Helene wecker is an american author who was born and raised in a small town near chicago, illinois. After graduating, she worked a number of marketing and communications jobs in minneapolis and seattle before deciding she wanted to write something longer than a press release. The novel is set during the world war i era and continues the story. Marion chats with helene wecker fantasy literature. The golem and the jinni helene wecker wecker, helene. An interview with helene wecker, author of the golem and the jinni. Wecker has blended jewish and arab mythologies to create a magical novel set in 1899 new york. The golem and the jinni is one of those rare books that completely draws you into its world. 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. The golem and the jinni by helene wecker devourer of books. Helene wecker audio books, best sellers, author bio. They both are forced to learn to pass as human to survive.
The ark of this second flood is a childrens hospital that comes loose from. Im helene wecker, author of the golem and the jinni. A chicagoarea native who has made her home in minneapolis, seattle, and new york, she now lives near san francisco with her husband and daughter. The golem and the jinni 9780062110831 in helene weckers debut novel, an unusual pair of magical immigrants arrive in new york city in 1899, creating an improbable connection between jewish and arabic mythology. Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient syrian desert. Helene took some time from her schedule to answer some of my questions and to give me a signed copy of the golem and the jinni which ill pass on to one random commenter marion deeds.
The historical part is set in new york around the year 1900, at which time the city was divided into many segments according to the country of origin of various immigrant groups. I dont normally read a book in this genre, but from the first page i was caught in the storys grip. For those of you reading this post, please remember that this discussion may contain spoilers. Set in world war iera new york, helene weckers the iron season, a sequel to her bestselling novel the golem and the jinni, tells the continuing story of chava the golem and ahmad the jinni, as they encounter other beings of their own kind, only to realize that their close ties to. The golem and the jinni is a debut novel written by helene wecker, published by harper in. As chava and ahmad unite against a terrible threat, denizens of their lower manhattan neighborhood swirl about them intriguingly. Helene weckers debut novel the golem and the jinni is a fairy tale for grown ups that combines historical fiction and paranormal fantasy in a novel of ideas that is also a tearful love story and a suspenseful pageturner its hard enough to master any one or two of. Have a look and here are a few that might be of particular interest recommended.
Review the golem and the jinni by helene wecker book. Helene wecker wecker, helene in the golem and the jinni, a chance meeting between mythical beings takes readers on a dazzling journey through cultures in turnofthecentury new york. The golem and the jinni by helene wecker 20, paperback. A mystical and highly original stroll through the sidewalks of new york. They are like those meals which are fine, tasty and enjoyable but which you move on from.
Helene wecker grew up in libertyville, illinois, a small town north of chicago, and received her bachelors in english from carleton college in minnesota. Im helene wecker, author of the historical fantasy the golem and the jinni. The golem and the jinni by helene wecker book club ideas. Helene wecker books list of books by helene wecker. The golem and the jinni is recommended to adults who enjoy a good story and have a childlike sense of makebelieve. Helene wecker author of the golem and the jinni goodreads. If youre looking for incredible debut novels to read, there are a few that we. The jfnnj has planned a full and fascinating roster of bookrelated events over the next few months, including a talk on the history of new yorks jewish lower east side, a screening of the 1920s silent film the golem, and a syrian cooking demonstration. It combines the genre of historical fiction with elements of fantasy, telling the story of two displaced magical creatures in. First i read a number of books on new york written at the turn of the century, like jacob riis how the other half lives and. Ive read some amazing new releases two of which made my favorites list for the first half of the year and there are even more on my tbr that i havent gotten around to reading yet. The second is ahmad, he is a jinni, a being of fire who was born in the syrian dessert long ago. Author helene wecker bio and signed books vj books. Author helene wecker on the best magical realist fiction.
It was quite the extraordinary effort by her, and for a first novel, i thought it was extremely wellwritten. Helene wecker has been named the winner of the 2014 virginia commonwealth university cabell first novelist award for the golem and the jinni, a novel that blends elements of fantasy and historical fiction to tell the story of two magical creatures who arrive separately on the streets of 19thcentury new york city wecker will receive the award at vcu, where she will. The golem and the jinni by helene wecker book cover, description, publication history. Helene wecker grew up in libertyville, illinois, a small town north of chicago. But, because i will never ever catch up with my tbr, there are also a lot of books being released in the second half of the year that i want to read. Im not sure if itll be price matched but as of right now its not. My most anticipated books for the second half of 2019. I finished a 496page bookthe golem and the jinni, by helene wecker.
