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.
ThoughtTrailblazer
I'm hooked on this app – it's my escape to different worlds and adventures. I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in books through this app. The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. I'm blown away by the powerful audio downloading options. So versatile!
Kamikaze Grandma
I love that ListenBook supports a wide range of formats, making my library diverse. I can't imagine a day without this app – it has made my audiobook journey seamless and fulfilling. ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading.
Night Train
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is such a fun way to spread joy. Looping playback has taken my language learning to new heights. Highly recommended! What a fantastic listening experience! The narrator brought the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. The pacing was perfect - not too fast to lose details, not too slow to become boring. I particularly appreciated how well the narrator conveyed the atmosphere of key scenes.
Hog Butcher
Apple Watch compatibility enhances my audiobook experience. It's a convenient way to control playback. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality, providing a clear and immersive listening experience that enhances my enjoyment.
MindfulMingle
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RightN0w2
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MicroStar
Download via WiFi, WebDAV, iTunes – options galore to suit everyone's preferences. Automatic metadata extraction keeps my library organized. It's a time-saver! Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didn’t have any major complaints, but I also don’t see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
VileHero
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun way to customize my listening experience. Library organization has never been this easy. My audiobook collection is finally tidy.
Gbbledgoodk
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Snapdragon
Audiobook heaven! This app has revolutionized the way I enjoy stories. Its sleek design and seamless functionality make it a must-have for book lovers. 📚🎧 Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are simply amazing.
InsightfulInk
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Pearl Girl
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Tough Nut
The ListenBook app is a fantastic companion for my long walks, helping me learn and explore at the same time. Automated artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook collection. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story. This is exactly what I look for in an audiobook! The narrator's pleasant voice and excellent diction made even complex passages easy to follow. I appreciated the subtle but effective use of pauses and emphasis that added depth to the listening experience. Finished it in record time because I couldn't stop listening.
Pitfall
This app is a game-changer for busy individuals who miss reading. 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch enhances my audiobook experience during daily activities. The variety of supported formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from different sources hassle-free.
Classy Dancer
I can't believe how much time I've saved thanks to this efficient app! Finally, an app that respects my busy lifestyle. Whether I'm commuting or exercising, this app's smooth playback and smart controls keep me engaged. 🏃♀️🎧 Looping playback is a brilliant study tool. Thanks to ListenBook, my learning has improved! I love the auto-rewind feature after interruptions. No more searching for where I left off! Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension.
NexusNomad
As an audiobook aficionado, this app is a dream come true. Its support for various formats and effortless navigation make it my perfect reading companion. 🌟🎧 A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
Hidden Tree
Organization made simple – this app's efficient management of my audiobook collection ensures that every story is just a tap away. Convenience at its finest. 📖📱 The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Ex0tic
Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. Tone adjustment adds a personalized touch to the narration, making the audiobook experience even more immersive. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of reading.
ThickSKN
I've been able to tackle my reading list like never before, thanks to this app. CUE playlist support helps me organize my audiobooks efficiently. It's a great organizational tool.
ForumFusion
I'm amazed by the variety of genres available – there's something for everyone. ListenBook has taken my listening pleasure to new heights – it's a true audio marvel. I love how this app makes my daily commute a journey through literature. With its powerful audio downloading features, I can have my favorite audiobooks ready to go, anytime and anywhere.
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