Martyr by Kaveh Akbar
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Web ID: 1786825415 reviews
Incredible Story
Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! is a novel that lingers—it doesn’t demand answers, but it asks the kinds of questions that stay with you. It follows Cyrus Shams, an Iranian man living in the U.S., who is lost in grief, addiction, and the search for meaning. His mother’s death weighs on him, as does the disconnection he feels from both his birthplace and the country he now calls home. What struck me most was the way the book moves between humor and sorrow. Cyrus is often self-destructive, but he’s also sharp and funny, and his observations make the story feel surprisingly alive. There were moments that made me laugh and others that quietly pulled me into his sadness. The novel doesn’t shy away from addiction or loneliness, but it also doesn’t dwell in hopelessness.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I enjoyed the latter part of the book
I wasn’t as blown away by this book as I expected to be, based on its hype. First, I found it difficult to get into the story, finding the beginning to be disjointed and less than compelling. I actually didn’t start to like it until the main character, Cyrus, goes to New York to meet with a dying woman who’s dying is a form of performance art at a Brooklyn museum. The conversations Cyrus has with the woman and ultimate revelations are the most interesting parts of the book. For the most part, the rest is superfluous. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of the book to read for free. My opinion is voluntary.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Poetic Journey
Martyr by Kaveh Akbar is a literary journey that masterfully weaves the past, present, and imagination into a seamless narrative. The author’s ability to blur the lines between reality and fiction creates an immersive experience, leaving the reader questioning where one ends and the other begins. Structured like a puzzle, the story gradually reveals its full picture in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable. Akbar’s language is exquisite, offering a taste of Persian literary traditions to readers unfamiliar with them, while drawing them into its emotional depth and poetic cadence. Martyr is a uniquely compelling read that lingers in the mind long after the final page.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
One of my all time favorites
A darkly humorous, profoundly moving, coming of age story. I couldn’t put it down.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Life changing
This book changed my life. It felt like Akbar wrote this from my very heart.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
New Favorite Author
The poetic language drew me in from the first page, and as soon as I reached the end, I was ready to start over again.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A stunning. sharply funny debut
What if I told you that a novel called Martyr! about a young Iranian immigrant, recovering addict, and aspiring poet meeting an artist in residence dying of cancer was one of the funniest, most life affirming novels I’ve read in years? Kaveh Akbar’s debut combines confident prose with a keen insight into the stories we tell ourselves. The crucial ingredient in all of this is Kaveh’s wicked sense of humor, bringing joy and wonder into the darkest aspects of the character’s lives. Lauded by writers such as Tommy Orange and John Green, this is a beautiful first novel about family, art, and being true to oneself.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Wow!
How do you describe such a stunning novel in just a few sentences? You can’t you just need to read it! This book is gut wrenching, funny, inspiring, desperate and hopeful. Peppered with pearls of wisdom throughout this powerful story it is a must read.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com