Martyr!

 1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• If you were describing Martyr! to someone who had never read it, what three adjectives would you use, and why? Would you recommend the novel? Why or why not?
• How does Martyr! compare to other works you’ve read that explore the immigrant experience in the US?
• Martyr! is Akbar’s debut novel, but he has previously published two collections of poetry, Calling a Wolf a Wolf (2017) and Pilgrim Bell (2021), and poetry also features prominently in Martyr!. Which part of Martyr! did you enjoy more, the poetry or the prose, and why? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Cyrus’s family feels pressure to conform to mainstream American culture due to prejudice against Middle Eastern immigrants. Did reading Martyr! change your beliefs about the extent to which immigrants to a country should assimilate? What are the downsides of assimilation, both for immigrants and for the society receiving them? 
• How did you feel about the novel’s depiction of addiction? Do you think it tackled the topic sensitively?
• Cyrus is fascinated with the idea of being a martyr. Could you relate to this desire? Why do you think people are drawn to the idea?
• One of the main themes in the novel is language’s insufficiency in capturing life’s most meaningful experiences. Think about a time when you were lost for words. What made the situation so difficult to describe? How did that difficulty impact your experience of events?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Compare Cyrus’s experience of LGBTQ+ identity in the US to Roya’s experience in Iran. To what extent does the novel uphold the idea that Western societies are more “progressive” in their attitude toward LGBTQ+ individuals? To what extent does it challenge that notion?
• Cyrus has a complicated relationship with religion, but the novel’s opening scene—Cyrus begging for a sign from God—implies a need for some sort of divinity. What does the novel suggest about the role of faith in contemporary societies? Does it propose any secular alternatives to religion?
• Consider the novel’s depiction of the downing of Iran Air Flight 655. How does this event stand in for the broader US-Iran relationship in Martyr!? What commentary does the novel offer on contemporary US policy toward Iran?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Consider the work’s nonlinear narrative and its incorporation of Cyrus’s dreams and poems. What is the effect of this hybrid structure? How does it deepen your understanding of the novel’s themes or characters? 
• Cyrus is a name with great historical significance in Iran. How does this context inform your understanding of Cyrus’s character and arc?
• Zee is not only a love interest but also a foil for Cyrus. Compare the two characters’ negotiation of their cultural and ethnic identities. How does Zee facilitate Cyrus’s character development?
• How do you interpret the surreal elements of Zee and Cyrus’s final meeting in the park? What are the implications of your interpretation for the novel’s overall portrayal of language and/or identity?
• Consider Orkideh’s DEATH SPEAK exhibit. Why does she put on this exhibit, if she believes her death is “unremarkable”? How does the exhibit relate to the novel’s exploration of martyrdom? 

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Research one of the “martyrs” who feature in Cyrus’s poetry (Bobby Sands, Hypatia of Alexandria, Qu Yuan, etc.). If you were creating a work of art based on this person, which elements of their story would you emphasize?
• Cyrus’s heroes, including Lisa Simpson and Kareem Abdul-Jabar, feature prominently in his dreams. Imagine a conversation with one of your childhood idols. How would it unfold?

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