In 'Martyr!,' an endless quest for purpose in a world that can be cruel and uncaring
Engaging and wildly entertaining, Kaveh Akbar's debut novel will undoubtedly be considered one of the best of the year because it focuses on very specific stories while discussing universal feelings.
Kaveh Akbar's poetry has been published in places like The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Paris Review — and his work has received a lot of critical acclaim as well as several prestigious awards.
So I had high expectation for his first novel. Three chapters into it, my considerable expectations were a speck in the rearview mirror. After finishing the novel, I couldn't even remember what those expectations had been because I was too busy processing everything Akbar had accomplished in his
