• 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
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Performance
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Story
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written and performed

It was a wonderful heartwarming story and Guidall performed each character with such unique voice it was like an audio play!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It was an engaging story, that felt good.

I liked the characters, and it was a look into rash decisions and there consequences, while trying to explore life.

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A very pleasant surprise

This was a great book! Both the writing and narration were excellent. I wasn't sure what to make of the story when I first purchased the book but it turned out to be engrossing, pulling you into the golem and jinni's new world.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Literally Fantastic

What a lovely book. It takes a deep dive into two of the mystic legends that have fascinated us for eons. Poignantly told. The ending was perfect. George Guidall was spot on with the reading.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wow!

This is a very unexpected find and has now made it to my top 5 books of all time. Amazing story, so fresh yet so timeless. And the narrator George Guidall does an astonishing job reading it. Highly recommend!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Intriguing storyline well told

I liked the settings as the story painted a picture of both the desert and of 19th century New York City. The characters were equally well defined and understandable.
A little disturbing sometimes were the occasions where the scenes shifted back and forth from the present to the past. However, it all made sense eventually!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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19 hours of pure entertainment

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The characters and multiple intertwined stories were masterful. The writing was flawless. The narration was perfect and enchanting. The time passed too quickly and I was sad to reach the end. More, please!

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Hard to put down!

Memorable story with enthralling narration. Hard to put down, would purchase a followup to this adventure.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story, well read.

If I.B.Singer and Salman Rushdie had a love child, this is the book the child would write. I'll leave out any discussion of style, character, setting, etc., because in sum, this is a fucking great read and/or listen!!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Surprisingly enjoyable.

This is not my usual choice for an audiobook. However, I am glad I took a chance. All the disparate components are woven together and move at a fluid pace. The story and characters just work.

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