The golem and the jinni is an exciting story about two very different creatures, both that are supernatural. When she graduated, she lived in minneapolis and seattle, working in marketing and communications roles before she made the decision to enrol on a fiction masters. Helene wecker is the author of the golem and the jinni. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Helene wecker wins vcu cabell first novelist award for. The book is a sequel to weckers 20 bestseller the golem and. Im helene wecker, author of the golem and the jinni, back for another ama. The golem and the jinni by helene wecker a rare gem of a book that combines yiddish and islamic folklore, from the perspective of a golem and a jinni that meet in new york city. An interview with helene wecker, author of the golem and. See more ideas about the golem, book club books and arabian nights party. This historical fantasy tells the story of two immigrants in new york city in the late 1800s a golem, named chava, and a jinni, named ahmad. Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a strange man who dabbles in dark kabbalistic magic. Entertainment weekly gave the book an a grade saying. A chicagoarea native whos made her home in minneapolis, seattle, and new york, she now lives near san francisco with her husband and daughter.
Set in world war iera new york, helene wecker s the iron season, a sequel to her bestselling novel the golem and the jinni, tells the continuing story of chava the golem and ahmad the jinni, as they encounter other beings of their own kind, only to realize that their close ties to human beings have forever altered them. Helene wecker grew up in libertyville, illinois, a small town north of chicago, and received her bachelors in english from carleton college. The golem and the jinni, helene wecker, harpercollins publishers, 20. When i was a writing student at columbia, i started writing a series of short stories that combined tales from my family and from my husbands family. Abigail tarttelins novel is due out from atria books simon and schuster on may 21, 20. The golem and the jinni audiobook by helene wecker. In a rumored sevenfigure agreement, stoloff sold north american rights in a twobook deal to helene weckers the iron season. If you are a fan of comic books you know that every comic book character has their origin story, whether thats your home planet exploding or being bit by a spider or what have you. At one certain point in second book, it evoked loneliness in me so strongly.
The golem and the jinni is primarily an immigrants tale. The golem and the djinni, by helene wecker, is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy. Author of the golem and the jinni, available from harpercollins in april 20 and the iron season coming in 2018. The golem and the jinni by helene wecker the reading log. Firsttime novelist helene weckerjoins this tradition with the golem and the jinni, in which two eponymous mythical creatures meet fatefully. In the second book, even more than in this book, he will have to struggle with. I went to college in minnesota and graduated with an english major and womens studies minor, and then jumped straight into a badly. The novel is set during the world war i era and continues the story of chava the golem and ahmad the jinni who encounter other beings of their own kind, only to realize that their close ties to human beings have forever. Helene wecker grew up near chicago, and received her mfa in creative writing from columbia university in new york.
A chicagoarea native whos made her home in minneapolis, seattle, and new york, she now lives near san francisco with her husband and. She attended carleton college minnesota, where she studied for a ba in english. The first creature is a woman named chava, she is a golem, a creature made of clay who is created and brought to life in poland. In her first published novel helene wecker creates a magical setting, beginning at the turn of the century in poland and then she brings new york and its inhabitants to life. Author helene wecker on the best magical realist fiction usa today. The golem and the djinni, helene wecker the book lovers. After a dozen years of moving around between both coasts and the midwest, she now lives near san francisco with her husband and daughter. Huge thanks to the jewish federation of northern new jersey jfnnj, which chose the golem and the jinni as its community read for this year. I grew up outside chicago, with the typical nerdlings upbringing, heavy on the star trek and doctor who. The books magic, filtered through the oldtime hustle and bustle of the lower east side. Helene weckers dazzling debut novel tells the story of two supernatural creatures who appear mysteriously in 1899 new york. Today we will be chatting about the golem and the jinni by helene wecker, from harper books.
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