This book was a metaphysical exploration of the collective consciousness, magnetism, memory recall, and the limits of the human experience. The main character Gabriel, an architect, begins to tap into the reservoir we call the collective consciousness due to an enigmatic character named Cairo. Think of it as a database where old memories, suppressed feelings and thoughts get archived. I couldn’t help but notice that the use of architecture throughout the story was reminiscent of a classical technique known as the Art of Memory. This technique required the individual to create a mental picture of a building with rooms. Usually this building was one which was familiar to the individual. Different objects would be envisioned in each room, leading the individual through the building of their mind. This technique was used ultimately for memory recall. I wonder if the author intentionally or unintentionally incorporated this technique into the story? Regardless, it serves as a genius metaphor for memory retrieval. The human mind is like a building with thousands of rooms that contain compartmentalized experiences. Deep spiritual practices such as meditation or for the purpose of this book- magnetic pulses, can assist with breaking into these rooms to collect what was believed to be lost. The story makes a point that it’s not simply about remembering what once was- rather it’s a full mind, body, soul experience that shatters the five senses into heightened awareness, and creates a spiritual awakening whereby one realizes that nothing is ever truly lost- but simply unconscious. If time is an illusion, than what once was, is what is now. Artificial memories become the norm such as memorizing useless information, and forgetting what happened merely minutes ago, while natural memories become stored into a hermetic reservoir. The human mind can be both logical and illogical at times, and The Cairo Pulse explores this idea- pushing the boundaries of what we believe to be the human potential.

The story is overly descriptive and wordy, but I appreciate this complexity as simplicity would have been a disservice to this mind boggling journey. The Cairo Pulse will challenge you to dig deep within yourself in order to align to your highest potential. If The Cairo Pulse is deemed a sci-fi novel, than I am very excited for this genre to explore the spirituality of science.

This story started out with an interesting mystery, but left me feeling like it was a set-up for a sequel. Part 2 left me upended for a while trying to figure out what was going on. I decided that was probably a deliberate decision of the author to make the reader feel as disoriented as his characters were. If so, it worked, at least for me. I lost some interest at that point but carried on reading it, assuming that things would become more clear as time went on, but they didn't. Then part 3 completely shifted from telling the story from the main character's point of view, and I really didn't care for that. It just sort of kept going downhill from Part 2 onward, as far as holding my attention or caring about what happened to the characters. On the plus side, it was quite well written and entertaining in it's style, so perhaps I just didn't care for the story line too much.

The Cairo Pulse
by B.B. Kindred

I received a reading copy from NetGalley and Troubador Publishing Ltd in exchange for an honest review.

“Throughout recorded history there’d been both religions and individuals who believed that all human experience existed in a cosmic reservoir that could potentially be accessed; the Buddhists with their Akashic Records, Carl Jung and the Collective Unconscious, Rupert Sheldrake’s Morphic Resonance.”

I am fascinated by this concept.

Haven’t we all experienced those flashes of lucidity that arrive-depart with lightning speed and infinite grace? I know I have. Fleeting moments that put the world on pause for a few nanoseconds. Everything is still and perfect and knowable. There is something more, something open and natural. A whole galaxy floats before you with its beauty and magnitude. A sense of sublime perspective. And then it’s gone.

“Nothing was lost on me, not the pitching waves or rustling grass, the pine and salty air, the caramel sand that nuzzled my feet, the skin pleasing breeze, the mingling scents of my following companions. Everything was delicious and captivating, no ripples of dislocation or question. A head untenanted by thought and memory, filled with only knowing.”

What if we learnt to reach that state and harness its potential? What might become of us, then?

The earth emits electromagnetic energy. This is a scientific fact. Humans are conductors of electricity and our brains emit electromagnetic waves. These too are facts. It does not seem to me so entirely far-fetched that our brains might one day be able to harness that energy. That we will become attuned to the natural electromagnetism of this universe. What precisely would come from such an evolution is up for debate and B.B. Kindred’s characters are exploring just that.

This is not a new idea; many grasp at this same notion. Blockbuster films like The Matrix and Lucy grew from the same place as B.B. Kindred. Both films are really quite weird, objectively. (And their endings suck, subjectively.)

Often the problem with this kind of exploration is maintaining a coherent story while also successfully conveying a wildly abstract theory. This novel isn’t exactly a sci-fi, but that’s probably where you’d find it in a bookshop. (N.B. It’s currently only available as an eBook, so don’t actually go looking!) It reminds me of titles like Nod by Adrian Barnes and Eleanor by Jason Gurley – both of which I read last year and both of which defy easy genre classification. They are playing with huge ideas, possibilities and ways of thinking and being. It is easy for the ideas to take over the story. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s better to know that going in. In regards to The Cairo Pulse, it’s success as a story is mixed. The best moments in the novel are those that venture into cosmic experience and the comedown that follows. Wonderment hit down by normality, the flippancy and self-awareness of it all.

“I woke feeling irritated by the sharpness of my thoughts”

Similar Titles:

Nod by Adrian Barnes

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

Eleanor by Jason Gurley

Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre

Smoke by Dan Vyleta
Title: The Cairo Pulse
Author: B.B. Kindred
ISBN: 9781788031974
Only available as eBook.
Buy it here.

The description of the book really did grab my attention. I found it very intriguing and couldn't wait to start reading. The plot is unlike anything I have encountered previously. I had suspicions of how the plot would develop, I was completely wrong. It's very refreshing to read a book that has genuine surprises.
The first two chapters felt very difficult to read, it just felt like there was something missing. That being said, in the third chapter, the writing really started to improve and I found myself very interested in discovering what was going to happen next.

This is an interesting novel and I would recommend it. You may have to have a little patience though, the plot can be a little jumpy at times.