The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker - 2013 - 832 Pages

In Jewish folklore, a golem  is  an animated anthropomorphic being that is magically created entirely from inanimate matter. The word was used to mean an amorphous, unformed material in Psalms and medieval writing. The most famous golem narrative involves Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the late-16th-century rabbi of Prague. Wikipedia

Jinni, also Romanized as djinn or Anglicized as genies, are supernatural creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian and later Islamic mythology and theology. Jinn are not a strictly Islamic concept; rather, they may represent pagan beliefs integrated into Islam. Wikipedia

The Golem and The Jinni is an imaginative, captivating mix of historical fiction and fantasy.  Largely set in Jewish and Syrian immigrant communities in late 19th century New York City, it combines Eastern Jewish lore about Golems with Legends of a fire based creature, the Jinni, found in Syria folklore.  The chapters   in the opening sections of the book alternate between those centering on the   Golem and chapters set among Syrian immigrants of the period starring the Jenni.

We learn how the Golem, made to pass for a young Jewish woman ends up in New York City passing for a widow.  An old Rabbi realizes she is a Golem and teaches her to pass for human.

With the Jenni we witness his release from an Antique  bottle, which came to New York City with Syrian immigrants into which he was  put by an evil wizard. The Jenni can assume human form.  The owner took it to a tinsmith to be repaired. Both can understand numerous languages and partially read minds.

Both need to conceal their identity.  They know people would fear them.

We follow the twists and turns of their lives, like immigrants, they face many challenges adjusting to their new enviorment.  Both find jobs and form relationships with people.  

It was very interesting to learn about the Syrian immigrant experience, which I knew close to nothing about.  

As the plot advances the Jenni and the Golem meet on the streets. The Golem is surprised when the Jenni sees she is not human.  They have their differences from the humans to bond upon.

There are lots of exciting events, both have sexual encounters with humans.  Numerous cliffhangers kept me interested.

This is   detailed book let us see how people lived.

The Golem and the Jenni has been very well received.

I bought the Kindle edition on sale for $2.95, it is back up to $11.95.  

I enjoyed this book a lot.  However, at full price I do not suggest acquiring it to those I do not know.

Helene Wecker grew up in Libertyville, Illinois, a small town north of Chicago, and received her Bachelor’s in English from Carleton College in Minnesota. After graduating, she worked a number of marketing and communications jobs in Minneapolis and Seattle before deciding to return to her first love, fiction writing. Accordingly, she moved to New York to pursue a Master’s in fiction at Columbia University. She now lives near San Francisco with her husband and daughter. Her first novel, THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI, was published in April 2013 by HarperCollins. Its sequel, THE IRON SEASON, will be released in 2018.

From http://www.helenewecker.com/about-helene-wecker/

Oleander Bousweau

Helene Wecker grew up in Libertyville, Illinois, a small town north of Chicago, and received her Bachelor’s in English from Carleton College in Minnesota. After graduating, she worked a number of marketing and communications jobs in Minneapolis and Seattle before deciding to return to her first love, fiction writing. Accordingly, she moved to New York to pursue a Master’s in fiction at Columbia University. She now lives near San Francisco with her husband and daughter. Her first novel, THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI, was published in April 2013 by HarperCollins. Its sequel, THE IRON SEASON, will be released in 2018.

From http://www.helenewecker.com/about-helene-wecker/