MARTYR by Kaveh Akbar

DESCRIPTION

Martyr by Kaveh Akbar is a powerful addition to literary fiction, now a New York Times bestseller and named a Best Book of the Year So Far for 2024 by The New York Times Book Review. This novel introduces readers to a new and essential voice in contemporary literary fiction.

The story follows Cyrus Shams, a young man who is navigating a life marred by loss and addiction. Orphaned when his mother’s plane was shot down over the Persian Gulf and left with a father who labored in obscurity, Cyrus’s life has been defined by violence and sorrow. In his quest for understanding, Cyrus, now sober and driven by a passion for poetry, embarks on a journey that takes him through a web of family secrets and personal revelations.

Guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, Cyrus’s search leads him to a terminally ill painter in the Brooklyn Museum. This painter’s art might hold the key to understanding his mother’s mysterious past. As Cyrus delves deeper, he uncovers connections to his uncle, a martyr who inspired others in Iranian battlefields, and a complex tapestry of displacement and identity.

Martyr is a remarkable exploration of faith, art, and the quest for meaning. It is both electrifying and original, capturing the essence of Kaveh Akbar’s unique perspective in literary fiction.