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A review by mmccombs
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
I was first hooked by the cover, then by the title, and finally by the first line. I am having a hard time believing this is a debut because this was a complete knock out!
This story is about Cyrus, obsessed with death and ensuring his death means something, swallowed whole by grief and anything that numbs the pain of being alive. We also see vignettes of the people around him, mostly his parents and his friend Zee, in addition to people he dreams, creating beautifully complex scenes and dialogue that often bends reality.
Ultimately, this book asks us to consider the meaning of death, of life, and of language’s ability to render either of those things in a meaningful way. I’d say my only critique was that the conclusion/“twist” felt a bit tidy, lots of coincidences and fate at play that verged on being distracting. I’m also feeling a bit confused about the ending, but in a kind of fun way where I already know I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
If you’re looking for a character-driven novel that explores lots of existential questions, this is going to be your book of the year.
Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the eARC of Martyr!
This story is about Cyrus, obsessed with death and ensuring his death means something, swallowed whole by grief and anything that numbs the pain of being alive. We also see vignettes of the people around him, mostly his parents and his friend Zee, in addition to people he dreams, creating beautifully complex scenes and dialogue that often bends reality.
Ultimately, this book asks us to consider the meaning of death, of life, and of language’s ability to render either of those things in a meaningful way. I’d say my only critique was that the conclusion/“twist” felt a bit tidy, lots of coincidences and fate at play that verged on being distracting. I’m also feeling a bit confused about the ending, but in a kind of fun way where I already know I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
If you’re looking for a character-driven novel that explores lots of existential questions, this is going to be your book of the year.
Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the eARC of Martyr!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Drug use, Alcohol, and Alcoholism