• The Golem and the Jinni

  • A Novel
  • By: Helene Wecker
  • Narrated by: George Guidall
  • Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (18,668 ratings)

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The Golem and the Jinni  By  cover art

The Golem and the Jinni

By: Helene Wecker
Narrated by: George Guidall
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Editorial reviews

Editors Select, April 2013 - The Golem and the Jinni delivers the glimpses into the past that make historical fiction so satisfying, combined with the power of well-told fantasy. New York at the dawn of the 20th century is a city teeming with life as newly-arrived immigrants find their footing in an unfamiliar land. This cultural melting pot is manifested in the story's two titular characters: the golem, a figure from Jewish myth, and the jinni, a spirit from Arabian folklore. The two creatures - normally bidden to serve human masters -find themselves unmoored by circumstances and with no one to serve. Their chance meeting begets an unforgettable journey through the lovingly-crafted city, and provides an outsider's perspective on both the mundane and transcendent in the human experience. Even if fantasy isn't normally in your wheelhouse, this incredible premise – paired with George Guidall’s performance - is sure to deliver. Michael, Audible Editor

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Fiction, 2014

Helene Wecker's dazzling debut 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. When her master dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York Harbor. Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian Desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop.

Struggling to make their way in this strange new place, the Golem and the Jinni try to fit in with their neighbors while masking their true natures. Surrounding them is a community of immigrants: the coffeehouse owner Maryam Faddoul, a pillar of wisdom and support for her Syrian neighbors; the solitary ice cream maker Saleh, a damaged man cursed by tragedy; the kind and caring Rabbi Meyer and his beleaguered nephew, Michael, whose Sheltering House receives newly arrived Jewish men; the adventurous young socialite Sophia Winston; and the enigmatic Joseph Schall, a dangerous man driven by ferocious ambition and esoteric wisdom.

Meeting by chance, the two creatures become unlikely friends whose tenuous attachment challenges their opposing natures, until the night a terrifying incident drives them back into their separate worlds. But a powerful menace will soon bring the Golem and the Jinni together again, threatening their existence and forcing them to make a fateful choice.

Marvelous and compulsively listenable, The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of folk mythology, historical fiction, and magical fable into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale.

©2013 Helene Wecker (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Featured Article: The top 100 fantasy listens of all time


When compiling our list of the best fantasy listening out there, we immediately came up against the age-old question: Is this fantasy or science fiction? The distinction is not as clear as you may think. Dragons, elves, and wizards are definitely fantasy, but what about wizards that also fly space ships? (Looking at you, Star Wars.) For the sake of fantasy purity, the top 100 fantasy listens include the best audio works in all manner of fantasy subgenres.

What listeners say about The Golem and the Jinni

Average customer ratings
Overall
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The rub of culture

I enjoyed the sensitivity and grace with which these layers are woven. I've read it now 3 times and listened once. Multiple story lines so perfectly tied together. So rich, so vibrant...I feel graphic novel or film is in Wecker's future. At least I hope so!!!!

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Not a great audio.

Reader is slow and molasses like. If I am using audio book while driving he makes me sleepy and drowsy. Great story though. Can get confusing at times seeing as how it flits from past to present and on top of that it changes what it calls the characters in different times. So for an audio book that can get annoying.

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Beautiful Story, excellent narration.

This audiobook is amazing!
The story is fantastic and the narration is splendid.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve listened to it, and it always leaves me with crippling book grief. l just want a couple more chapters.

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OUTSTANDING

imaginative, authentic, captivating… I highly recommend this book by helene wecker… looking forward to Hidden Palace

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Charming

I went in without much idea of what to expect, but I ended up loving the book. The pace is pretty slow, it's a story about the main character's thoughts and sense of self, not plot driven. In fact very little happens, and the events that do are only relevant to a handful of people, very different from most fantasy where the stakes generally revolve around saving the world.
I found the whole book charming and refreshing. My favorite part was the way all the different stories ended up interwoven.

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Very enjoyable

Very enjoyable! A little slow paced occasionally, but with likeable, well-developed characters and interesting story.

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Perfection!

Absolutely wonderful, imaginative and gripping story that you never want to hear come to an end. Highest marks on the performance as well. I can't wait to read whatever other treasures Helene Wecker has in store for us!

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Great Idea for a book

A unexpected chick flick that was just as unexpectedly enjoyable. Creative concept and good character development.

Downside - slow moving beginnings. But by the middle of the book I was enthralled.

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I really liked this book it was awesome !

the best book ever, I could not stop listening to it very good story line and the characters wow amazing I highly recommend this book!

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Fresh

Fresh and interesting hope to see more. very original And I liked George guidall as I do in all his narrations

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