Martyr!: A novel
A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, embarks on a remarkable search for a family secret that leads him to a terminally ill painter living out her final days in the Brooklyn Museum. Electrifying, funny, and wholly original, Martyr! heralds the arrival of an essential new voice in contemporary fiction.
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Community Reviews
what a gift it was to read this book. compelling, devastating, beautiful, and earnest. i loved this book. i finished this book utterly and thoroughly moved.
Loved where the story went and the messages behind the verbose text.
This book felt long and slow to start.
Book Review: Martyr
At first, I didn’t like Martyr—not because it was poorly written, but because it struck a nerve in me. Something about the story hit too close to home, making it hard to engage with at the beginning. But as I pushed through, I found myself drawn in, especially when the twist came. That shift in the story changed everything, making me see it in a new light.
That said, one thing I just can’t accept is the idea of a mother abandoning her child. No matter the reasoning, it’s something I struggle to understand or forgive. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, even as I appreciated the storytelling. The book is thought-provoking and well-crafted, but that element made it hard for me to fully embrace.
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