Martyr!

"This novel's exploration of identity, faith, and belonging aligns with Barack Obama's consistent interest in diverse perspectives and complex human experiences. It fits his pattern of recommending contemporary fiction that delves into profound personal and societal questions."

"Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! is a portrait of Cyrus Shams – a man consumed by addiction, depression and spiritual untethering. Full of sadness and righteous anger – especially when it comes to the American tendency to negate the value of certain Middle Eastern lives – it’s also one of the funniest books I’ve read in years. Martyr! is propelled by those kinds of contradictions. It breezes by while knocking you over. It strikes an optimistic note within its fatalism. It suggests death might provide the meaning of life. Ultimately, it could leave you in tears of laughter or of sorrow. Or most likely both."

"Kaveh Akbar's Martyr! The last 100 pages or so in particular were so touching."

"Dazzling and surprising and capacious and riveting; I didn't want it to end."