readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
This book is fantasy for old souls. There are no werewolves or vixens or fae, no technology run amok or vampires on killing sprees. There is simply a golem, a woman made out of clay and brought to life by a mysterious master of Jewish mysticism, and there is a jinni, a desert-dwelling spirit of fire.
The golem and the jinni's paths cross in New York City in the early 1900s. The golem is adrift, brought to life by a master who died soon after, kept safe by a kindly elderly rabbi who recognizes her true form. The jinni is only recently released from a thousand-year captivity in a copper flask, still bound to a master who must be long dead.
When they meet, and eventually share their secrets with each other, they become the unlikeliest of friends. There's plenty of danger and suspense as they realize they share a common enemy, an incredibly powerful man who threatens to destroy them both. However, the most compelling aspect of the book is the sweet bond the two unique beings forge. They are very different, but they complement each other in the most serendipitous of ways. Watching how they each choose to use their mysterious talents is a delight—the golem, created for subservience, can hear people's inner desires, and the jinni, though trapped in human form, can channel heat through his hands to melt and mold metal.
Before starting this book, I was concerned that since it isn't about humans, the character development would be flat and lifeless. I am thrilled at how wrong my assumption was. The golem and the jinni are beautifully, vividly realized, and the revelation of their innate humanity is deeply satisfying.
Bottom line: Set aside a week of your life and read this book. You won't regret it.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
The golem and the jinni's paths cross in New York City in the early 1900s. The golem is adrift, brought to life by a master who died soon after, kept safe by a kindly elderly rabbi who recognizes her true form. The jinni is only recently released from a thousand-year captivity in a copper flask, still bound to a master who must be long dead.
When they meet, and eventually share their secrets with each other, they become the unlikeliest of friends. There's plenty of danger and suspense as they realize they share a common enemy, an incredibly powerful man who threatens to destroy them both. However, the most compelling aspect of the book is the sweet bond the two unique beings forge. They are very different, but they complement each other in the most serendipitous of ways. Watching how they each choose to use their mysterious talents is a delight—the golem, created for subservience, can hear people's inner desires, and the jinni, though trapped in human form, can channel heat through his hands to melt and mold metal.
Before starting this book, I was concerned that since it isn't about humans, the character development would be flat and lifeless. I am thrilled at how wrong my assumption was. The golem and the jinni are beautifully, vividly realized, and the revelation of their innate humanity is deeply satisfying.
Bottom line: Set aside a week of your life and read this book. You won't regret it.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
selaana01's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mkinne's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while (years, probably) since I finished a book this quickly. I was hooked by the 3rd page when I started on Sunday and finished it by Tuesday afternoon. The writing is great, the characters are interesting, the story line is compelling. My only quibble is the epilogue: I would rather have imagined the next step for the characters - not every little loose plot line needs to be resolved for a book to have a satisfying ending.
crochanqueen13's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
Dense but rich.
cydneydaniel's review against another edition
5.0
This book contains all my favorite things; folklore, fantasy, historical fiction, and a love story that doesn't feel exhausting or heavy. There's so much history and myth in this book and it's hard to tell what's real and what's fantasy-- but that's what we like in books, isn't it? Chava and Ahmad were such interesting and thoughtful characters. I loved their stories and their questions and their friendship. Honestly, this story was beautiful.
I loved this book and I feel so sad that it's over. I intentionally took my time reading it because I knew from the moment I saw the cover that I would love this book. And I was right. My aunt recommended it to me over a year ago and I'm sad it took me so long to read it.
I loved this book and I feel so sad that it's over. I intentionally took my time reading it because I knew from the moment I saw the cover that I would love this book. And I was right. My aunt recommended it to me over a year ago and I'm sad it took me so long to read it.
indigomoonzebra's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
themoonphoenix's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ponderinstuff's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I can't believe this is Helene Wecker's first novel. She really hit it out of the park with this unusual and ingenious mix of folklore, myth, historical fiction and fantasy. It's a long book but you won't want it to end.
The Golem and the Jinni is a bit hard to describe. It's set in turn-of-the-century New York. Chava is the name of the female lead in the story. She is a 'golem', which is a creature made of clay and brought to life by magic. Ahmad is a 'jinni' who has been recently freed from a flask where he had been held prisoner for a thousand years.
Chava and Ahmad arrive separately in New York and under different circumstances. They do not know each other at first, but each tries to become familiar with the neighborhoods and the era in which they now find themselves. They must be careful and pretend to be regular humans so as not to arouse the suspicions of the citizens of New York.
Chava and Ahmad eventually stumble upon one another and form a friendship. Their experiences, both together and apart, are so rich that you will begin to question the qualities that define and differentiate magic beings from human beings.
Ms. Wecker, I will be anxiously awaiting your next book!
The Golem and the Jinni is a bit hard to describe. It's set in turn-of-the-century New York. Chava is the name of the female lead in the story. She is a 'golem', which is a creature made of clay and brought to life by magic. Ahmad is a 'jinni' who has been recently freed from a flask where he had been held prisoner for a thousand years.
Chava and Ahmad arrive separately in New York and under different circumstances. They do not know each other at first, but each tries to become familiar with the neighborhoods and the era in which they now find themselves. They must be careful and pretend to be regular humans so as not to arouse the suspicions of the citizens of New York.
Chava and Ahmad eventually stumble upon one another and form a friendship. Their experiences, both together and apart, are so rich that you will begin to question the qualities that define and differentiate magic beings from human beings.
Ms. Wecker, I will be anxiously awaiting your next book!