• 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 (18,660 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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Story
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  • 2 Stars
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Very intricate and absorbing!!! Makes you believe in magic lamps...

Great read! Very intricate, detailed & absorbing!!! Makes you believe in magic lamps...loved the accents.

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captivating

This is a truly captivating story, well crafted and well read. I loved every minute!

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Great story, perfect narrator chosen

Great story, and the perfect narrator was chosen to tell the story. I really enjoyed this clever, unique story!

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Surprising and enthralling!

I did not know what to expect from this story but was pleasantly surprised! It was creative and kept me on the edge of my seat and rooting for the characters. The narration was really wonderful.

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Delightfully superb!!!!

This was undoubtedly the best book I have listened to so far! The performance was perfect. I truly enjoyed the story line.... simply could not stop listening. The ending left my imagination wide open to more adventures, twisted turns of events, and humorous squabbles to which the Golem and the Jinni undoubtedly experience through the end of time. I completely recommend this book to everyone!

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Excellent, balanced tale of friendship and love

Such a wonderful book! The characters may be supernatural, but their desires, thoughts, and motivations were so real! Looking forward to reading more from the author!

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Loved it!

Couldn’t stop listening and then didn’t want it to end. May listen to it again.

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A relationship that I can respect.

Probably the sweetest love that I've ever heard of. No riddikulus postering, just caring people.

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George Guidell

I think anything performed by George Guidell is a wonderful read but, this was good

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Just lovely

Explore late 19th century New York's immigrant communities with this fascinating tale of a golem and a djinni. Strange circumstances throw these two superhuman beings onto foreign shores where they must learn to sink or swim, like all new immigrants, although with these two, the stakes are higher. Will the golem lose control and go on a killing rampage,? Will the djinni free himself from bondage to the evil magician that bound him? The lives of the two main characters twine and intertwine again and again. You will certainly enjoy the fascinating journey to the exciting , satisfying resolution of this beautifully told tale.

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