A review by charlote_1347
The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker

4.0

It is easiest to start with the few things that confounded or displeased me about this book, and they are few. Schaalman's entrapment in the copper tin, for example, perplexes me. Maybe I'm labouring under the delusion that only a djinni can be contained, and that's where the problem originates? Regardless, that aspect of the ending proved unsatisfying, and seemed the littlest bit rushed. The only other thing I had issue with was Saleh's significance as a character. He was interesting, and I sympathised with him, but his place in the novel wasn't justified, at least in my opinion. Every other character had a purpose; they were a cog in the mechanical clockwork that kept the plot functioning and advancing, but Saleh's purpose seemed...purposeless. Then again, both these issues are entangled, so my dissatisfaction with them might be explained away with a second read. But on to the amazing aspects of this book, which there are many. So many more than the negatives. The setting, to begin with, is marvellously unique, brilliant, authentic - several scenes had me closing my eyes and believing I was there, standing on the streets, inhaling the sea air, immersing myself in cultures. And that's another element I was astounded by - the rich diversity of cultures, religions and races that Helene Wrecker explores in this book. She doesn't hide from the unknown, from the supernatural and mystical, and the deeply emotional. The Golem and the Djinni is a fairy tale, but one set so starkly in reality, that it translates to every aspect of human life, as well as to fantasy. The mythology in this book evoked a similar fascination and excitement as 1899 New York. Chava and Ahmad were distinct opposites, and their interactions were so...heartfelt, so honest, so...truthful, that I almost cried towards the end, when their freedom is threatened. They tear human nature, faith and belief apart, and question everything. It's an awakening, a demand for justification, a yearning for understanding, for enlightenment, to belong. The Golem and the Djinni is not simply a paperback novel, written in a magical realistic style, with good reviews and a fresh take on a new subject; it is a work of art, a pioneering piece of psychology, a take on history from a perspective so far in its infancy that the sheer essence of its outlook, its philosophies and ideologies, can send us wild with its originality and transparency. I would recommend this to anyone looking to read a book - genre, audience, length, author, setting...none of it matters. This is a book that will change lives, but it will affect each one in its own way.