The start of a new decade can be scary, exciting, as a new stage of adulthood opening
before us. Whilst fumbling to find our place within the world, navigating new and old connections, we can turn to books for literary guidance.
I would highly recommend Kaveh Akbar’s debut novel Martyr! which approaches our shared pursuit for meaning and purpose through its protagonist, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, Cyrus Shams. Readers meet Cyrus in a state of existential inertia, an addict, an alcoholic, a writer who cannot write. We follow his journey towards self-discovery through his fascination with martyrdom, meeting a terminally ill artist and through her exploring his existing relationships and the unknown beauty that surrounds him. Though restless and despairing towards the world, Akbar’s poetic background infuses Cyrus’ experience with beauty as his lyricism seeps into its prose, creating a beautiful account of personhood and
all that is simply human. Martyr! is a novel for those who feel purposeless, lost or afraid of a future we cannot envisage clearly, reminding us of the pain, confusion, and beauty in the world we inhabit.
Another form of literary guidance can be found in memoirs; we can trace the experiences of those who have met this new stage of life with similar fear and excitement. A pivotal example being Patti Smith’s Just Kids which offers an intimate account of her youth, specifically her friendship with long-term friend Robert Mapplethorpe. Smith allows us to be swallowed into her life as an artist in 1970s New York, her difficult, swerving path towards success, and her relationships. It’s impossible not to be moved as Smith’s writing insists on perseverance, ambition and connection, we must all try to meet the weight of life with the same enduring
hope.
Or, if willing to dive earlier into twentieth century literature, Simone de Beauvoir’s
autobiography, Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, offers a rebellious, detailed coming-of-age story in 1920s Paris. Beauvoir sweeps her readers into the fine details of her world, every passion, every decision and resistance recorded as she retraces her dissident path towards womanhood.
If in doubt, or anticipation, I think these books can offer a chance to recognise our own feelings, and our uncertainty becomes a shared experience. They cannot offer answers, but a space we can find ourselves in and feel moved or inspired by.
“Why Being In Your 20s Is Awesome by Ryan O’Connell” by Book Catalog is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
