The Golem and the Jinni (The Golem and the Jinni, #1)

by Helene Wecker

[Beth C.]

I read *a lot* of books. I always have. I have found that, for me, there tend to be two different basic categories of books: First, those that are quick reads, very enjoyable, but not always lasting. Brain candy, if you will. The majority of books tend to fall into this category. Then there are the deeper, heavier books. Those that require the reader to slow down to properly enjoy the story, where reading too fast means finishing the book before you've properly digested it and ruminated on it. These kinds of books tend to be slightly more difficult to find, but leave you with a deep satisfaction. This second category is where The Golem and The Jinni falls.

Set in 1899 in New York, The Golem and The Jinni tells the story of Chava and Ahmad. Chava is a Golem, created in another country as a wife for a man who ultimately dies on the way to the New World. Ahmad is a Jinni, trapped in a bottle for untold years until accidentally set free by a man attempting to repair the bottle. Both are "impossible" creatures, both are adrift in their own ways and trying to get by in a place they neither asked to be, nor ever expected. And both are amazed when they accidentally meet one night on the streets of New York. Fire and earth, two compatible pieces of nature, they create a friendship - one that will be tested by their own natures as well as the appearance of another who seeks to control death itself.

This novel is an amazing debut. I have found that sometimes, if not most of the time, a book fails to live up to the hype. I'm thrilled that this story not only lived up to it, but surpassed it. The wordcrafting is beautiful - almost like a piece of music or a beautiful tapestry you can reach out and touch. The characters are special - not one of them fails to add something to the writing. New York, where the majority of the tale is set, is also a character with her own special graces and flaws. The history and the lore of these creatures, as well as the Jewish and Syrian communities, are all interwoven seamlessly. It's a fascinating combination of cultures and stories.

This a book that I will pass along to friends and family for them to read and enjoy. I cannot recommend it highly enough!