Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar (2024)
Themes: LGBTQ+, Islam, Death, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Summary: Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar is an exceptional book that deals with death and finding meaning in said death. The book follows the life of Cyrus Shams who is an Iranian Immigrant living in America. Cyrus' life is one that has been quite tramatic. His mother was a passanger on Iran Flight 655, and he has been grappling with this for his whole life. The death of his mother is the reason why Cyrus wants to find meaning in his death, he wants to be someone before he dies. His mother was only a number in a death count, Cyrus is determined to be remembered, he's determined to become a "Martyr!" This book is a clear look into the search for meaning in life. Cyrus meets many people during this search, romantic partners, dying artists, and distant family members, all adding to his search. As well, during this search Cyrus also grapples with his Islamic background. This all culminates into a deeply emotional and thought provoking story.
