MJ Franklin, an editor at the New York Times Book Review, and Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, dive into Kaveh Akbar's poignant debut novel, 'Martyr!'. They explore the protagonist Cyrus's journey through personal loss and his existential struggle with martyrdom. The conversation touches on narrative techniques, the emotional depth of relationships, and the complexities of recovery, showcasing how Cyrus navigates joy and sorrow. Their insights intertwine personal narratives with a broader commentary on memory and identity.
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insights INSIGHT
Complexity of Cyrus' Character
Cyrus is a deeply complicated, magnetic character whose voice is both cutting and earnest.
The novel invites readers into his messy, tender journey with human contradictions that feel real and relatable.
insights INSIGHT
Joy Amid Heavy Themes
Despite heavy themes like death and trauma, the book feels joyful and life-affirming.
This tone is anchored by Cyrus' complicated character, allowing exploration of difficult topics with empathy.
insights INSIGHT
Authentic Earnestness in Writing
The novel achieves an earnestness that feels authentic, avoiding naivety or corniness.
This earnestness reflects Cyrus's existential search without being one-dimensional or simplistic.
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While detailed plot summaries are not readily available, 'Table for Two' is part of Hugh Lawrence Nelson's body of work in the mystery genre. Nelson's novels often featured intricate plots and characters typical of the period's detective fiction.
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Martyr!
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Cheryl Strayed
This book gathers the best of Cheryl Strayed's 'Dear Sugar' advice columns, initially published on The Rumpus. Strayed, writing under the pseudonym Sugar, provides deeply personal and frank responses to queries on various subjects such as professional jealousy, relationship issues, and coping with loss. The book is rich with humor, insight, and compassion, making it a balm for the challenges of life. It includes never-before-published columns and a new introduction by Steve Almond. Strayed's advice is grounded in her own personal experiences, offering a unique blend of memoir and advice that resonates deeply with readers[1][4][5].
Our March book club pick is Kaveh Akbar’s debut novel ‘Martyr!’ It’s about Cyrus, who was born in Iran and moved to the midwest as a child after his mom died. She was one of the victims of the real-life event where the United States Navy shot an Iranian passenger-plane out of the sky reportedly by accident. The book picks up when Cyrus is in his 20s in Indiana and he’s struggling in more ways than one.
He finds himself thinking a lot about the idea of martyrdom and what makes life truly worth living. When he learns of an artist in New York whose work explores similar topics, he has to meet her.
We are joined by two expert readers: New York Times Book Review editor MJ Franklin and host of The Stackspodcast Traci Thomas. We discuss the book in detail, including spoilers! So if you have not read the book yet, go back and listen to our spoiler-free chat with author Kaveh Akbar in the feed first.
Nerdette 
