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A review by pangnaolin
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Jesus Christ. I'm writing this the moment I've finished Martyr! because I really don't know what else to do with myself, I want to do so many things. When I read a book I love this much, I always feel inspired to do five million things at once, and it does make me laugh a little that two of the books that have made me like this are one by Tommy Orange and one heavily influenced by his work. Where to begin?
Martyr! was an incredible read from start to finish. The prose was bold, direct, and intense-- cutting in the most perfectly crafted and telling voice for Cyrus-- and had me stunned so many times. I actually dictated some of my favorite parts into my notes app because I loved them so much. I have to say, though, that even though the most quotably weird and interesting pieces of prose were near the start, I feel like the way those decrease means something to me. I got to watch the way Cyrus slowly changed his values and the melodramatic way he'd viewed the world & himself for so long, and the prose reflected that.
I also adored the odd pieces of his life that didn't quite fit, but persisted like the dream dialogues, and adored getting to read from other's perspectives, though I have to say that Cyrus's voice was always my favorite to read. I just couldn't get enough of the style.
I really don't know what to say about this book. Cyrus's story is incredible and intense, and I had at least a few moments where I just stopped and sort of let out a long-held-in sigh. I had to take moments to rest from how much it all weighed down on me. I fell in love with it and quite literally couldn't put it down, which isn't common for me and a book. I loved Akbar's poetry, and now I love his novels even more. I can't wait to see what more he brings into the world.
Martyr! was an incredible read from start to finish. The prose was bold, direct, and intense-- cutting in the most perfectly crafted and telling voice for Cyrus-- and had me stunned so many times. I actually dictated some of my favorite parts into my notes app because I loved them so much. I have to say, though, that even though the most quotably weird and interesting pieces of prose were near the start, I feel like the way those decrease means something to me. I got to watch the way Cyrus slowly changed his values and the melodramatic way he'd viewed the world & himself for so long, and the prose reflected that.
I also adored the odd pieces of his life that didn't quite fit, but persisted like the dream dialogues, and adored getting to read from other's perspectives, though I have to say that Cyrus's voice was always my favorite to read. I just couldn't get enough of the style.
I really don't know what to say about this book. Cyrus's story is incredible and intense, and I had at least a few moments where I just stopped and sort of let out a long-held-in sigh. I had to take moments to rest from how much it all weighed down on me. I fell in love with it and quite literally couldn't put it down, which isn't common for me and a book. I loved Akbar's poetry, and now I love his novels even more. I can't wait to see what more he brings into the world.