Michel's Certainties

Michel was born in the heart of Beirut, a city of contrasts and tumult, heir to an Armenian line with deep roots, but with branches torn between tradition and modernity. In this melting pot of tangled identities, he forged his first certainties, engraved in the marble of memories and scars. War broke out, tearing apart the fragile fabric of his existence. Between the smoking ruins and the clatter of bombs, Michel sought refuge in the yellowing pages of his books, where echoes of a once peaceful world nestled. But in the recesses of his mind, the shadow of illusions crept in, weaving its web of arrogance and mirages.

Paris, the City of Light, became his haven, his sanctuary of redemption. Between cobblestone streets and smoky cafés, he sought to dispel the darkness that obscured his path. Yet even in the dazzling clarity of the City of Light, Michel’s certainties wavered, shaken by the weight of choices and renunciations. Michel’s certainties is a poignant tale, a human epic that combines the strength of ancestral traditions with the fragility of individual aspirations. Through the prism of its eponymous protagonist, this novel explores with finesse the intricacies of identity, the ceaseless quest for meaning and the trials that forge the soul. An ode to resilience, the quest for truth and man’s infinite capacity to reinvent himself, even in the midst of the darkest torments.

Reviews

They say it best

"Michel's Certainties" transports us from a war-torn country, where Michel's Armenian roots intertwine, to another place, a center of apparent freedom and peace, yet faced with the challenges of modernity. This poignant narrative explores Michel's internal struggles, caught between his certainties and seductive illusions. The author subtly addresses themes of identity, the quest for meaning, and human resilience. Michel's determination to fulfill his dreams and the triumphant power of love are particularly striking.

This book resonates deeply within the soul, as we are all made up of certainties. Michel's destiny, his strength drawn from the Divine, can only set in motion a virtuous process within oneself. Thank you, Michel, for shifting perspectives, for questioning, and for fueling our curiosity, opening us to a more holistic world and exulting like a crowd before Handel’s famous final "Hallelujah" from Messiah. Thank you, Michel, for making me feel these emotions, which are merely a reflection of your own sensitivity.

"Michel's Certainties" by Vicken Bayramian is a captivating story that drew me in from the very first pages. The immersive writing and well-developed characters kept me hooked until the end. I particularly appreciated the psychological depth of the protagonists and the way the author explores themes of identity and the search for meaning. A highly recommended read for those seeking a poignant and thought-provoking novel.

Undeniable writing talent! The world of this beautiful story is recreated with authenticity. Michel has managed to capture the emotions, details, and nuances of his real-life story in a way that makes it completely immersive for the reader. I can only compliment him and ask, will there be a second one?

This is a direct, impactful book. It stirs up memories of our childhood and adolescence, and persistently questions the fate of our ambitions and dreams. It challenges our courage and our weaknesses, our victories and our surrender in the face of social norms, the gaze, and judgment of others. It puts our beliefs and convictions to the test through self-examination. This is not a book for those who are certain of their certainties. It’s a gift for those who are striving to find their own path in life and become their true selves.

With the powerful and indelible seal of exceptional introspective emotion, and elevated by the author’s unique narration, Michel's Certainties is a remarkable and authentic debut. It resonates with reflections on resilience and the tenacity of the human spirit, set against a life marked by the search for meaning and the scars of war. I highly recommend it.

A remarkable book that lingers long after you've finished it. A beautiful invitation to personal reflection, where there are more questions than answers, but "The beauty of unanswered questions replaces the obsessive and futile quest to find answers to everything..." A true delight, I hope there will be a sequel.

An incredible coming of age story highlighting love, sacrifice, struggle and perseverance within the backdrop of the raging civil war in Lebanon. Beautifully written in such a way that makes you feel as if the author (Vicken Bayramian) is sitting with you over a drink and cigar and describing the main character, Michel over a delightful conversation. Well done, and highly recommended!

Very touching, full of emotions, innocence, sacrifices and marital compromises, concerns, pain, perseverance, an underdog spirit, and an inexpressible yet beautifully described feeling of love. Presented like a play, a well-structured monologue where we adore all the characters with all their qualities (positive or negative). Highly recommended.

In this heart-wrenching narrative, the flash of bombs and the certainty of love guide the author. Underground shelters, Arab poets, and fragile candles accompany solitude and spark ambition. At war, his scarred land cries out in sorrow. Faced with the rigidity of a Lebanese French school attended by the author, he recalls his early years and the audience demanding labyrinthine tales and feverish memories. The explosions that strike Lebanon's capital spare the student Michel, as a protective hand shields him from death. He loves watching the sea at sunset, which beckons him to leave this powder keg. Is this call a providential magical sign? School revisions become a tenacious emotional ritual, offering a brief escape from the war’s cruel indifference to abandoned corpses and other terrifying calamities. As a teenager, Michel endures the hell of war and vows to experience love relationships that prepare him for a sexuality free from an archaic fear. The fulfillment of a daily life imbued with freedom and well-being will take years; little by little, the smell of gunpowder will be replaced by the scent of orange blossom. This journey of fulfillment will last several years; the intensity of black eyes that draw Michel out of himself will take on the sweet fervor of love. The church also spoke of the miracles of virtuous love. Those black eyes opened doors to esteem, brilliant nights, and sanctified hopes. In a new environment, Michel will complete the pilgrimage of attachment and joyful certainties. Writing will sculpt his mission: to embark on a quest for love, to survive on the streets of Paris, to pass the exams imposed by the Faculty of Law—what a challenge. At the crossroads of his personal story, Michel responded feverishly. The nights at the Parisian restaurant Roger la Grenouille too quickly sum up the survival period, the same one he had previously known so violently in the bombed neighborhoods of Beirut. The Armenian Student House, a resurrectional sun, offers Michel a room. This island succeeded the metro, and history worked like a tide destined to glorify life! The courage to conquer his fears has transformed Michel, who now recites the stages of his life as a poem honoring the Infinite, which he offers to us. His epic journey, his words, his readings, his encounters, all build a structure supported in solidarity by both human and divine love.

Rémy Hildebrand

Literary Society of Geneva