Writing book reviews reminds me of learning to write book reports with my mother in second grade. Instead of stapling them together, we’d use construction paper as the cover, three hole punch the pages, and bind it with yarn bows. Nostalgia.
While this was well written, with interesting plot twists and unique characters, “Martyr!” didn’t resonate with me. I’m still trying to figure out where the disconnect stems from. Protagonist Cyrus Shams, an Iranian-American, bisexual man, left untethered by the death of his parents, is grappling with his purpose. A poet releasing the crutch of drug addiction, deciding to make meaning of his life by having a death worth noting. Everything changes when he takes a trip to New York City to meet Orkideh, a painter who documents her terminal cancer diagnosis by making it a museum exhibition. Spending her last days speaking to visitors. She’s the embodiment of his dream, making meaning out of dying. Enthralled by her bravery Cyrus visits her everyday.
This book deals with mortality, religion, identity, sexual orientation and drug addiction. I don’t regret reading it after a six month wait, but it’s not something I’ll revisit. I feel as detached from Cyrus as he is from the world. A stark reminder that bonding with characters defines the readers experience, be it good or bad. In this case I was ambivalent, something I’ve never experienced prior. Am I the only person who felt this way? Lmk. Via: Amazon