Golem Mine is a story that blends sensuality, faith, myth, and madness into a haunting exploration of creation and obsession. It follows Rachel Rabinowitz, a passionate film student whose fascination with cinema, particularly early horror and the Frankenstein myth, draws her into a spiritual and psychological descent. Through her study of Mary Shelley and Jewish mysticism, Rachel becomes obsessed with the idea of the Golem, the legendary creature made of clay and breath. Her journey from curiosity to conviction takes her from classrooms to synagogues to the quiet heartland of America, searching for the knowledge to create life and, maybe, to understand her own.

Author Donald Schwartz writes with a lyrical, fevered energy, almost like he’s channeling the story rather than crafting it. At times, the prose is hypnotic, sentences twist and roll like the waves of Rachel’s inner turmoil. I loved the audacity of it, how the story dared to tangle faith with lust, myth with modernity. Rachel’s voice lingers with you, raw and unpredictable, torn between intellect and impulse. I found myself alternately enchanted and disturbed, which I suspect was exactly the author’s intent.

This is a dense read. The language can feel heavy with philosophical weight. But there’s rhythm in it, a strange music that rewards patience. I admired how Schwartz stitched together cinematic history, Jewish lore, and feminist thought into something that defies genre. It’s erotic and sacred, tragic and funny in small flashes. Some moments made me squirm, others made me grin, and a few stopped me cold. Beneath the shock and sensuality, there’s a deep sadness in Rachel’s need to create, to be seen, to make sense of her own divinity.

When I closed the book, I felt a mix of exhaustion and awe. Golem Mine is not a casual read. It’s an experience. I’d recommend it to readers who crave something daring and layered, who don’t mind wrestling with big questions about creation, God, and the dangerous hunger for meaning. It’s for those who like their stories wild, intimate, and just a little unhinged.

Pages: 135