61 pages • 2 hours read
Helene WeckerThe Golem and the Jinni
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2013A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Published in 2013, The Golem and the Jinni follows Chava, a Golem, and Ahmad, a Jinni, as they navigate New York City in 1899 while hiding their true identities and adapting to human life, eventually crossing paths and learning to trust each other. The story explores themes of immigration, adaptation, and the struggle to balance past and future. Includes descriptions of self-harm, death by suicide, suicidal ideation, sexual assault, enslavement, racism, sexism, antisemitism, and xenophobia.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker blends historical fiction with fantasy. Critics praise its unique narrative and the richly textured portrayal of early 20th-century New York. The deep character development of the Golem and the Jinni and their unlikely friendship are highlights. Some find the pacing slow, but overall, it’s an enchanting, thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read The Golem and the Jinni?
Readers who relish richly imaginative historical fiction with a blend of folklore and magical realism would enjoy The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. Fans of Neil Gaiman's American Gods or Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus will be captivated by the novel's intricately woven tales of mythological beings navigating early 20th-century New York.