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  • The Golem and the Jinni

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Helene Wecker
  • Narrated by: George Guidall
  • Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (205 ratings)

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The Golem and the Jinni

Written by: Helene Wecker
Narrated by: George Guidall
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Publisher's Summary

Audie Award Finalist, Fiction, 2014

Helene Wecker's dazzling debut novel tells the story of two supernatural creatures who appear mysteriously in 1899 New York. Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a strange 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.

Struggling to make their way in this strange new place, the Golem and the Jinni try to fit in with their neighbors while masking their true natures. Surrounding them is a community of immigrants: the coffeehouse owner Maryam Faddoul, a pillar of wisdom and support for her Syrian neighbors; the solitary ice cream maker Saleh, a damaged man cursed by tragedy; the kind and caring Rabbi Meyer and his beleaguered nephew, Michael, whose Sheltering House receives newly arrived Jewish men; the adventurous young socialite Sophia Winston; and the enigmatic Joseph Schall, a dangerous man driven by ferocious ambition and esoteric wisdom.

Meeting by chance, the two creatures become unlikely friends whose tenuous attachment challenges their opposing natures, until the night a terrifying incident drives them back into their separate worlds. But a powerful menace will soon bring the Golem and the Jinni together again, threatening their existence and forcing them to make a fateful choice.

Marvelous and compulsively listenable, The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of folk mythology, historical fiction, and magical fable into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale.

©2013 Helene Wecker (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

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What listeners say about The Golem and the Jinni

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Beautifully written

Amazing story very well written. a nice flow to the story keeping the reader engaged, the whole story converging smoothly on to one point.

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Wonderful original story

Loved everything about this book. Performance was spot on too. I look forward to more works of fiction from this author.

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  • JOE
  • 2023-06-15

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I resisted reading this for a long time, because I was worried that it would be a sad appropriation of the myths and lore of other cultures, but I was completely one over. And as a sidenote, the magic apposite exist in this book, is a minor element, and does not drive the plot, or save it, But provides background for the creatures. This is a must read of contemporary fiction.

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1 person found this helpful

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excellent recommendation

audible chose this book for me and it was the best listen yet! algorithms are good for some things! but I did truly enjoy this book it was a mystical journey through time and kept me captivated throughout both the author and the narrative where exhilarating.

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Enjoyed this book

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I did a quick quiz and this book came up as the one I should read. Read it over 2 days. I was quite surprised at how many t kept me interested for 19 hours. Hey ya a good read well with Ruth a credit

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Riveting delightful fantasy

Historically accurate glimpse of Jesus and Syrian life in 1900 New York City, sparkling with mystery and profoundly rich characters. Couldn’t put it down.

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Beautiful book

This has become one of my all time favourites. The book is gentle, beautiful and gripping. Perfectly read by the narrator. I’m buying the sequel right away.
Thank you!

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  • Kim
  • 2022-08-09

Good book

I wasn’t sure at first but once you get into the characters it’s a non-stop listen to the end. Not my usual listen but I liked what I read/heard.

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Riveting and brilliant

This is a fantastic tale of drama, action, romance, villains, everything beautiful that is all wrapped up into a magical world of reading.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Sweet story of becoming oneself

I liked the characters but the plot is predictable. I would consider this a good, easy leisure read.

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