From the Bookshelf of 2025 Reading Challenge…

The Golem and the Jinni (The Golem and the Jinni, #1)

Helene Wecker

Start date: December 1, 2013

Finish date: December 31, 2013

Discussion leader: Brian

Why we're reading this: For our December Group Read
[close] For our December Group Read

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What Members Thought

Jan 09, 2014 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: busy-as-a-bee-books-group, _own-ebook, fiction, _own-home-library, read-in-2014

What a fantastic read! I don't think I've never read another book quite like it and I mean that in the best way! It's a fantastic read with fascinating characters. The author really makes the New York of the early 20th century come alive! I do think it was a bit too long and needed a bit of editing but I think that's typical of many first time novels. Such a unique story with characters that I enjoyed knowing! I highly recommend this one! ...more

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Jan 29, 2022 Angela Jones rated it really liked it

This book is the story of two unlikely and impossibly matched supernatural creatures that find friendship and love in a world they aren't really a part of and one in which they struggle to get along. Chava, a clay golem arrives in America without a master and very little knowledge of the human world, let alone the world in 19th century New York, but even so, with an innate curiosity and the ability to sense the emotions of people around her. She is taken in by a Rabbi that knows what she truly i This book is the story of two unlikely and impossibly matched supernatural creatures that find friendship and love in a world they aren't really a part of and one in which they struggle to get along. Chava, a clay golem arrives in America without a master and very little knowledge of the human world, let alone the world in 19th century New York, but even so, with an innate curiosity and the ability to sense the emotions of people around her. She is taken in by a Rabbi that knows what she truly is and he teaches her how to live and to stay safe (generally speaking...not letting anyone else know who or what she really is.) At the same time a Jinni is freed from a copper flask by an Arabic immigrant named Arbeely. Turns out that the Jinni was imprisoned with Iron bands which has not only forced him to remain in human form, but has enslaved him to an evil wizard and he has no recollection of any of this happening or how long ago it happened. The rest of the story is what follows after that.

Helene Wecker has crafted a beautiful story which encapsulates not only the immigrant experience, but the human experience. She is a wonderful storyteller and has created such a rich backstory for each and every character in the book. I loved watching Chava and Ahmad learn from each other and experience an entire gamut of emotions that neither was created with and the way they affect all the lives of their friends and acquaintances in their respective communities.

She also includes such detailed descriptions of New York at the end of the 19th century, that I found myself searching for the locations mentioned to compare what they really looked like to her amazing descriptions. Of course neither of their journeys is without a few bumps and it turns out that someone is after the key to eternal life, which low and behold, either the Golem or the Jinni may have that key and this person will stop at nothing to possess it. It is a novel full of rich descriptions and beautifully written characters that I fell in love with and didn't want to leave behind when the novel was over...I guess it's a good thing that she ended up writing a sequel, and I can't wait! ...more

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Jun 09, 2021 Ketutar Jensen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series, magic, fantasy, fantasy-challenge

I think it was wonderful. :-)
Of course. I gave it 5 stars.

I think Helene Wecker managed to make golems and jinnis well-rounded creatures, without taking anything away from their traditional nature. In fact, I think she explains their traditional nature, without diminishing or what-s-it-called weakening, making it bland or boring, or less dangerous and terrifying.
I love the fact that she uses old traditions, mainly Jewish, that's not that usual in Fantasy.
The solution was not the best, though... ...more

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Feb 24, 2017 Rhonda rated it it was amazing

Fantastic on so many levels. The best book I've read in a long while. ...more

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Jun 01, 2014 Soelo rated it it was amazing

Shelves: srchallenge, nebulaaward, locusaward, worldfantasyaward, mythopoeicaward

I listened to this audiobook over the last 3 weeks. I am not sure I would have stuck with it if I had read it because it is a slow moving story, especially at the beginning. It is not boring, just pretty detailed. There are 4 main characters and you get comprehensive backgrounds on each of them. There are several supporting characters with similarly detailed but shorter backgrounds as well. I like Magical Realism and this story did not disappoint. Chapter 25 was my favorite one.

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