The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker

[Sheryl]

Hi,
Technically, Amy is the discussion leader on this one, but I can see she's busy putting up a display for the library's genealogy month. And since I loved this book, I'm going to jump in and get the ball rolling.

My very favorite aspects of this novel are the characters. Good characters are essential to me, even more important than the plot. What did you think of the characters?

[Amy]

I loved this book too. Very original. Before this I didn't know what a Golem was. To me a golem was the creepy guy in the Lord of the rings books. I loved the characters especially Chava (the Golem) and the rabbi that rescued her.

[Maelou]

What was so interesting about the characters was that some of them were people and others were "creatures" trying to learn to be people, but all of them were interesting.

[Amy]

I think the "creatures" did a better job than some of the people. Joseph Schall, the man who created the Golem was an awful person. Poor Ice Cream Saleh couldn't look people in their face. He was a doctor and now people think of him as more of a misfit than Chava or the Jinni because they seem to be "normal"

[Jessica]

I'm a fan of magical realism, so this was right up my alley. I love the Golem, but I had a harder time with the djinn character, which could be a cultural thing.

[Amy]

I'm not a fan of the jinni either because throughout most of the book he was self-centered.

[Amy]

How are the Golem and the Jinni's personalities reflected in their origins? How are they similar and how do those similarities draw them together? How are they different?

[Amy]

While I was reading this book I was just amazed that the characters found each other. I realize that the New York in the book was not as big as it is now but still about 3 and 1/2 million people living there at the time. These things happen all the time though and I think it was important for the story for them to meet. People and "creatures" need to talk with someone who is going through something similar to what you are going through, don't you think?

[Amy]

What do we learn about life-- about what it means to be human--from Ahmad and Chava?

Note: You don't have to answer these questions if they are not your thing. If you have any comments or things you want to discuss go right ahead and post.