• 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 (18,654 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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I loved this audiobook!

This may be my favorite audiobook! I bought this audiobook because I was intrigued by the title. The story drew me in from the very beginning. The first few chapters seemed almost like freestanding, related short stories. As the book progresses, the stories slowly become more and more interconnected. The intricacies of the plot are masterfully executed, I was impressed at how the author brought seemingly unrelated characters and plot elements together in a very believable way. I have listened to George Guidall's narrations in the past and knew that I would not be disappointed. I wasn't. He handled the various accents and inflections very capably and the dialogue was very easy to follow. My only disappointment was that the book ended. I would love to see more fiction from this author.

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Wonderful Story

If you could sum up The Golem and the Jinni in three words, what would they be?

Couldn't Stop Listening

What did you like best about this story?

It's about two mythical creatures trying to make their way in the real world. Story is very well told. The performance is fabulous. Both my teenaged son and I were both scrambling for the ipod to hit play whenever we got into the car.

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

This was the first performance I've heard by George Guidall. It was amazing. I will look for other books performed by him.

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Perfectly crafted!

Sincerely loved every word of The Golem and the Jinni. The narration was wonderful as well.

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Just a really good story

Rare is the truly original tale these say. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Great job by both author and narrator.

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Better than I expected!

I wasn't sure what to expect of this story, but I ended up enjoying it very much. I loved the narrator, his voice was very rich. This was definitely an unexpected story, different from anything I have listened to. Until this book, I didn't know what a golem was. I hope there is a sequel, because it felt like it should have another chapter at least. What happens to them? How do they live their lives?

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phenomenal story-telling

full of powerfully written characters, it's a fantastic historical fiction that leaves you joyfully crying at the end.

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a nice entertaining book

I thought this book was very entertaining. It caught my attention throughout the whole thing, it was a little bit predictable. The performance was awesome would definitely listen to that actor again

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Well written and engaging!

This book is absolutely phenomenal! The author does a great job of providing depth to the characters. I love the story-line!

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Very engaging book.

I listened to this story with my 11 year old son. We were both hooked! The story takes you to a different time and place but with little strain.

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loved it

I read it may years ago. It makes me happy to listen to it now. 💖

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