2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

Just finished through chapter 10. I'm really enjoying the stories. While it's fantasy, the fantasy is woven seamlessly throughout reality to make it quite believable. I really enjoy the description of Little Syria as well. Good choice, everyone!

I just finished reading Chapter 10, and so far, I'm really liking this book. I agree, @Megan. I also think that fantasy and reality come together in a pretty believable way in this story. New York City is my favorite place in the world. I had no idea what it was like at the turn of the last century, so I've found it fascinating to read the author's descriptions of neighborhoods and streets that are very familiar to me. I think she writes really well, and likely did a good amount of research to make the non-fantasy elements of the book feel realistic. I can see how some of the descriptions might bore some people, but I'm personally really enjoying the ride.

I searched around for some discussion questions and saw a few that address the similarities and differences between the Golem and the Jinni - in their origins, personalities, and choices as they interact with the world around them. I've found it's a good way to think about the book while reading. It is interesting that Ahmad is a few hundred years old, while Chava is only a few months old. So far, I am finding Chava to be the more likable one and Ahmad to be more mysterious. After reading about the flashback that Rabbi Meyer has about creating his first golem and that spider, I am curious to see if anything similarly scary will happen with Chava. She is so hard-working, naive and sweet, and I just want to protect her! Re: Ahmad, I like him, but I'm still not sure how I feel about his trysts with Sophia Winston. I like the romance aspect and think it was written really well, but it's also pretty creepy that a 600 or however old magical creature lusts after some 18-year old girl..

I am normally not a fan of books that jump from scene to scene and go all over the place chronologically, but I think it's one thing that works well here, at least so far. I could see it becoming distracting though, so I have to see where it goes. I haven't found myself losing interest in any of the stories. I'm curious to see how everything will tie in together, and I really appreciate that every character has been given a story of their own. Any introduced name that I can think of has been meticulously revisited at least once since the beginning, so I think that's a good sign.

I also enjoy the integrated philosophical discussions about immigration, money, religion, gender, and some other topics about real life. We have this naive and very inexperienced Golem juxtaposed with this ancient and somewhat arrogant Jinni, and yet they both seem to be kind of equally clueless in their different ways of interacting with us humans. It's so refreshing to see these topics being discussed by very curious mythical beings questioning and not quite understanding why we humans do what we do. To me, it never feels like the author is trying to espouse any particular agenda, but I could be biased based on my own views. It feels like these are topics that a complete stranger who didn't understand humans would probably address. I had some quotes I wanted to put down, but it's getting late. If anyone wants to talk about those things more, feel free.

Anyway, I hope everyone else is enjoying or at least getting something out of the book so far! Feel free to comment on anything, whether I touched on it or not. I'm sure there are plenty of other things to bring up if not now then later on. If there are things you don't like, definitely mention them too! It's nice to get a variety of opinions.

It's interesting: I've heard more than one person compare this to The Night Circus (usually when said person didn't much care for either), and I don't really see the connection in the beginning. Sure, there's a certain amount of whimsy, but that's just magical realism.

The descriptions of the city are really making me wish I'd spent more time in New York.

The whole immigrant experience is deepened here because Chava and Ahmad aren't just new to New York, they're new to people. This is creating a super interesting dynamic.

I adore Chava. And I can understand your reservations about Ahmad, Brian, but I'm finding him the more compelling character of the two. Chava's just too...good. Too obedient. Ahmad's interesting because he's unpredictable.

@Kara I also love the immigration dynamic. Both Chava and Ahmad are immigrants, and like foreign people who immigrated to New York City, they share in common the alienation and disorientation, and feeling that they must learn to hide away their true origin in order to not only assimilate into this city but also to survive.

Chava comes from Prussia (I think that's right) and travels by ship to New York City to try to gain entry into the country at Ellis Island, just like SO many other people immigrating in the late 18th/early19th century. Only once she gets there, she luckily escapes the Ellis Island immigration control process of inspecting and rejecting new immigrants - one of the most shameful and appalling parts of American history that I feel is not often discussed. I only really remember learning about how bad it was when I visited the museum at Ellis Island a long time ago.

I wish we saw a little bit more of that history included in the book; because she jumped over the ship and ran along the bottom of the Hudson River, we missed what happened to the rest of the poor immigrants on the ship with her. Once she arrives and meets Rabbi Meyer, he tells her that she must hide her true nature and not tell anyone what she is - a being made of clay. Similarly, at this time, most Jewish, Asian, Irish, Middle Eastern, East European immigrants had to hide their true 'nature' (national and cultural origins). If found out, they would have serious trouble finding shelter, food, and more importantly, real work. Work wages given to so many known immigrants was a step above slavery and not nearly enough to live on or feed families. In different senses, both real human immigrants and Chava risked their lives being 'destroyed' if found out.

I feel like Ahmad's entry on the other hand, could be compared to the passage of slaves into America. As a stowaway inside a flask, Ahmad was bound against his will to some master hundreds of hears ago and had been a slave to this master, though he has no memory of this servitude and his master unknown to him. The slave trade to America that began hundreds of years ago is the most shameful act in American history, where mostly African slaves were seized and bound from their homelands and taken as stowaways on ships and forced to work for their new unknown masters. When Ahmad emerges from the flask and meets Boutros Arbeely, then he, like Chava, is told to keep his identity a secret or risk being caught. He then takes up as an apprentice at the metalwork shop with Arbeely, and although by no means a true slave as slaves brought to America were, Ahmad feels like one because of the metal band around his wrist, reminding him that he still was in the past. He also feels as though he no longer has any choice but to confine himself to working in the metal shop. He is restricted from going outside many times because rain can destroy him, though of course, he does anyway to seek out the thrills and excitements that true freedom had once allowed him.

