GSWS Feminist Book Club - April 2026

Martyr!

Kaveh Akbar

Knopf Publishing Group (2024)

Martyr! follows Cyrus Shams as he confronts the challenges of being an artist and an Iranian man, searching for meaning in life and death. After giving up alcohol, he turns to poetry. He wishes to "live perfectly enough to die without creating a ripple of pain behind him, like an Olympic diver knifing splashlessly into a pool," revealing both his passion and his deep troubles.

Akbar explores various angles of Cyrus's obsession, from conversations with characters like Lisa Simpson and his deceased mother, to an impulsive trip to meet a dying Iranian artist. While Akbar uses references to history and art for philosophical grounding, the narrative occasionally feels exaggerated.

Is believability Akbar's aim? Martyr! is funny and insightful, critically examining Iranian and Iranian-American customs while celebrating the beauty of an ancient culture. Still, at times, Cyrus's quest for meaning feels overly eager.

Rating: 4.1