The Page Turners March Meeting: Martyr by Kaveh Akbar

This month we’re reading Martyr!, a thoughtful and unusual debut novel by poet Kaveh Akbar. The story follows Cyrus Shams, an Iranian-American man trying to make sense of his life after losing his mother and working through his own past struggles with addiction. He becomes interested in the idea of martyrdom—not in a dramatic sense, but as a way to understand what gives life meaning.

Cyrus’s search takes him from Indiana to New York City, where he meets artists, friends, and strangers who each add something to his understanding of love, family, and purpose. Along the way, the novel moves between present-day scenes and glimpses of Cyrus’s family history, slowly revealing how the past has shaped him.

Akbar writes with a poet’s attention to language, but the story stays grounded in everyday conversations, small moments of connection, and the quiet ways we try to understand ourselves. It’s a book about grief, curiosity, and finding a place in the world—perfect for an honest, reflective discussion.

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Upcoming Meetings:
03/26: Culpability by Bruce Holsinger