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The Celeste Experiment
When modern science fails to save his wife Celeste, Michael turns to religion. When religion fails to cure her, he is left searching for answers.
From his grief flows anger, determination, and finally the plan – a meticulous experiment to unravel the truth in one of civilization's most controversial topics … the concept of God.
At the heart of this plan is Hamida Begum. A young woman of depth and intelligence, heiress to a lost lineage. Selected and prepared. Qualified in ways even Michael could never have anticipated. Will her involvement in this vast, mysterious, and at times unethical endeavor deliver resolution?
This literary work, with a touch of magical realism, The Celeste Experiment, is the story of one man's attempt to sever the spiritual threads of history once and for all. It is a thrilling journey of revenge and conviction, sorrow and rage, design and entrapment, and the message of whispered words. A tale where no one and nothing is vindicated … except love.
From his grief flows anger, determination, and finally the plan – a meticulous experiment to unravel the truth in one of civilization's most controversial topics … the concept of God.
At the heart of this plan is Hamida Begum. A young woman of depth and intelligence, heiress to a lost lineage. Selected and prepared. Qualified in ways even Michael could never have anticipated. Will her involvement in this vast, mysterious, and at times unethical endeavor deliver resolution?
This literary work, with a touch of magical realism, The Celeste Experiment, is the story of one man's attempt to sever the spiritual threads of history once and for all. It is a thrilling journey of revenge and conviction, sorrow and rage, design and entrapment, and the message of whispered words. A tale where no one and nothing is vindicated … except love.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2022
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Omar Imady
20 books13 followersOmar Imady is an uncommon collection of many things – poet, historian, novelist, Syrian, American, exile, Sufi, ‘Alan Wattsian’, cat lover, avid coffee drinker, insatiable gastronome – all of which find expression in his growing repertoire of eclectic fiction. He is the author of multiple novels, including Erasures (Literary Titan Gold Award), Catfishing Caitlyn (Literary Titan Silver Award), The Celeste Experiment (Literary Titan Silver Award), When Her Hand Moves, a collection of three controversial, thought-provoking novellas, and The Gospel of Damascus (2012 Book of the Year Award finalist). His forthcoming books dig ever deeper into the human experience of alienation and the quest for meaning in a world increasingly hostile to answers.
www.oimady.com
www.oimady.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 23, 2022
A moving and unnerving reimagining of Islam’s revelation story
I was blown away by this book, but not for the reasons you might think. Is it moving? Yes. Well-written? Yes. Gripping? Yes. Inspiring? Yes. But what captivated me most about this novel was not the wonderful writing but the premise. This book isn’t any old story. It is a carefully crafted reimagining of Islam’s revelation story which poses some massive questions, and like all good allegories, forces you to examine the original story in a new light. What if the protagonist was a woman? What does revelation even look like? And what if it happened today?
There are subtle images and scenes, I imagine lost on most readers, which recast and reimagine elements of the early life of the Prophet of Islam in a beautiful and poetic manner. As Muhammad’s chest was split and a leech-like object removed, so too is Hamida’s, as Muhammad was struck by sleep on his way to a party during his shepherding years so too is Hamida, and as Muhammad was sheltered from the sun in the middle of the desert heat, Hamida is kept dry in an English summer thunderstorm. And most powerful of all, as Muhammad went into a cave and came out trembling, so too does Hamida Begum. And yet, though these fragments of Muhammad’s biography are integrated, what the author does with them is to weave a story that is at once familiar and potentially unsettling to most Muslim readers. This book will move and unnerve you in the best of ways.
I was blown away by this book, but not for the reasons you might think. Is it moving? Yes. Well-written? Yes. Gripping? Yes. Inspiring? Yes. But what captivated me most about this novel was not the wonderful writing but the premise. This book isn’t any old story. It is a carefully crafted reimagining of Islam’s revelation story which poses some massive questions, and like all good allegories, forces you to examine the original story in a new light. What if the protagonist was a woman? What does revelation even look like? And what if it happened today?
There are subtle images and scenes, I imagine lost on most readers, which recast and reimagine elements of the early life of the Prophet of Islam in a beautiful and poetic manner. As Muhammad’s chest was split and a leech-like object removed, so too is Hamida’s, as Muhammad was struck by sleep on his way to a party during his shepherding years so too is Hamida, and as Muhammad was sheltered from the sun in the middle of the desert heat, Hamida is kept dry in an English summer thunderstorm. And most powerful of all, as Muhammad went into a cave and came out trembling, so too does Hamida Begum. And yet, though these fragments of Muhammad’s biography are integrated, what the author does with them is to weave a story that is at once familiar and potentially unsettling to most Muslim readers. This book will move and unnerve you in the best of ways.
December 8, 2022
Wow! Just wow! What a fantastic book! The story is beautiful, the writing is beautiful, it exceeded all expectations and then some.
