“The Golem and the Jinni” by Helene Wecker is about two mythological creatures: Chava, a golem made of clay and brought to life by an evil rabbi, and Ahmad, a jinni freed from his bottle after a thousand years. They become unlikely friends and help each other survive the harsh life in the early 20th century New York immigrant tenements. Wecker’s background blends Jewish and Arabic cultures and it shows, in the beautiful way she weaves the richness of both into the tapestry of American immigrant life. A sequel is coming out soon and I can’t wait to read it!
