Book description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY MICHIKO KAKUTANI, THE NEW YORK TIMES * NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TIME NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY MORE THAN 45 PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING The New York Times Book Review * The Washington Post * NPR * The New Yorker * San Francisco Chronicle * The Economist * The Atlantic * Newsday * Salon * St. Louis Post-Dispatch * The Guardian * Esquire (UK) * GQ (UK) Little Failure is the all too true story of an immigrant family betting its future on America, as told by a lifelong misfit who finally finds a place for himself in the world through books and words. In 1979, a little boy dragging a ginormous fur hat and an overcoat made from the skin of some Soviet woodland creature steps off the plane at New York's JFK International Airport and into his new American life. His troubles are just beginning. For the former Igor Shteyngart, coming to the United States from the Soviet Union is like stumbling off a monochromatic cliff and landing in a pool of Technicolor. Careening between his Soviet home life and his American aspirations, he finds himself living in two contradictory worlds, wishing for a real home in one. He becomes so strange to his parents that his mother stops bickering with his father long enough to coin the phrase failurchka--"little failure"--which she applies to her once-promising son. With affection. Mostly. From the terrors of Hebrew School to a crash course in first love to a return visit to the homeland that is no longer home, Gary Shteyngart has crafted a ruthlessly brave and funny memoir of searching for every kind of love--family, romantic, and of the self. Praise for Little Failure "Hilarious and moving . . . The army of readers who love Gary Shteyngart is about to get bigger."--The New York Times Book Review "A memoir for the ages . . . brilliant and unflinching."--Mary Karr "Dazzling . . . a rich, nuanced memoir . . . It's an immigrant story, a coming-of-age story, a becoming-a-writer story, and a becoming-a-mensch story, and in all these ways it is, unambivalently, a success."--Meg Wolitzer, NPR "Literary gold . . . [a] bruisingly funny memoir."--Vogue "A giant success."--Entertainment Weekly "[Little Failure] finds the delicate balance between sidesplitting and heartbreaking."--O: The Oprah Magazine "Should become a classic of the immigrant narrative genre."--The Miami Herald "As vivid, original and funny as any that contemporary U.S. literature has to offer."--Los Angeles Times "The very best memoirs perfectly toe the line between heartbreak and humor, and Shteyngart does just that."--Esquire "Touching, insightful . . . [Shteyngart] nimbly achieves the noble Nabokovian goal of letting sentiment in without ever becoming sentimental."--The Washington Post "[Shteyngart is] a successor to no less than Saul Bellow and Philip Roth."--The Christian Science Monitor
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY MICHIKO KAKUTANI, THE NEW YORK TIMES • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TIME NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY MORE THAN 45 PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING The New York Times Book Review • The Washington Post • NPR • The New Yorker • San Francisco Chronicle • The Economist • The Atlantic • Newsday • Salon • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Guardian • Esquire (UK) • GQ (UK) Little Failure is the all too true story of an immigrant family betting its future on America, as told by a lifelong misfit who finally finds a place for himself in the world through books and words. In 1979, a little boy dragging a ginormous fur hat and an overcoat made from the skin of some Soviet woodland creature steps off the plane at New York’s JFK International Airport and into his new American life. His troubles are just beginning. For the former Igor Shteyngart, coming to the United States from the Soviet Union is like stumbling off a monochromatic cliff and landing in a pool of Technicolor. Careening between his Soviet home life and his American aspirations, he finds himself living in two contradictory worlds, wishing for a real home in one. He becomes so strange to his parents that his mother stops bickering with his father long enough to coin the phrase failurchka—“little failure”—which she applies to her once-promising son. With affection. Mostly. From the terrors of Hebrew School to a crash course in first love to a return visit to the homeland that is no longer home, Gary Shteyngart has crafted a ruthlessly brave and funny memoir of searching for every kind of love—family, romantic, and of the self. Praise for Little Failure “Hilarious and moving . . . The army of readers who love Gary Shteyngart is about to get bigger.”—The New York Times Book Review “A memoir for the ages . . . brilliant and unflinching.”—Mary Karr “Dazzling . . . a rich, nuanced memoir . . . It’s an immigrant story, a coming-of-age story, a becoming-a-writer story, and a becoming-a-mensch story, and in all these ways it is, unambivalently, a success.”—Meg Wolitzer, NPR “Literary gold . . . [a] bruisingly funny memoir.”—Vogue “A giant success.”—Entertainment Weekly “[Little Failure] finds the delicate balance between sidesplitting and heartbreaking.”—O: The Oprah Magazine “Should become a classic of the immigrant narrative genre.”—The Miami Herald “As vivid, original and funny as any that contemporary U.S. literature has to offer.”—Los Angeles Times “The very best memoirs perfectly toe the line between heartbreak and humor, and Shteyngart does just that.”—Esquire “Touching, insightful . . . [Shteyngart] nimbly achieves the noble Nabokovian goal of letting sentiment in without ever becoming sentimental.”—The Washington Post “[Shteyngart is] a successor to no less than Saul Bellow and Philip Roth.”—The Christian Science Monitor
