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

Long, but worth the listen. Very rich and detailed

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

What other book might you compare The Golem and the Jinni to and why?

Splendors and Glooms. For the detailed descriptions and similar period piece

Which scene was your favorite?

The Jinni in the desert.

If you could take any character from The Golem and the Jinni out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The Jinni. He was a fascinating character.

Layered, deep, yet still entertaining

As others have said, there are many layers to this story. Each one of the characters is fully developed and presented from their own unique perspective. Although easy to state, this is a difficult task that the author executed with style. The end result is that you care for each one of their characters throughout their journey.

While the two title characters are magical in nature, magic and the supernatural do not saturate this story. It is, instead, used subtlety to enhance the tale. As a result, the reader can focus on the characters and the setting of the late 1800's New York.

The narrator did a very good job, but it took me a bit to get into his cadence. I prefer a faster reader, but his style matched the unhurried pace of that era.

It really is hard to categorize the story. Is it fantasy? It is, a little. Is it a folk tale on a grand scale? It's that too. It's many things, and so I can't really say who should read this book. If you like a many layered story, and can get by without lots of violence and sex, then you'll probably enjoy this book. Just keep an open mind when you do.

Awesome

This is a great book with George Guidall, the best narrator ever. Always enjoy one of his books. I'll listen to books just based on his narration... speaking of which it seems like time to search for more!

I really liked it

i didn't like the ending but the book was really good and I recommend to everyone
the character development is fantastic in this book

Worth the listen

The book took a little while to get into its stride, but once the setup was taken care of the story was hard to put down. The struggles of the titular characters as they try to live among an unfamiliar society are well told and fleshed out. I think the performance is good for the most part. my only complaint - and why it loses a star for me - is that there aren't breaks between perspectives which makes it hard to tell when the story has shifted scenes.

Great evocation of early NYC

loved the exploration of mythical characters in gritty early NYC immigrant communities. also really liked the character development and the way the prices fell together. great narrator too... seemed to fit in with the story.

Excellent

Excellent delivery of a wonderful story... A whimsical tale that grabbed me from the start and held me to the end

A modern myth

I was attracted to this book because it sounded like a modern, urban version of an ancient myth, and indeed it was! It's a myth about the powers of imagination, the power of intent, and the capacity for change. It brought me back to my childhood when I sincerely believed in genies, and listening to this book let me believe in them again.

The choice of George Guidall as narrator was what initially attracted me to this story, and he only added to its magic with his wise, patient voice.

My biggest complaint is that the story became a bit long and repetitive at times, which could have been cured with editing.

If you enjoy ancient or modern myths, or a solid Guidall narration, check this book out! You won't be disappointed.

A bit long but I persevered

I would recommend this audible version. Narrator is good, easy to listen too. Story is a bit convoluted but pieces fall together. A good listen and a long listen.

loved, this story. great reader as well.

excellent story. reader was good also. I'd certainly like to see more stories from this author.