Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

22 reviews

cadimy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

jackiepreston's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

megan_mac_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

So imaginative ~ I was captivated by all the characters. Can't wait to read book 2!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Slavery, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

abeplaut's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Certain bits of mythology and folklore were invented to tell this story. One small complaint is the inclusion of a “name changed at Ellis Island” sort of scene. This is a common myth among many Jewish American families that names were changed during immigration proceedings. The truth is that people petitioned the state of NY to change names after the fact. That one detail was a distraction from an otherwise exciting story set in 19th century NYC at the convergence of Yiddish/Ashkenazi Jewish and Syrian and Arab folklore. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

raekynnes's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

nessynoname's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There is no getting around the fact that this book is incredibly slow. Part of that comes from an abundance of detail in the writing style and careful introspection of each character. But if you are patient with the narrative you will find an incredibly rich and meticulously plotted story that wraps itself up into a neat and elegant bow by the end. 
I am not incredibly into the historical genre but this story plays to several of my specific interests. I very much enjoyed learning about the not-oft utilized myth creatures of golems and jinn and appreciated how thoroughly grounded in cultural contexts the author aspires to present them. The author seems to take great care giving detail to the Jewish and Syrian communities, both New and Old World, featured in the story, and every character is unique and grounded. I also deeply appreciate that main characters Ahmad and Chava, while not exactly being *not* romantically interested in each other, have factors to their relationship outside of romantic intrigue and are allowed to organically come to value and enjoy each other's company rather than being smashed together out of obligation of being the male and female leads. In closing, this is a lovingly and meticulously crafted book. Slow as it is, I would not begrudge someone being impatient with it but I greatly appreciated my time with it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, and Classism

stephanelli's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

queerloras's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely spectacular. Fucking brilliant. That's it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Drug use

zia_c's review against another edition

adventurous informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I wish everyone, especially the jinni and the golem a very happy and peaceful life ahead in this story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Excrement, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Slavery

irisraerah's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm not entirely sure how to review this book without it soundly like a rambling jumble of unconsidered praises, but trust that I have considered and The Golem and The Jinni has earned its praise, and my brevity here is to save myself from sounding like a monologuing child.

The Golem and The Jinni is the kind of magical realism that lets you forget your grounding in reality. Wecker's characters are familiar, not in the sense that they are retellings of known "characters," but in their easy ability to fit into the world as one has known it. Yes, there are magical creatures and spells in this world, but life is life, and the experience of it persists. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death, Slavery, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment