A review by katieterra
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Some of the most beautiful, lyrical prose I've ever read. The ending can be interpreted in several ways, and being the pessimist I am, I lean toward the maximally tragic interpretation. I normally dislike an open-to-interpretation ending, but in this case, it works. It's almost a litmus test or a mirror that shows you your own beliefs about mental illness and the extent to which recovery from it is possible. This book f***ed me up, and I'll be thinking about it for a long time. Kudos to the author for this remarkable work of art. 
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