Book description
Set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, in a small town in present-day Idaho, and on an interstellar ship decades from now, Anthony Doerr's gorgeous third novel is a triumph of imagination and compassion, a soaring story about children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope — and a book. In Cloud Cuckoo Land, Doerr has created a magnificent tapestry of times and places that reflects our vast interconnectedness — with other species, with each other, with those who lived before us, and with those who will be here after we're gone. Thirteen-year-old Anna, an orphan, lives inside the formidable walls of Constantinople in a house of women who make their living embroidering the robes of priests. Restless, insatiably curious, Anna learns to read, and in this ancient city, famous for its libraries, she finds a book, the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to a utopian paradise in the sky. This she reads to her ailing sister as the walls of the only place she has known are bombarded in the great siege of Constantinople. Outside the walls is Omeir, a village boy, miles from home, conscripted with his beloved oxen into the invading army. His path and Anna's will cross. Five hundred years later, in a library in Idaho, octogenarian Zeno, who learned Greek as a prisoner of war, rehearses five children in a play adaptation of Aethon's story, preserved against all odds through centuries. Tucked among the library shelves is a bomb, planted by a troubled, idealistic teenager, Seymour. This is another siege. And in a not-so-distant future, on the interstellar ship Argos, Konstance is alone in a vault, copying on scraps of sacking the story of Aethon, told to her by her father. She has never set foot on our planet. Like Marie-Laure and Werner in All the Light We Cannot See, Anna, Omeir, Seymour, Zeno, and Konstance are dreamers and outsiders who find resourcefulness and hope in the midst of gravest danger. Their lives are gloriously intertwined. Doerr's dazzling imagination transports us to worlds so dramatic and immersive that we forget, for a time, our own. Dedicated to "the librarians then, now, and in the years to come," Cloud Cuckoo Land is a beautiful and redemptive novel about stewardship — of the book, of the Earth, of the human heart.Review"Doerr returns with a deeply affecting epic....[Cloud Cuckoo Land] is a marvel." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Review"Doerr demonstrates a singular gift for bringing these complex, fully realized characters to empathetic life in this brilliantly imagined story, which moves backward and forward in time." Booklist (Starred Review)Review"As the pieces of this magical literary puzzle snap together, a flicker of hope is sparked for our benighted world." Kirkus (Starred Review)Review"A glorious golden mesh of stories that limns that the transformative power of literature and our need to both dream big and arrive back home in a world that will eventually flow on without us." Library Journal (Starred Review)About the AuthorAnthony Doerr is the author of All the Light We Cannot See, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Carnegie Medal, the Alex Award, and a #1 New York Times bestseller. He is also the author of the story collections Memory Wall and The Shell Collector, the novel About Grace, and the memoir Four Seasons in Rome. He has won five O. Henry Prizes, the Rome Prize, the New York Public Library's Young Lions Award, the National Magazine Award for fiction, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Story Prize. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Doerr lives in Boise, Idaho, with his wife and two sons.
Delicious Wing
Listening to audiobooks with my kids has become a cherished bonding activity. ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make navigation effortless. 🎙️ This app's user-friendly interface has transformed my daily walks into immersive storytelling sessions. Kudos to the developers! 🚶♀️📖 Looping playback is a game-changer for my study routine. It helps me retain information effectively. I love how I can create playlists. It’s perfect for organizing my books.
Lskeee
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a huge plus during long drives. Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device.
Pitfall
ListenBook's interface is sleek and user-friendly, making navigation a breeze. 🧘♀️☕ Sipping tea and getting lost in stories – the ultimate way to unwind! 🍵📖 📱 My secret to staying well-read – this app ensures that I'm never without a book, no matter where I am! 📚📱 ListenBook has breathed new life into my audiobook collection. I can't imagine using anything else.
