MARTYR!

Iranian American actor Arian Moayed gives the performance of a lifetime in poet Kaveh Akbar's extraordinary debut novel. Cyrus Shams is a queer Iranian American poet in recovery who is grieving the long-ago death of his mother (killed when the U.S. Navy shot down a civilian Iranian plane) and struggling to find meaning in life. He becomes obsessed with the idea of martyrdom and decides to write a book about it. Moayed captures the earnestness that makes this novel shine: He's dramatic, ebullient, and wildly expressive. His voice is so emotional that it's almost hard to listen to at times--Cyrus feels so deeply, and Moayed speaks every word of that intensity aloud. Playful, funny, tender, and wise, this is a no-holds-barred celebration of life. L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2024]