copper flask, and released in New York City, though still not entirely free
Ahmad and Chava become unlikely friends and soul mates with a mystical connection. Marvelous and compulsively readable, Helene Wecker’s debut novel The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, historical fiction and magical fable, into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale.
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Truly magical story. I loved it.
Two highly unusual characters befriend each other, learning a great deal about their own and each other’s cultures.
A really different story with great characters. Nice sense of the past as well.
I loved this book! Not your everyday story.
Very different. One of my favorites
Entertaining period piece, nice twist with history added. Enteraing read
Set against an elegantly described (and, I think, historically accurate) background of New York City immigrant communities over a century ago, the story line is captivating, as are the unusual main characters. Cannot wait for the forthcoming sequel!
Helene Wecker’s THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI is a rich and complex tale of Jewish historical fiction detailing an extraordinary journey that crosses continents. The characters are so well developed I felt like I knew them!
Captivated me throughout.
Complicated book that had a lot (maybe too much) of different cultures and characters. For me, Fantasy is about mythos and spirit….this got a bit bogged down moving all the disparate characters around.
I did the audio book version of this one so I cannot say how the printed version stacks up. In any event, I found myself listening to every word spoken and even did the rewind thing a couple of times! The characters seemed to be well thought out and the way it was presented I could picture stuff in my minds eye, if you know what I mean. I think …
One of the best books I have read of this generation. The compelling storyline and great character development make this story a classic. This is a must read!
Surprisingly good read.
Highly original story and beautiful writing. Well worth the time.
This was a fantastic read. Highly recommended.
Absolutely fantastic book!
Couldn’t put it down imaginative unforgettable and so well written. Can’t wait for her next book
Very unique tale. A good read.
Where do I begin…I can’t I simply cannot. This book was so damn good. It is so original that it hurts. It makes you think that everything else is just a rehash of something else except this book. God why wont she write the second one already.
Would have liked a deeper interaction and different ending. Enjoyed the book.
a slow build.