One final and tragic comparison about immigration in the book has to do with assimilating. Immigrants of all cultures, nationalities, and religions formed communities within niches in the overall enormous New York City. While immigrants grew accustomed to the basic expectations, demands, and unwelcome nature and hardships that New York City so infamously placed upon those entering the country who were different, most immigrants managed to assimilate by forming small communities for their own kind within the city. They had communities like Little Syria and like the Jewish neighborhood, where Ahmad and Chava respectively end up remaining for a while. What is tragic is that Chava and Ahmad, while hesitantly accepted by these small communities as outcasts, had no community of their own.

There are obviously no Little Golem or Little Jinni neighborhoods in New York City. Chava and Ahmad have to each separately struggle as outcasts among two small communities that in turn struggle as outcasts from the larger homogenized community of New York City. Chava can not turn to other creatures made of clay to speak to who could understand and help her, and Ahmad can not turn to other creatures made of fire either.

I was very hesitant at first reading this book - with so many characters and locations and stories being woven together (and names that I am not familiar with at that) I was getting distracted. Up until about chapter 7 I started becoming very interested because characters were making sense, stories were being connected. I am finding that I am very anxious to see where this story goes.

I am a bit confused about Fadwa and her family - I am sure that story will somehow tie in, I guess I am curious as to if the jinni she meets is Ahmad.

I am also wondering what will become of Rabbi Meyer now that we know he is sick. What will become of Chava? @Kara I agree Chava is too good, but I do like her, I think she is a likeable character. I do have a feeling something will happen to take away the "goodness." Either that, or Ahmad and Chava will balance each other out somehow.

@Brian, I also am not sure how I feel about the romance between Sophia and Ahmad it definitely gives me a weird, creeped out feeling! Especially knowing now that she is engaged.

I am looking forward to sharing what I think about the next 10 chapters!

Yeah, Ashleigh, I've changed my mind a bit about Chava. Now she's my favorite. :)

Just getting around to reading this. I really love it so far. Brian you made some really interesting points, especially about the immigration comparisons, and I have enjoyed reading them.

This novel feels like an adult fairy tale, but so much more. Just like the original fairy tales there are hidden meanings about society, politics, religion etc. In this novel, the characters, though fantastical, feel very real.

I think the alternating pov works very well. I don't have a clear favorite because at EVERY switch I am slightly hesistant to leave the one I'm with. :D

I love Chava's innocence paired with her super-human strength and I fear she may hurt someone unintentionally. Her 'happiness' about her job at the bakery and independence is very intriguing.

Ahmad's sharp wit makes me laugh. He may not be loveable, but he sure is interesting.

As I was reading this last night, it occured to me that the role of women was being explored too. The rabbi doesn't want to impede Chava's contentment with her independence by binding her to another master. Women at this time often lost their independence when they were 'bound' in marriage. Sophia also laments her impending loss of freedom when she gets married. Ahmad observed that Leila/Lulu was also tinged with sadness on her wedding day.

I feel like I could read this over and over and find new themes each time. I am intentionally reading it slowly so I don't miss anything. Exceptional writing! Now on the the next 10 chapters.

@Londa

Omg Londa I am so glad I am reading your comments on the book right now - they made me so happy, truly that you came back to talk about the book even though it's past December. This book has seriously stuck with me and I love any opportunity to talk about it again.

I never even thought about the gender aspect, and I'm really happy you brought it up. It's very true that women at that time lost their independence once they became married, and it seems so crazy to us when it's like Chava was bound to a master - her maker, who was really a 'husband'. But really, how different was that from actual marriage in those days? Not so much, I think. And so true about Sophia kind of lamenting her loss as well and Ahmad's observance of that. You'll see more of it later on as you start to learn more about Anna Blum's character too. (view spoiler)[You'll also find some of your fears about Chava come true (I had the same fears - I expect by this point you've reached that part in the book) (hide spoiler)]

I tried to read it as slowly as I could, but was honestly unable to stop myself so I totally just zoomed through it.

The other day I was invited to a Goodreads group to talk to the author Helene Wecker about the book this Tuesday, and I'm actually really excited about it because I've wanted to ask her SO many questions. This being her debut novel, I think she's freaking amazing. If you or anyone would like an invitation as well for that experience, please let me know and I will try to set it up for you! :]

@Brian How did the discussion with Helene Wecker go. She has really created a masterpiece with this book.

I just finished Part II, and I love the way she is weaving every tiny detail together. Can't wait to see how they all fit together in the end!

@Londa, I didn't actively participate, but I did read many of the questions and answers and they were fascinating if you're a huge fan of the novel!

One of the most commonly asked questions was will there be a sequel and what is she working on next? She said it seems that half of her fans really want a sequel while the other half think it should be a stand alone book.

But she said she is working on a potential sequel but hasn't decided whether to go through with it or not. I kind of hope she does one - not going to spoil the ending for you though of course :]

Some of the more interesting question/answers were related to the issue you brought about gender roles and about the kind of research she did into Arab mythology in particular (she is Jewish and was already familiar with golems and I think she said her husband is Syrian) for information about the djinn. A Muslim fan of the book was saying that jinn are in the Qu'ran and that her portrayal of the Jinni was nothing like the Islamic portrayal. She reminded him that there was only one main character in the book who is Muslim (Ice Cream Saleh), and the sources she used were more from ancient folk tales and texts that preceded the spread of Islam - that was pretty interesting to learn.

It was also cool to see how she came up with the idea. It took her many, many years to put this book together.