It starts with Michael and his love for his wife Celeste. But when she is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Michael decides he will do anything to save her. Medical science does not have the answer, so he turns to religion, but when that also fails he sets out to prove that if religion can’t save her, then religion must be a lie.
In the meantime, seventeen-year-old Hamida Begum lives with her grandmother in a slum in Kolkata. She is an intelligent girl, who loves to read, and attends a faith school where she can receive an education in spite of their poverty. It is believed that she is the heiress to a lost lineage.
She has been carefully selected and brought to England, where she is mentored first by Miss Patience and then by sheep farmer Charlotte. In the second part of her ‘preparation’, she travels the world with Maurice, who has been chosen to be her companion and lover.
It is all part of the experiment – the one that Michael believes will prove his theory. But Michael’s story and Hamida and Maurice’s are part of the bigger picture of religion and philosophy and spiritual ties, where ultimately the only thing that matters is love.
A wonderful, amazing story, full of rich descriptions and beauty. I could not put it down.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of this blogger readalong.
It starts with Michael and his love for his wife Celeste. But when she is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Michael decides he will do anything to save her. Medical science does not have the answer, so he turns to religion, but when that also fails he sets out to prove that if religion can’t save her, then religion must be a lie.
In the meantime, seventeen-year-old Hamida Begum lives with her grandmother in a slum in Kolkata. She is an intelligent girl, who loves to read, and attends a faith school where she can receive an education in spite of their poverty. It is believed that she is the heiress to a lost lineage.
She has been carefully selected and brought to England, where she is mentored first by Miss Patience and then by sheep farmer Charlotte. In the second part of her ‘preparation’, she travels the world with Maurice, who has been chosen to be her companion and lover.
It is all part of the experiment – the one that Michael believes will prove his theory. But Michael’s story and Hamida and Maurice’s are part of the bigger picture of religion and philosophy and spiritual ties, where ultimately the only thing that matters is love.
A wonderful, amazing story, full of rich descriptions and beauty. I could not put it down.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of this blogger readalong.
December 13, 2022
Get ready for a journey of science, religion, spirituality, and emotion. The Celeste Experiment almost feels like an experience rather than a story. Omar Imady takes the reader on a trip across the globe and leaves them wondering about some of the greatest unknowns, much like Michael’s experiment in the book. After losing his wife and his faith, he dedicates his life to a unique project. Hamida finds herself as the test subject, and the reader joins her as she endures each arduous stage. The unpredictability of the storyline and one last shocking twist leave the reader in a state of awe long after finishing the book.
The Celeste Experiment was unlike any book I have ever read. I felt like I was peeling back the layers of the story with every page. Every discovery I made brought another question. Omar Imady keeps the reader in the dark, like Hamida during the experiment. I loved the suspense and the feeling of connecting the dots.
Omar Imady writes in such a beautiful way, and I was captivated from the very first moment. From his descriptions of the lush, lonely English countryside to the flavors and aromas of the rich Indian dishes, his words have the ability to immerse the reader into any setting.
The Celeste Experiment holds many secrets, and I feel as though I would have discovered more if I had a better knowledge of Islam. I enjoyed the way in which Omar Imady made the reader uncover the story for themselves, but I was left with a couple of loose ends when I finished. However, the uncertainty of the story is balanced by the constant calmness of Hamida’s character. She had such a warmth about her, and the reader cannot help but be inspired, regardless of their beliefs.
The Celeste Experiment was unlike any book I have ever read. I felt like I was peeling back the layers of the story with every page. Every discovery I made brought another question. Omar Imady keeps the reader in the dark, like Hamida during the experiment. I loved the suspense and the feeling of connecting the dots.
Omar Imady writes in such a beautiful way, and I was captivated from the very first moment. From his descriptions of the lush, lonely English countryside to the flavors and aromas of the rich Indian dishes, his words have the ability to immerse the reader into any setting.
The Celeste Experiment holds many secrets, and I feel as though I would have discovered more if I had a better knowledge of Islam. I enjoyed the way in which Omar Imady made the reader uncover the story for themselves, but I was left with a couple of loose ends when I finished. However, the uncertainty of the story is balanced by the constant calmness of Hamida’s character. She had such a warmth about her, and the reader cannot help but be inspired, regardless of their beliefs.
June 2, 2023
The Celeste Experiment, by Omar Imady. Humanity looks for answers on the spiritual side and specially if God exits or not. One of the biggest controversies is why a young healthy person falls to cancer. Even coming from a wealthy family where all the money of the world cannot buy health or save them from death. This is the story of Celeste and Michael her husband and after her death what he does to get answers takes you to Hamida. The surprise ending of the book leaves you with fulfilling joy.
June 14, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns as well as the reflection on faith journeys.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews