Book description
Cyrus 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. Review“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 Furies “Brilliant . . . steeped in humor and absurdity but deathly serious as well . . . The strength of Martyr! is that Akbar arranges its various messes well and doesn’t strive too hard to reconcile them.” —Los Angeles TimesAbout the AuthorKAVEH 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.
Miss Mustard
ListenBook's intuitive layout and quick access to chapters make audiobook navigation a breeze. The statistics tracking feature is eye-opening. I never realized how much time I spend on audiobooks until now! ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Clang Glyph
ListenBook has redefined my audiobook journey, making it more enjoyable and convenient than ever before. This app has introduced me to genres I never thought I'd enjoy – it's eye-opening. Quick access to chapters is a blessing. No more scrolling through endless content. Looping playback of a single track helps me master difficult concepts. So helpful! Controls are intuitive and user-friendly, making my audiobook experience seamless.
Phoenix Tetra
Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience. This was a competent audiobook production with no major flaws. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough and the audio quality was acceptable, though not exceptional. While the performance didn't particularly stand out, it served its purpose adequately for my daily commute.
Killer Curio
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. Auto-rewind feature is a lifesaver. I never lose my place! ListenBook has all the features I need. My go-to audiobook app! ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve found. The interface is clean and easy to use.
Chuckles
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Truth
AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends. Quick access to chapters is so handy. Navigating through content is a breeze. ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for learning and enjoyment.
Nola
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Crossing Guard
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M8deUp
ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats means I can listen to all my favorite content without worries. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. Flawless support for various audio formats. Very happy with it. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay and Apple Watch is fantastic. I can listen anywhere. I love how I can create playlists. It’s perfect for organizing my books.
New York Winder
This app has turned my long walks into delightful literary adventures. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Skull Crusher
I love that ListenBook supports a wide range of formats, making my library diverse. Audiobooks on demand? Yes, please! With this app's diverse format support and easy downloads, my reading routine has reached new heights. 🌟📚 Tone adjustment adds a personalized touch to the narration, making the audiobook experience even more immersive. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile. This audiobook spoiled me for others! The narrator's professional delivery set a high bar - perfect diction, ideal pacing, and emotional authenticity. The recording quality was equally impressive with no distracting artifacts. I finished it far too quickly because I couldn't stop listening.
Sleek Zelda
Audiobooks have become my travel companions, and this app is my guide. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality to a new level. Noise reduction in ListenBook Pro ensures crystal-clear playback even in noisy environments. Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook! The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Y0dler
I've become addicted to this app – in the best possible way! I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning.
Bliss
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a testament to its innovation. 🌟 Transforming laundry time into a journey through fantastic stories – thank you, this app! 👚📖 My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook! The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends, sparking engaging conversations and connections that transcend boundaries.
Red Delicious
I can't believe how easy it is to discover new titles and genres. Pure delight! 🎧 Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app – pure listening pleasure! 📚🔥 ListenBook has become an essential part of my routine. It's more than an app – it's a companion.
Mad Kid
ListenBook's support for various audio formats makes it a versatile app for all kinds of audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its user-friendly interface and smooth playback. The chapters feature on ListenBook enhances my audiobook exploration – it's like flipping through pages. This app's convenience has made reading a consistent part of my life.
Gr8 Flick
ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats means I can listen to all my favorite content without worries. With support for various formats, I can finally listen to my diverse audiobook collection. The import process is seamless. I had no trouble adding my audiobooks.
Digger
I've been recommending this app to all my friends – it's a true game-changer. 📱 Accessing my favorite stories has never been this straightforward – this app's functionality is a bookworm's dream come true. 📚💫 Gone are the days of fumbling with different formats – this app's comprehensive support ensures I can enjoy any audiobook without a hitch. 🎉🔊 Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need. Perfect for listening to educational materials. Highly efficient and useful.
EchoEnigma
This app's user-friendly design makes navigating through books a breeze. This app's features, from bookmarking to customizable playback speed, are fantastic. The interface is clean and intuitive. I was up and running in seconds.
Mindless Bobcat
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice adds a layer of personalization that I never knew I needed. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
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