Pages: 646
Published: 23rd April 2013
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Content warnings: Attempted suicide, sexual references, misogyny
This was a buddy read with my friend Kriti. When she suggested this book I was unsure what to expect and I knew that it would be out of my comfort zone, but I ended up enjoying it. Read on to find out my overall thoughts…
One cold night, two newcomers emerge onto the streets of 1899 New York, and it is never the same again.
But these two are more than strangers to this land, they are strangers to this world. From the depths of folkloric history come Chava the golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi and Ahmad, a djinni, born in the ancient Syrian desert and trapped in an old copper flask released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop.
Two companions who were never meant to be released, and never meant to meet. And when they do, their opposing natures will be sealed by a special bond, but one that is threatened by watching eyes, roaming owners and a misunderstanding world.
This is an intricately woven and profoundly unique historical fantasy that carries enormous thematic depth throughout its lengthy duration. Eloquently written and possessing a plot that only falls completely into place towards the end, it stays true to the title as the focus centres on the genesis and subsequent lives of two characters who have little in common except for the fact they are different to everyone else.
It is certainly not the kind of book you could devour in a short period of time, yet it is still compelling and often thought-provoking with several philosophical questions being touched upon along the way, especially in regards to religion and faith. This is noticeable in the interactions between characters both human and supernatural, and it is clear that that the author put considerable thought into creating the immersive landscape in which the story takes place.
A woman made of clay and boasting immense physical strength, the Golem arrives in New York City lost and alone after the man she was created for died on their voyage from Poland. She is taken in by an aged rabbi and given the name Chava, and is slowly able to integrate into society while having to conceal her true nature.
Also in New York, a jinni originally from the ancient Syrian desert becomes stranded after being accidentally released by Arbeely, a tinsmith. The mysterious creature is soon known as Ahmad and he is allowed to work at Arbeely’s shop, but he feels uncomfortable and restless in this world, feeling a sense of superiority towards all of its inhabitants.
But then by chance, he meets Chava, another outsider and someone he can finally consider an equal. They spend several evenings in each other’s company until everything changes when Chava loses control, leaving Ahmad alone and having to pick up the pieces. At the same time, there is someone else in New York who is intent on ensnaring them both.
The opening to the book sets the scene brilliantly, in a way that really brings out the originality of the concept and all the intrigue that comes with it. There is a sense of the unknown about both main characters which makes it hard to predict what kind of path they will end up taking and how they will adapt to being in civilisation. All we do know is that somewhere along the line, they will eventually meet.
What makes it even more arresting is that Chava and Ahmad are such unusual creatures – the kind of beings that you do not often see represented in literature – and have opposite personalities. They are extremely well developed and both have strong character arcs, with the connection between them turning out to be much less extricable than expected in the beginning.
She may have been created in such a way, but I took Chava straight into my heart. With her desire to please others, powerful conscience and unshakeable kindness, she is so adorable and sweet. That makes her story all the more moving as she is effectively trapped within her own existence, a fact explored at length in her relationships with Michael and the rabbi, and I connected with her very easily.
Ahmad was rather less engaging, at least at first. He is reckless and has this air of self-importance, but later on he discovers a sense of purpose and becomes more likeable. Indeed, it is only towards the end where we understand just how complex a character he is, as a surprising vulnerability is revealed beneath the somewhat vain exterior.
There are a lot of other characters in this book, the most interesting of whom was Chava’s creator, Yedudah Schaalman. He is exceptionally crafty and arrives in New York with an ulterior motive, which poses a number of pressing questions for the reader. Elsewhere, the rabbi’s internal conflicts about whether to destroy Chava or let her live made for a gripping sub-plot; Michael is quite tragic in some ways, while Sophia’s lonely innocence is endearing.
The entire story is written in the third person and although most of the attention is on Chava and Ahmad, there are several occasions where the narrative switches to other characters and timeframes. I found these sections distracting and hard to follow, as even once some of the loose ends are resolved there were things that did not make a huge amount of sense. This is perhaps the main reason why in places, the plot did seem to drag.
One of the things that did stand out was the setting, which gives the book its absorbing atmosphere and flavour. The Jewish community in New York was such a fundamental part of it, with their culture particularly embedded in Chava’s storyline and in turn helping me learn a whole host of new words. Meanwhile, the scenes that took place in the desert made it feel desolate and oppressive.
In spite of the slow pace and the unwelcome moments where it goes off on a tangent, the writing is very accomplished and imaginative as the author just about manages to hold together a broad and ambitious concept. Then we have the ending, which is one of uncertainty for both main characters, so I would be interested to find out how they fare in the sequel.
Overall, with its extensive cast of vivid characters and the beguiling world in which it takes place, this book defies comparison in many aspects. There might be issues with the pacing and areas that lack a little in terms of clarity, but it is an impressive and wide-ranging piece of work that goes way beyond a simple tale of two misfit mythical creatures.
After completing a degree in English and a further qualification in fiction writing, Helene Wecker published work in several literary journals before releasing The Golem And The Jinni in 2013, her first novel. Just like in this case, her stories often involve mythical creatures.
It was a success, being awarded the Mythopoeic Award for Adult Literature, the VCU Cabell Award for First Novel, and the Harold U. Ribalow Prize. The sequel was finally released in June 2021, entitled The Hidden Palace. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and children.
An impressively written book that was full of depth. The plot did get bogged down at times and it was quite long, but generally the characters and themes gave me plenty to enjoy.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Stephen Reads Books 