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

Unique and Engaging

The Golem and the Jinni has an incredibly unique story which always kept the reader engaged. I especially enjoyed the way Helene crafted the personalities of the two mythological figures and how those personalities interacted with the humans in the story line. She does a great job pulling all the different story lines together to form an unexpected ending.

As always, George Guidall did a fantastic job with the narration. His accents were realistic and annunciation was perfect.

Overall, I would recommend this to a friend looking for a change of pace in the fantasy genre.

A connection story, rather than a love story

This is a lovely exploration of what it means to be human through the eyes of two who are not. The writing is simple yet at times poignant and the characters are complex. I hesitated, not being a big fan of romantic stories, but this is more about characters seeking to find someone who understands them as they try to make their way in a world not built for them. Truly lovely and engaging.

Couldn't stop listening!

Loved it. I was sucked into the story and became attached to the characters. Must listen!

absolutely wonderful story. well worth the time.

fantastic story and narration. best book I've listened to in a long long time. be patient in reading it but well worth it.

Fables and Friends

Would you listen to The Golem and the Jinni again? Why?

The Golem and the Jinni was definitely worth a second read, with magic and intrigue, these characters are easy to fall for. And the writing is detailed without being overzealous.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Golem and the Jinni?

When the Golem first arrives in the thriving city of New York, her excitement and anxiety is splashed across the page, making you worry for her.

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to anything by this voice artist before, but his voice is pleasant and has character.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

An unlikely friendship and the ruined Rabbi

Absolutely loved it!!!

Beautiful story filled with unique and interesting characters. I fell in love immediately! This story is unlike anything I have ever heard before. I will definitely be looking for more by this author.

Enchanting tale

I did enjoy this story very much. Although it progressed very slowly. That being said, the author did a superb job of painting the scenes and fleshing out the characters very well. I had no problem visualizing the world as presented. The story is magical and believable at the same time. The performance was top notch.

An inhuman immigrant story

What did you love best about The Golem and the Jinni?

The story is an immigrant story from the perspective of individuals who aren't human. This just makes it fascinating to listen too.

A great listen

I purchased this book on a whim, it was on sale. It is one if the better books I have listened to on audible. outstanding character development, great writing and narration.

Unique!

What an enjoyable story. Such an interesting tale! Some hopping about from one scene to another without chapter breaks but that seems to go with the tenor of the story. We recommend this book!