A review by serendipitysbooks
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 Martyr! is the story of Cyrus Shams, a young Iranian American man whose mother died when her plane was shot down over Tehran by the United States. He’s a newly sober poet whose desire to write a book about martyrs takes him to a Brooklyn art gallery where a terminally ill Iranian-American woman is living out her final days. A beautifully written, philosophical book exploring what makes a meaningful life and death, and also has interesting things to say about being part of two sometimes conflicting cultures and the making of art. Lots of depth with multiple points of view, some epistolary elements, and quite a few side stories, as well as unexpected twist towards the end. 
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