Book description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • A TIME MUST-READ BOOK OF THE YEAR • A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, embarks on a remarkable search for a family secret that leads him to a terminally ill painter living out her final days in the Brooklyn Museum. Electrifying, funny, and wholly original, Martyr! heralds the arrival of an essential new voice in contemporary fiction.“Kaveh Akbar is one of my favorite writers. Ever.” —Tommy Orange, Pulitzer Prize–nominated author of There There“The best novel you'll ever read about the joy of language, addiction, displacement, martyrdom, belonging, homesickness.” —Lauren Groff, best-selling author of Matrix and Fates and FuriesCyrus Shams is a young man grappling with an inheritance of violence and loss: his mother’s plane was shot down over the skies of the Persian Gulf in a senseless accident; and his father’s life in America was circumscribed by his work killing chickens at a factory farm in the Midwest. Cyrus is a drunk, an addict, and a poet, whose obsession with martyrs leads him to examine the mysteries of his past—toward an uncle who rode through Iranian battlefields dressed as the angel of death to inspire and comfort the dying, and toward his mother, through a painting discovered in a Brooklyn art gallery that suggests she may not have been who or what she seemed.Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! is a paean to how we spend our lives seeking meaning—in faith, art, ourselves, others.
About the Author
KAVEH AKBAR’s poems appear in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review, The Best American Poetry, and elsewhere. He is the author of two poetry collections: Pilgrim Bell and Calling a Wolf a Wolf, in addition to a chapbook, Portrait of the Alcoholic. He is also the editor of The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 110 Poets on the Divine. He lives in Iowa City.
Dark Matter
I love how this app makes even the most mundane tasks exciting with audio stories. With this app, I'm rediscovering the joy of reading in the most convenient way. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
Sky Bully
Looping playback is a study aid sent from heaven. It's helping me ace my exams! ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy.
Lope Lope
No more hassle with converting files – ListenBook supports a wide range of formats for a seamless listening experience. Looping playback is my favorite study tool. It's a game-changer for mastering challenging content.
Crash Enforcer
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling. With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual discovery and personal fulfillment. The interface is clean and intuitive. I was up and running in seconds. Not bad, but not amazing either. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
Hex Panther
💃 Dancing to the rhythm of stories while I dance through house chores – pure joy! 💃📖 Audiobooks made accessible – this app's ease of use is a true blessing. The layout is not only beautiful but also intuitive. Controls are easy to access. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Breezy Mustang
With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my downtime more enriching and meaningful. ListenBook Pro takes things up a notch with unlimited audiobook length. It's a game-changer! Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions. This audiobook performed its function without excelling. The narrator's delivery was straightforward and easy to follow, though lacking in dramatic flair. The recording quality was decent with only occasional minor inconsistencies in volume. An acceptable but forgettable listening experience.
Renegade Slugger
I can't believe how much more I'm able to read with the help of this app. I love how this app's chapters, bookmarks, and controls give me full control over my audiobook journey. Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has transformed the audio quality. It's crystal clear now. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Mad Kid
The sleek design and easy navigation are visually pleasing and user-friendly. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. This app's support for various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks without any limitations. 🎶📚 The harmony between simplicity and functionality in this app is truly impressive. Audiobooks have never sounded this good! 🎵🎧 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction makes sure that background distractions don't interfere with my listening.
King Panther
I'm amazed by ListenBook's smooth drag-and-drop downloads in my web browser – a time-saver! Audiobooks on this app have made my workouts more enjoyable and productive. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play – it's genius! 🔥 Elevating my reading routine to new heights – this app is a real page-turner! 📚🚀 Audiobook immersion made simple – this app's ease of use is commendable.
ByteBard
The ListenBook app has transformed my device into a treasure trove of knowledge and entertainment. With this app, I can devour books like never before – it's incredibly efficient. 🏃♂️📚 I'm conquering literary marathons with ease, all thanks to this app's intuitive controls and smooth functionality. 📱📖 CUE playlist support is a thoughtful feature that keeps my audiobook listening organized and enjoyable. Great for multitasking! I listened while cooking, driving, and even working out, and it kept me entertained the whole time. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, and the story flowed smoothly. Very enjoyable!
Pitfall
My audiobook collection has never been more organized. Library management is a breeze. Drag and drop downloads directly from my web browser? That's a level of convenience I appreciate. Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library.
Nightmare King
The bookmark feature is a lifesaver – no more losing my place in the story! I love that I can enjoy audiobooks while cooking elaborate meals in the kitchen. Quick access to chapters is so handy. Navigating through content is a breeze. Looping playback is a valuable study tool. It helps me grasp complex content and retain information. The app supports background playback, which is a must for me.
Sylvester Eye
I've become the go-to storyteller at bedtime with the help of this magical app. With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily life, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and relaxation periods. It's an indispensable part of my routine.
Raggedy Ann
ListenBook's user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. Flawless support for various audio formats. Very happy with it.
RiddleRanger
I'm finally making progress on my reading goals, thanks to this app's convenience. I’m blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and I’ve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend!
VPR
The ability to highlight passages and take notes while listening is a fantastic feature. ListenBook Pro offers amazing value with unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction features. Savoring captivating stories has become a breeze with this app's sleek design and convenient features. It's like having a personal reading assistant! 📱📖 I'm impressed by the app's compatibility with CarPlay. It keeps me entertained on long drives. I love how I can create playlists. It’s perfect for organizing my books.
Casanova
I'm hooked on this app's seamless performance – it's like having a personal audiobook curator. Looping playback is a valuable study tool. It helps me grasp complex content and retain information. Love the silky-smooth playback and easy-to-use interface. ListenBook is the best! The subtle background music at key moments enhanced the experience without being distracting. More audiobooks should use this technique when appropriate!
Hidden Tree
I've become a more attentive listener thanks to the engaging audiobooks. This app has broadened my literary horizons, introducing me to new authors. ListenBook has redefined the way I experience stories, turning every moment into an adventure. ListenBook has made my daily commutes so much more enjoyable. I look forward to listening every day!
Desert Haze
ListenBook's commitment to providing a high-quality audiobook experience is truly commendable. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a playful addition that lets me tweak the audiobook experience. Book groups keep my related titles together for a cohesive listening experience. A thoughtful feature!
Snow Hound
The 'Continue Listening' feature ensures I never lose my place, no matter where I am. ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure. 🚶♀️🎧 Strolling through captivating narratives while I take my daily walks – pure bliss! 🏞️📚 I can’t believe how easy it is to manage my audiobook library with ListenBook. Highly recommended!
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