The Golem and the Djinn by Helene Wrecker

Book Blurb

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.

My Review
I have so many books on my shelves that I keep meaning to read but somehow never get time to actually read them, and time passes as they sit there. So, this Christmas I decided that I would finally read The Golem and the Djinn after four years of sitting on the shelf. I always loved the idea of this book, of two mystical/folklore creatures randomly meet in New York 1899 and how they see the city and those who live there, added to a mix of two of my favourite genres, Historical Fiction and Fantasy.

I have to say that The Golem and the Djinn is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read with the most fascinating characters. Chava is Golem, made in Poland out of clay to serve her master, who unfortunately dies in the crossing to New York, leaving her unteathered and at a loss. Ahmed is a Djinn, released from a flask by the tin smith Boutros Arbeely, accidentally when he is repairing the flask. Two disparate characters, Ahmed an ifrit of fire who can live for hundreds of years and Chava made of cold clay, and can only be killed by her master. I loved seeing New York of 1899 through their eyes, the districts of Little Syria and the Yiddish quarter where they live, and the wider city of the parks, the life of the rooftops at night and the different people they meet. There is also their philosophy on life, humans and the situations they find themselves in.

Helene Wrecker’s writing is lyrical and haunting as she brings New York of 1899 to life. Her descriptions of life in both Little Syria and the Yiddish Quarter Why are you standing up? I’ve only had half an hour but I was freezing is delightful, exploring the people who live there, how the continue their countries traditions and how close they are as a community. These places also have their own memorable characters, Maryam who owns the coffee shop at the heart of Little Syria and Mahmoud who sells ice cream on the street, Rabbi Meyer who becomes Chava’s mentor and the Jewish bakery she works in. By the end of the book I felt these characters were old friends, knowing their backstories and being part of their everyday life. I thought the atmosphere of 1899 New York was captured beautifully, not only in the descriptions of places but also in the hopes and fears of those that live there, the expectations and dreams of their daily lives.

I loved reading The Golem and the Djinn, it s a book to be savoured like a glass of red wine. Helene Wrecker’s characterisation is extraordinary, bringing her characters and their lives into vivid colour, even Chava and Ahmed. This haunting tale, of love, power, life and death is simply stunning and a book I don’t think I will ever forget. This gave me a real book hangover but there is light in the sequel The Hidden Palace that I’m definitely moving up my reading list.