Poi si china su ciascuna delle lettere dell'alfabeto ebraico che formano i misteriosi sentieri della saggezza e che svelano l'Infinito.
(pagina 22)

Il Golem apre gli occhi e guarda stupito intorno a sé.
(pagina 27)
e pensa (dato che non parla): "Hello guys! I'm coming from a s.c.".

Il Golem crolla immediatamente.
Nato dalla parola, la sparizione di una lettera lo restituisce al nulla.
(pagina 37) ( )

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book through NetGalley. ( )

I received an advance review copy of this beautiful book from the publisher through NetGalley. Go

I have always been fascinated by the story of the Golem of Prague. Usually as a side story in a larger work, this was my first time diving into the source story itself. Beautiful art. I could feel the cold of the Prague snows and the chilly isolation of the characters. I knew that this graphic novellas was meant for young people and was not prepared for how deep and moving the story was.

The first Frankenstein's monster I suppose, but with a sound moral purpose driving his creation. the Golem, like Adam, is fashioned from clay with orders to rid Prague of the persecutors of the Jewish inhabitants. The Golem, unlike Adam, is created by a man and this animated super being without a soul is a creature born to suffer as it gains first knowledge of his environment and then later turns his increasing intellect to contemplate his own existence. The comparisons to Mary Shelley's story are countless.

Behind the story of the story of the rescue of the Prague Jews from their persecutors there is the framing story of a lonely young boy who is our surrogate--the character who opens the door into the past and opens himself up to the sorrows of isolation.

As soon as I finished this beautiful book I knew that I would read it again to pick up the many complex layers contained in what at first appears to be a simple and beautiful story.
( )

This story is a retelling of a Jewish legend, The Golem of Prague. I was unfamiliar with the story and very interested. The illustrations are great as well as the telling of the story. I'm glad to have read it. Parts of the story were a little frightening, but not too much for older elementary children.

4****

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )

What a wonderful retelling of the Golem story, though I must admit I am not too familiar with either the legend or the Meyrink novel abusing it (defintely have to change that some time).

The story is mysterious and a little bit scary, but not too much - of course, the beautiful illustrations which perfectly capture the slightly creepy mood have a good deal to do with that. It is always a good thing to bring in some young main character in a children's book, so that readers can more easily identify with and experience events through his or her eyes.

I also appreciated the small glossary at the end of the book explaining some central keywords related to Jewish tradition and was helpful and interesting for people (like me) completely unfamiliar with that religion.

A wonderful, slightly dark story for teen readers as well as adults. ( )