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A review by gdulecki
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
2025 reread:
Wow!!!! I am SO glad we are reading this for book club this month. This was quite possibly my favorite book last year, and reading it again reignited the love I have for it. It’s surprising to me how much I love it, considering that it is very character heavy and Cyrus isn’t particularly likeable, both of which are things I don’t usually enjoy, but for whatever reason, it really works for me here. I can’t wait to hear what everyone else has to say about it (unless they hated it which in that case I don’t want to hear it!!!)
Original review:
“Sobriety meant Cyrus couldn’t help but see himself, eventually. And it hurt.”
Holy shit. This is certainly one of my top books for this year. This line encompasses so much of this story, Cyrus’ storyline, and the unraveling of what he knew, or thought he knew, about himself and his family. This story, written through the lens of recovery, was SO well done. I’ve read many books that have written about addiction and recovery, but this one may be the most well written depiction of how recovery feels. This book was so beautiful. I need this for my bookshelf immediately
Wow!!!! I am SO glad we are reading this for book club this month. This was quite possibly my favorite book last year, and reading it again reignited the love I have for it. It’s surprising to me how much I love it, considering that it is very character heavy and Cyrus isn’t particularly likeable, both of which are things I don’t usually enjoy, but for whatever reason, it really works for me here. I can’t wait to hear what everyone else has to say about it (unless they hated it which in that case I don’t want to hear it!!!)
Original review:
“Sobriety meant Cyrus couldn’t help but see himself, eventually. And it hurt.”
Holy shit. This is certainly one of my top books for this year. This line encompasses so much of this story, Cyrus’ storyline, and the unraveling of what he knew, or thought he knew, about himself and his family. This story, written through the lens of recovery, was SO well done. I’ve read many books that have written about addiction and recovery, but this one may be the most well written depiction of how recovery feels. This book was so beautiful. I need this for my bookshelf immediately
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment