The Golem and the Jinni

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fantasy / Wecker, Helene	4-week checkout	Due 05-08-2024
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Wecker, Helene	4-week checkout	Due 05-22-2024

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a 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. Now they struggle to make their way in a strange new world.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Wonderful character-driven fantasy submitted by ChuckWarp on July 16, 2014, 11:19am The Golem and the Jinni is a delightful read in which mythical creatures from Arab and Jewish cultures meet in New York. As their lives cross they also cross into the lives of the Jewish, Syrian, and WASP communities in New York. The characters are well developed and the plot builds suspense. Highly recommended.

Wonderful Read submitted by jaimonr on June 18, 2018, 11:40am This debut novel by Helene Wecker tells the story of a Golem, Chava and Jinni, Ahmad in 1899 New York. Chava made of clay and Ahmad made of fire cross paths in central park. The story revolves around the Golem and Jinni and their community as, they Struggle to make their way in this strange new place, while masking their true natures.

If you enjoy books written about Kabbalistic magic and mysticism this books is for you. A very enjoyable read and the narration by George Guidall is also a plus.

Great book! submitted by 21621031390949 on July 20, 2018, 2:11pm I loved this book. The story of two mythical creatures set free in New York City in 1899, it was much more interesting and compelling than I expected. Well worth the read.

Stellar story submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on July 21, 2018, 10:28am A stellar story about two mythical creatures – a Jewish golem, that is, a creature made out of clay, and a jinni, a Middle Eastern being born of fire in the desert – who wind up as immigrants in turn-of-the-century New York City. They deal with language barriers, cultural barriers, the need to find work, pressure within their communities, pressure between the Jewish and Arabic communities once they meet, and how they together will deal with their foe. This book works on every level, as Chava and the jinni each struggle with their own identities in this new world, as they work to define a relationship that is acceptable between them, and as they take on the best villain I’ve read in years.

Highly recommended.

Relationships submitted by me11yagn on August 26, 2019, 2:53pm This book was a unique way to look at life. The viewpoints from the golem and the jinni was fascinating.

Wonderful cross-cultural story submitted by kath on July 11, 2021, 9:49pm Interesting story of two mythical creatures who cross paths in New York. The Jewish Golem and Arabic Jinni are more alike than different. The story is engaging and clever as are the descriptions of the Jewish and Syrian immigrant communities. Touches on questions of religion, humanity, what is a soul, eternal life.