Writing a review about this book is difficult when all I want to do is gush about how much of a fantastic read it was, and how it has earned its place in my all-time favorites. I'd even venture to say that it has bumped my previous #1 favorite from its spot, so from now on when someone asks me what my favorite book is, I will gladly and excitedly say, "The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker!"

For a 500-page book, I was personally surprised that I finished it in three days. A regular 300-page novel would've taken me three days. So how did I speed through the extra 200? And with all the skimming that I usually do for many books, how did I persevere through every word without skipping one sentence throughout? The Golem and the Jinni was so magical and gripping that I simply couldn't put the book down. The second I started, I knew I had to read it all in one go. I read it at work, as soon as I got home from work, and even during bedtime until my eyes felt heavy and I couldn't keep them open any longer.

Everything about this book blew my mind away. The setting, 1899 New York, was a character of its own. Ms. Wecker diligently did her research so when she described places like Little Syria and Central Park, I could see them in my mind clearly.

The characters were all intriguing. They had backstories and their own personalities. Not one character sounded like another. They had quirks and flaws, but never too much that would cause the reader to judge the characters harshly.

Spoiler

The Golem was too compassionate, but she wasn't completely crippled by it. The Jinni craved a hedonistic lifestyle, but in human form, had to control his urges. The villain, Yehudah Schaalman, was innately evil in a way that would make the reader feel bad for him.

This book is an allegory for the immigrant experience, and what life would've been like not only for Syrians and Poles in the United States, but for supernatural creatures dumped unceremoniously in the human world. The writing is rich and the plot is well-laid out so that the climax truly took my breath away. I can usually spot foreshadowing a mile away, but the twists in this book crept up on me.

Take note, this book is a slow-paced. There are many breaks within chapters for multiple character POVs. It wasn't until I was halfway in the book that the Golem and the Jinni finally crossed paths. There was a lot of tension leading up to that moment, usually with me questioning whether they will ever meet in this book or if I would have to read a sequel for that moment to finally come.

Ms. Wecker mentioned in one of her Reddit AMA's that the book was originally around 800 pages long, but she had to cut away so much for length. I wouldn't have minded if this book had 1000 pages. I would gladly stay on a couch all weekend reading it.