The Golem and the Jinni

A Novel

By: Helene Wecker

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins

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

Great story

I thought this story was unusual and it kept my interest. It has been a while since I listened, but I can still 'feel' the story. This is not a book for people that don't enjoy fantasy. I think of it as realistic fantasy. I am waiting for another story by this author or a continuation of this one. I thought it was very good.

Really enjoyed

I thought this was a wonderful listen. Narrator great and very well written story. This was in my wheelhouse of books and was really happy to get this on the deal of the day

Language of Encouragement

Loved it. Great story & performance. Beautiful language & vividly drawn characters. Thrilling climax & ending.

a beautiful story

I liked this story. The characters were well defined and sympathetic. Narration was well done.

Engrossing story with great historical background

Any additional comments?

This was a book-club read, and almost all of us agreed that though we would not have chosen it otherwise, it turned out to be a favorite! So many interesting themes were explored, as well as an immersive look at life in turn-of-the-century New York. Very enjoyable and highly recommended! We even thought that it would make an excellent replacement for some of the less relevant novels required in jr. high reading.

Really entertaining!!

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I usually read suspense-thrillers, so was not sure this would entertain me, BUT IT DID! I never saw the ending coming, which is a lot to say for me.

A unique and captivating story

This multifaceted story combines myth, religion, magic, clashing cultures, and a deep understanding of human nature – all set in the turn of the 20th century New York.

The characters are solid and interesting (though I’ll admit I didn’t quite fall in love with any of them), each with their individual nature and small peculiarities; and their conflicts – minor and major - come very naturally from who they are.

I usually have a good sense of where the story is going, but with this story I was delighted to find I had no idea what’s going to happen next, or how everything is going to resolve itself in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio performance, too!

Wonderful

I'm not much of a fantasy reader, but this book is a great experience. The story really drew me in and I really cared what happened to the characters. Of course Guidall's narration is flawless.

exciting and different

the more free will we attain, the more unhappy we are. yet who ever wants to lose that freedom, even for blissful ignorance?

loved it. I can't wait for the sequel

worthwhile, interesting, would listen to it again

it was refreshing to read a fantasy that was not about war and great armies. yet still captivating and full of great characters.