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A review by saranies
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
4.0
The Golem (a clay being from Jewish folklore) and the Jinni (fire spirit from Arabian folklore) end up in New York City with Polish and Syrian immigrants at the turn of the century (or so). For differing reasons, neither arrived with the human who would be their master. Both have to adjust to life in an America and to life with humans. They encounter each other and, despite their differences (golems are built to serve a master, jinnis are only trapped and enslaved), they find common ground.
I found the first 1/3 of the book fairly slow, but it picked up and I almost missed my subway stop while reading the second half. Wecker does an excellent job of tying up loose ends and wrapping up the story in a very satisfying and unexpected way. Through the main characters' interactions, Wecker also lets us think about larger questions of free will and who has a soul without being preachy.
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction with a dash of mysticism, particularly people who are familiar with NYC.
I found the first 1/3 of the book fairly slow, but it picked up and I almost missed my subway stop while reading the second half. Wecker does an excellent job of tying up loose ends and wrapping up the story in a very satisfying and unexpected way. Through the main characters' interactions, Wecker also lets us think about larger questions of free will and who has a soul without being preachy.
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction with a dash of mysticism, particularly people who are familiar with NYC.