May Book- The Golem and The Jinni: Ch 8-14

[Unknown]

Well I guess the Ahmad wasted no time getting into bed w/ Sophia. As discussed last week this is not a good idea. I wonder if they will get caught or if one will hurt the other, or both. This relationship is a big risk for both of them, so why risk it? What is their need to be in such a relationship?

Chava starts working at the bakery and befriends Anna. This seems to be the beginning of Chava finding her place. She enjoys and excels at working for Razen and is learning how to properly interact with people, socially and in a work environment.

How crushing that the Rabbi dies. He wanted to give Chava a new master, thinking it is in her best interest, but would it have been or is it luck he didn’t have time? Chava grieves the loss of her, gosh what is her, an uncle figure I guess. The passing seems to be bringing Chava and Michael closer together, will this lead to a deeper relationship? Can Chava handle that? I feel so badly for Michael since he isn’t the son he isn’t able to perform all the proper prayers and religious duties over his uncles body.

Chava and Ahmad finally met, and they seem to trust each other. Should they? Just because they are both unearthly creatures doesn’t mean they have the same motives. Will this be a healthy relationship or could this lead to their discovery?

Schaalman sets out to NYC in search of the golem he has created, seriously dude you are kind of obsessed and this move concerns me for Chava’s safety. By chance he meets Michael while he is getting over an illness and directs him to the Jewish boarding house where he makes himself at home.

Chava and Ahmad have a really interesting discussion about weakness, he need for people/master. Chava feels like she should have a master, yet would she really choose to have one if it was up to her. There is an interesting philosophical question Ahmad brings up. If you do something terrible by the wishes of your master are you at fault?

[joi922]

Ahmad's relationship with Sophia just feels odd. Like there's no point to it. I'm wondering if this will become more important later on. For now it just feels like it was randomly thrown into the story. And without more background on Sophia, it's really unclear to me why she's in the relationship - i.e., to rebel against her parents/background (as cliché as that might be), to have some fun before settling down as expected in marriage, because she's just unbelievably attracted to him. I honestly don't know. For Ahmad, I assumed it was just something fun to do that was outside his work with Abreely/night walks. It may be because he sees Fadwa in Sophia somehow, but again, I feel like we just don't have enough information yet.

I feel like Chava and Ahmad are bonding over being "others" but that they don't have a ton in common otherwise. I think they trust each other because they can't talk about their "otherness" with anyone else. I don't see one betraying the other at this point, since both are afraid of revealing their true natures to anyone, so I don't see much danger in it.

This book has been rather slow going for me. I was actually excited that Schaalman arrived in NYC, because I feel like the meat of the story is finally getting started. He's the real danger to Amhad and Chava, I think, and I'm interested to see what happens now that he's in their city and looking for Chava.

[Unknown]

I have no doubt Sophia is rebelling against her parents. It is dangerous and new, yet there is something about him that is attractive. I do agree though, at this point it doesn't seem to have real purpose to the story.

The story is slow, but that is why I am at least so thankful for such interesting and well written characters. Schaalman is going to get things crazy for sure. He is just crazy in general and doesn't have the same respect for the golem as the Rabbi and is the biggest threat to them.

It kinds of reminds me to why I like The Night Circus so much even though there wasn't much going on. Just the whole world that were created keeps me interested in the story and the outcome of these characters.

[Unknown]

Agreed, the book is finally getting into the meat of the story. I'm almost done w/ this weeks chapters, so I still plan on posting the discussion later today. Sorry I've been a slacker!