The Golem and the Jinni (The Golem and the Jinni, #1) in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Jul 29, 2015 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, magical-realism

Although this book was long, it was so well written and so subtly constructed that I found I simply couldn't put it down. I was drawn in to the story immediately. At first I wondered where some of the apparently unconnected threads fit in, but as the story developed it became clear and everything came together in the end. What I loved about it was that it wasn't just a fantasy story, it was a musing on faith, on consequences and on life. I loved how the two vastly different characters of the Gol ...more

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Jul 07, 2016 Book Concierge rated it liked it

Shelves: concierge, strong-women, friendship, library, 19th-century, new-york, historical-fiction, fantasy

From the book jacket [This] novel tells the story of two supernatural creatures who appear mysteriously in 1899 New York. Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a strange man who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. … Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian Desert.

My reactions
Gosh, I really wanted to like this book. I looked forward to learning more about the myths of these two cultures – ancient Judaism and Syrian lore. But it never really captured my ...more

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Dec 28, 2014 Becky rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2015

Second book in a very short time that benefited a lot from how little I knew going in. Rich use of mythology from two cultures that I am passingly familiar with.

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Jan 19, 2016 Olivermagnus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, zfeb-2023, 2023

In 2013 thePlay Book Tag Top 10 had one clear cut winner.

1. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.

I remember listening to this book soon after it was published and thinking it very fresh and original. While I wasn't sure I would like it, it turns out that the fusion of historical fiction and fantasy is one of my favorite genres now.

The story is based on two mythical creatures from Jewish and Syrian folklore who meet and become friends on 1899 New York City. The Golem, Chava, is a woman made In 2013 thePlay Book Tag Top 10 had one clear cut winner.

1. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.

I remember listening to this book soon after it was published and thinking it very fresh and original. While I wasn't sure I would like it, it turns out that the fusion of historical fiction and fantasy is one of my favorite genres now.

The story is based on two mythical creatures from Jewish and Syrian folklore who meet and become friends on 1899 New York City. The Golem, Chava, is a woman made from clay, designed by an evil rabbi to obey her husband's every command and anticipate his every wish. Her husband brings her to life on the ship from Poland to America. When he dies during the voyage, Chava must learn to build an independent life for herself in America. The Jinni, Ahmad, has been trapped by an evil wizard inside his flask for centuries. Accidentally released by a Syrian tinsmith in New York City, he discovers he is also trapped in human form by a metal band around his wrist.

Chava and Ahmad meet and begin a friendship. Told separately at first, the two story lines eventually merge together. Both Chava and Ahmad fear being discovered for what they really are, but both want to be true to their nature. Chava and Ahmad have to learn to trust each other in order to survive.

The Golem and the Jinni is a quiet, character driven story for the most part, filled with fascinating supporting characters. The Jewish and Syrian neighborhoods seemed very convincing to me and the author describes a very rich immigrant community. The Golem and the Jinni teaches us about the strengths and weaknesses of humanity and the clashes of good against evil. I very very caught up in their story.

When I originally listened to the audio, I felt like the story unfolded a bit too slowly and dragged in some places. I was halfway through before I felt really caught up in the story. I originally gave it four stars. While reading this in print for the PBT Anniversary I realized it was necessary to bring enough background into the story that it achieved maximum impact and emotion. I learned to appreciate this book more the second time around. It 's a five star read for me this time. ...more

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