The Golem and the Jinni
Helene Wecker, 2013
New York: 1899. Chava is a golem - a woman made of clay brought to life by a disgraced rabbi - who arrives alone in New York when her master/husband dies on the boat over. Ahmad is a jinni - a creature made of fire, bound a thousand years ago to a copper flask and accidentally released by a Manhattan tinsmith. Together these two creatures of myth try to adapt to a world unlike any other, and find themselves facing a challenge that they might not survive.
I've figured out the easiest way to win me over - combine my two favorite genres of Magical Fantasy and Historical Fiction. I can't even comprehend how the author came up with this idea - writing a novel with a golem and a jinni as its main characters, and making them seem real - but she did it amazingly well. And it's her first novel! I will definitely be following this author's work.
But even if fantasy isn't really your thing, this is a wonderful immigrant story, as well as a story about love and friendship and believing in yourself. One of the best books I've read in a long time.
I've figured out the easiest way to win me over - combine my two favorite genres of Magical Fantasy and Historical Fiction. I can't even comprehend how the author came up with this idea - writing a novel with a golem and a jinni as its main characters, and making them seem real - but she did it amazingly well. And it's her first novel! I will definitely be following this author's work.
But even if fantasy isn't really your thing, this is a wonderful immigrant story, as well as a story about love and friendship and believing in yourself. One of the best books I've read in a long time.
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