Welcome to Cover Lover, where I share my favourite covers! Hannah of Once Upon a Time is the inventor of this particular “meme”, so head over there to see the covers she’s already shared.
My current read is The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker. I wish I was reading a real copy of it instead of the e-book – the cover is just beautiful!
At first I wondered, what on earth does the Arc de Triomph in Paris have to do with a story that alternates between New York and the Syrian desert? It took me a long while (and a wikipedia search) to realise that the arch in the image is actually the Washington Arch, in New York City! Obviously I need to brush up on my NYC geography (or take a holiday).
Both the US and UK (paperback?) covers are beautiful, wouldn’t you agree? I wonder why they’ve ended up with different title spellings.
 US Hardback |
 UK – tbr in August 2013 |
Title: The Golem and the Jinni (Goodreads)
Author: Helene Wecker (website)
Follow @helenewecker
Series: Stand alone
Genre: Historical/paranormal/mythology
Published: HarperCollins, April 23, 2013
Goodreads Blurb for The Golem and the Jinni (abridged):
An immigrant tale that combines elements of Jewish and Arab folk mythology, Helene Wecker’s dazzling debut novel tells the story of two supernatural creatures who arrive separately in New York in 1899.
Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. When her master-the husband who commissioned her-dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899.
Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Though he is no longer imprisoned, Ahmad is not entirely free-an unbreakable band of iron around his wrist binds him to the physical world.
Marvelous and compulsively readable, The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, historical fiction and magical fable into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale.
I think the spellings are because the djinni spelling is less common in the US. Though I think Jinni isn’t quite as obvious as either genie or djinni. Am hoping HC have my name on a proof of this, it sounds just my thing 🙂
Ellie recently posted..Win The Long Earth
Yeah, I thought Djinni and Jinni would be close enough as to make no difference *shrug* Oh well. I hope you end up with a copy Ellie, it’s a great read so far!
Both covers are gorgeous! And I think I’m also in need of a trip to either NYC or Paris to acquaint myself with what may/may not be the Arc de Triomph.
The title isn’t to different in UK vs. US covers. I remember spending a few years trying to find Outlander in bookstores here. It wasn’t until after I finally broke down and ordered it online till I found out it was called Crossstich here which I had seen everywhere!
Oh my the UK cover is particularly gorgeous! Has certainly peaked my interest, I love that colour so much.
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