The Golem and the Jinni: A Novel

The Golem and the Jinni is one of those meticulously researched period pieces that makes you feel like you are truly in another place and time, in this case the lively, diverse metropolis of New York City right around the beginning of the 20th century (with the occasional foray into Eastern Europe and Syria). Set against the backdrop of the immigrant experience, we follow the two main titular characters (Chava, the curious, intelligent and practical Golem and Ahmad, the impulsive, creative and sensuous Jinni) as they enter New York and learn to live a new way in a new land. Chava is adopted by an elderly rabbi from the Lower East Side, and Ahmad is befriended by a kind tinsmith from Little Syria, and we get a fascinating look into the specific sub-cultures of both the Jewish and the Arabic immigrant communities, in many ways so different but in some ways so similar. Just like every other immigrant, both Chava and Ahmad must learn to cope with a variety of confusing and unfamiliar new circumstances and people, while simultaneously trying to both understand and hide their unique natures as magical beings. And of course...they find each other, connect and disconnect and connect again, and their relationship is as fresh and interestingly complicated as the teeming streets of New York.In addition to the beautifully drawn setting, it is the characters that make this book really shine. Though Wecker has clearly done her homework on the myths and legends of both golems and genies, and creates her representative characters in respectful and culturally appropriate ways, she also manages to take those mythical characteristics and embody them in people who feel real and true and unique as individuals. Earthy Chava and fiery Ahmad are each totally convincing as both representatives of their magical types and as individuals, and the way they relate to each other and to their human communities makes for endlessly fascinating reading. There are a supporting cast of vivid and sympathetic secondary characters as well, who are each also excellently rooted in their respective cultures both old and new. Even her villain is believable and actually somewhat sympathetic.Speaking of villain, Wecker also layers a really solid and interesting plot (and quite a few subplots) in here, with plenty of action, drama and setbacks that keep the book a page-turner right up to the last page. The whole story resolves in a very satisfactory way, although selfishly I am hoping maybe there might be a sequel someday.I truly adored this book and have been recommending it to everyone I know. It seems to be a great “crossover” book—people who don’t normally read fantasy like it, and people who read only fantasy like it. I even made my book group read it, and most of them would prefer not to touch fantasy with a ten-foot pole. If you like great worldbuilding, vivid characters, beautiful writing and wise insights into identity, community and what it means to be a stranger in a strange land, you will love The Golem and the Jinni.

The Golem and the Jinni is an interesting and rich tale that I enjoyed reading. I completed its 486 pages in less than a week since I found it hard to put down.Despite the book's fantastical title and the fact the two primary characters are mythological creatures, it is a very grounded story, full of believable characters, honest emotions and engrossing situations. The book I might compare this to (in an odd way) is Confederacy of Dunces, with the way the author introduces layer upon layer of overlapping and interconnecting stories and characters that ricochet against each other in ways that the reader could not foresee.I really enjoyed two things about The Golem and the Jinni. The first is that the shifting layers of stories kept me guessing and very much held my interest. The second is that Wecker has a wonderful way of building a rich narrative with a minimum of words--situations and characters seem to tumble out at almost breakneck speed, but the story never feels rushed. In the hands of a lesser writer, this book could have been twice as long (or perhaps even a series), but despite the agility of language, <B>The Golem and the Jinni</B> remains rich and engaging.If you know or love New York, there are additional aspects to enjoy about this tale, which occurs in the city at the very beginning of the 20th Century. Knowledge of NYC is certainly not required, but the scenes set in Central Park, Washington Square and other locales may resonate a bit more for someone familiar with New York and its history.If I had quibbles, it is that the story in rare moments can be a bit too contrived. A character at one point decides he never wants to see anyone again and resolves to leave the city, but he inexplicably tells one odd and disconnected character where he'll be staying that night--the better to advance the plot later on. One scene that occurs in the mansion of a wealthy family feels false (but advances the story necessarily), which is very rare in this story full of realistic dialog and rich characters.I hope my quibbles won't discourage anyone from reading The Golem and the Jinni. I very much enjoyed it, and if it falls a bit short of a five-star book because of a couple of too-convenient twists and turns in the story, it hardly detracted from my enjoyment reading it.

One of my favourite reads in the past years. The book oozes history and atmosphere of the NY.

This is a riveting tale filled with magic, love, fear etc etc!! The Golem & the Jinni is so well written, a full bodied, well matured tale that will appeal to a host of readers. Beautifully haunting....

Sono dell'idea che questa sia una di quelle storie facilmente tramutabili in film o in serie tv! In alcuni momenti ho avuto difficoltà ad andare avanti, non ha un ritmo veloce (ma nemmeno troppo lento, effetivamente) ma è una storia che appassiona e credo che andrebbe riletta piú volte per cogliere appieno tutte le sfumature che contiene. Chava, il nostro golem è una creatura fuori dal comune ma con caratteristiche totalmente umane, viviamo gli eventi attraverso i suoi occhi, una creatura estranea che si deve adattare ad una vita che non le appartiene. Personaggi secondari vivi che arrichiscono la storia, plot interessanti e inaspettati, il modo in cui tutto è collegato... non me lo aspettavo! E poi c'è l'altro protagonista Ahmad, totalmente diverso da Chavaleh (come la chiama la mrs. Radzin ) eppure si comprendono e completano a vicenda, creando un legame unico e speciale e senza mai rinnegare la propria natura. Davvero consigliato, inoltre a breve uscirà il seguito! P.s; questo è il libro di debutto dell'autrice, una scrittura davvero eccezionale, non posso far altro che aspettarmi capolavori da lei se queste sono le premesse.

A história é muito lenta, são muitos os personagens que perpassam pela narração. No entanto, é muito interessante a forma como as histórias vão tomando figura, se tornando um entrelaçado bem arquitetado. Requer paciência para a leitura, mas é de um encantamento peculiar.

Never read book like this one, awesome plotting and the best narration.