Humanities Unbound Book Discussion: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

About this event

Join Humanities New York and Just Buffalo Literary Center for a three-session reading and discussion of Kaveh Akbar's bestselling novel, Martyr! Facilitated by Barish Ali, we'll spend time with Cyrus Shams, an Iranian American poet whose search for meaning takes him through family history, addiction, faith, art, and questions about martyrdom. As Cyrus works on his Book of Martyrs project and tries to understand the people and histories that shaped him, the novel raises questions about memory, belonging, loss, and the ways the past continues to shape us. Across three conversations, participants will return to the novel and give its questions time to develop. We'll read closely and consider different interpretations. We'll also explore how the stories and histories we inherit influence the ways we understand ourselves and one another. The series leads into Akbar's November 19 BABEL appearance, giving participants an opportunity to spend sustained time with Martyr! before hearing from its author. Mondays, November 2, 9, and 16 7:00-8:30 pm Just Buffalo Literary Center 468 Washington St., 2nd floor Advance registration required. Space is limited to 15 participants. Complimentary copies of Martyr! will be provided to registered participants. Barish Ali is Associate Professor of English at Buffalo State University where he teaches literature, humanities, and Africana studies courses. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University at Buffalo. The recipient of Buffalo State's Muriel A. Howard Award for the Promotion of Equity and Campus Diversity for his advancement of Middle Eastern studies on campus as well as the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching, his research experience is wide ranging, encompassing Middle Eastern, African, Caribbean, European, and British literature. Kaveh Akbar will be appearing in Just Buffalo Literary Center's BABEL Author Series on Thursday, November 19 at Kleinhans Music Hall.Tickets available at justbuffalo.org