Commando
The layout of ListenBook is so beautiful and user-friendly, making it a pleasure to use. Organization made easy! This app's efficient management of my audiobook collection ensures I'm always engrossed in a captivating tale. 📖📱
Cardinal Rebel
🌌 Whether I'm cooking, commuting, or relaxing at home, this app's seamless functionality keeps me engaged in captivating narratives. 🎧✨ Audiobook journey simplified – this app's functionality is a wonderful surprise. The app supports background playback, which is a must for me.
Jester
Hands down, the best audiobook collection I've ever come across. It has everything I want to listen to. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true winner. Playlists and bookmarks are super helpful. Love using ListenBook! Highly engaging! The combination of a well-written story and skilled narration made this audiobook hard to pause. I finished it much faster than I expected because I just couldn’t stop listening.
Blackfire
📱 It's like having a personal audiobook library at my fingertips! This app's functionality is a dream come true for book lovers. 📚🔥 Streamlined audiobook integration – this app's usability is impressive. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a unique touch that adds personalization to my audiobook journey. The ability to adjust playback speed and volume is a game-changer for me. ListenBook makes my commute enjoyable. The audio filters really enhance the listening experience.
MythMaker
This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! Automated extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library.
Snapdragon
Navigating through my audiobook library is a joy with this app's intuitive interface and easy controls. It's like having a personal reading companion at my side. 📱📖 Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to introduce them to captivating stories.
Digital Moonshine
This app's simplicity has made me fall in love with books all over again. 🎙️ Grocery shopping has taken an exciting turn – I'm on a mission to explore new worlds through audiobooks! 🛒📚 Discovering new worlds through audiobooks has never been easier! This app's intuitive interface and seamless functionality make every listening session a delight. 📚🎧 ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is fascinating. I can alter the reader's voice to match my mood—what a creative addition!
Loot
Audiobooks have become my favorite workout companions, making exercise a breeze. Audiobooks on this app have turned my travels into explorations of new narratives. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
Freaky Ratbuster
Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! 🚶♀️🎧 Enjoying the great outdoors while immersing myself in fantastic tales – walking never felt this magical! 🏞️📚 I love the ability to customize the skip buttons. It’s so convenient.
Blistered Outlaw
Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off – no more searching for my spot! This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of intellectual discovery – a win-win! Streamlining audiobook enjoyment – this app's functionality is truly impressive. Tone adjustment is a thoughtful addition that adds a personal touch to the audiobook narration. It's like having a narrator tailor their voice to my preferences.
Raid Bucker
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats means I can now enjoy all my favorite audiobooks in one place. I can't believe how convenient this app has made my reading experience. 💼 Making every minute count – this app's ease of use ensures I'm always making progress in my audiobook adventures. 📱📖 Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a game-changer. I can enjoy clear recordings. The playback history is a great feature. I can easily revisit my favorite parts.
Sun Runner
🌟 Adding excitement to everyday tasks – this app is my partner in productivity! 📚🚀 🎉 This app is a testament to thoughtful design – its functionality seamlessly blends with my lifestyle, making reading effortless. 📚✨ Bravo to the creators of this app – they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design have won me over. 📚👏 I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy.
Stick Shift
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience. 🚶♂️🌟 Embracing audiobooks as my companions during leisurely walks – nature and narratives, a perfect match! 🚶♂️🎧 The best app for audiobooks. Downloading and organizing files is super easy with ListenBook.
Devil Bread
🛌 Bedtime stories for adults? Yes, please! This app is a dream come true. 🌙📚 ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Lope Lope
Thanks for making my daily commute to work enjoyable and engaging! This app has made my daily routines more meaningful and enjoyable. 📱 Accessing my favorite stories has never been this straightforward – this app's functionality is a bookworm's dream come true. 📚💫 Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
Tweety Bun Bun
Auto-rewind is a very handy feature. Excellent app. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
Squatch
The 'Explore' feature has introduced me to authors I might never have discovered otherwise. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! I can't get enough of this app's versatile features – from playback speed to bookmarking, it's all there. Kudos to the developers for crafting an app that understands readers' needs. The smooth playback and sleek design are pure perfection. 📚👏 The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience