9 min listen
Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry
Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry
ratings:
Length:
8 minutes
Released:
Jan 31, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Halfway through today's episode, author Kaveh Akbar tells NPR's Scott Simon that his life is a summation of "private joys amidst collective grief and private grief amidst collective joy." It's a contrast that contextualizes his emotionally dark yet deeply funny debut novel, Martyr!, about an Iranian-American poet grappling with addiction, loss, displacement and art. Akbar, who is also poetry editor at The Nation, explains why his protagonist is so obsessed with the concept of martyrdom, and how it relates to his own personal journey with sobriety. To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
Released:
Jan 31, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Hearing Voices From 'The Book of Form and Emptiness': In Ruth Ozeki's novel <em>The Book of Form and Emptiness</em>, 13-year-old Benny Oh starts hearing things talk to him after the death of his father. by NPR's Book of the Day