Emerald Vine
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Pop Bee
With ListenBook, I can immerse myself in captivating stories and enriching knowledge, all in one convenient app. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun way to customize my listening experience. ListenBook's versatility with various audio formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from multiple sources effortlessly.
Gabriel Dandelion
ListenBook's extensive library and user-friendly interface have made it my go-to app. 🌌 Adding an extra layer of delight to cooking – this app turns meal prep into a culinary adventure with its audiobooks! 🍲📖 I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Ladybird
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Tacklebox
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CyberScribe
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Listening to audiobooks has become my guilt-free indulgence, and I love it. This app is a game-changer for anyone who's always on the go – it's like carrying a library in my pocket. The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace.
Pinball Esq
Unparalleled support for CarPlay and Apple Watch means I can take my audiobooks anywhere, anytime. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a brilliant way to connect. Navigating audiobooks seamlessly – this app's design is top-notch. ListenBook has revolutionized how I consume content. It's like having a personal library in my pocket. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
The Flying Mouse
No more fighting over the radio during family trips – we're all hooked on audiobooks now. I'm grateful for this app's ability to fit seamlessly into my lifestyle, making learning a part of my day. This app's compatibility with various devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. Easy access to chapters and silky-smooth playback. Love it! I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Jelly Momentum
ListenBook's customizable audio filters allow me to personalize my listening experience – a fantastic feature. I'm amazed by ListenBook's versatility in handling different formats – it truly supports all my audio needs. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true winner. Binaural audio processing is a game-changer – my ears stay comfortable during long listening sessions.
Lady In Red
ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent user experience sets a new standard in audiobook apps. ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It's seamlessly integrated with Apple Watch.
Tacklebox
This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. The statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption – a fantastic way to measure my progress. The ListenBook app is a must-have for anyone who loves to learn and be entertained through audiobooks. ListenBook's library organization and book groups make managing my collection effortless. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Silver Rose
ListenBook's chapters, controls, and filters have taken my audiobook journey to new heights. With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual growth and personal enjoyment. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality to a new level. I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings. The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time.
FrankenGrin
Efficient audiobook enjoyment – this app's functionality is a revelation. This app has completely transformed my daily routine. I can't imagine my commute without it!
RiddleRover
ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. 🚶♀️🌌 This app's functionality makes every walk an adventure – I'm immersed in stories as I explore the world around me. 🏞️📖 Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true standout. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true triumph.
Delirium
I love that I can download content directly from the internet within the ListenBook app – so handy! ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. The app is so responsive. It never lags or freezes.
SWAT Honey
ListenBook's compatibility with playlists and CUE files is a great addition for those who love organized listening. ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. I can't believe how convenient this app has made my reading experience. Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is truly impressive.
Admiral Tot
With this app, audiobook listening has become a seamless and enjoyable part of my everyday life. This app is a lifesaver! I can now enjoy my favorite books on the go.
Wiccan Trouble
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Show Boat
I love how this app makes even the most mundane tasks exciting with audio stories. I can't believe how much more I'm 'reading' now, thanks to this app. ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment.
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