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 grateful for this app, as it allows me to keep up with my reading even while multitasking. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's my go-to for staying informed and entertained. 📱 Carrying stories wherever I go – this app's convenience allows me to indulge my love for reading on the move. 📚🛍️ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magical spell that transports me into the heart of the story. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and polished.
Queen Bee
🎶 Saying goodbye to tangled headphones and complex controls – this app's easy navigation has made audiobook listening a breeze. 🎵📖 Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments. This app is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. The ability to adjust skip intervals and playback speed is fantastic. I also love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Worth every penny!
Carrot Joker
This app's ease of use has made my daily activities more enjoyable and educational. This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of literary escape. Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Berry Succubus
ListenBook's customizable features, from playback speed to audio filters, cater to every audiobook lover's preferences. With this app, I've turned my daily commutes into exciting journeys through the world of literature. I can't believe I waited this long to discover the joy of audiobooks through this app. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thanks to automatic artwork and metadata.
LocKz
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. Audiobooks have become a part of my self-care routine, thanks to this app. This audiobook was neither good nor bad - simply average. The narrator's delivery was professional but uninspired, and the recording quality was clean though not exceptional. It provided satisfactory entertainment without standing out from similar titles.
EchoExplorer
The app's stability is impressive – it runs smoothly without any glitches. With this app, reading is no longer a task – it's a delightful habit. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant companion for literary adventures. Accessing my favorite audiobooks has never been easier – this app's user-centric design and comprehensive features make it an absolute gem. 📱🎧
Fadey
User-friendly audiobook experience – this app's design is a standout. Download options are abundant, from WiFi to iTunes. It's all about convenience with this app. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Show Off
This app has completely transformed my commute – I look forward to it now! This app has reignited my passion for literature – I'm devouring books like never before. With this app, I can devour books like never before – it's incredibly efficient. 🚶♀️🌌 This app's functionality makes every walk an adventure – I'm immersed in stories as I explore the world around me. 🏞️📖 I'm so glad I chose the audiobook version! The narrator added layers of meaning I might have missed reading silently. Their interpretation of the material felt thoughtful and authentic. The recording was technically perfect - no reverb, no peaking, just clean, pleasant audio.
Dallas Foxface
I can't get enough of this app's user-friendly interface – it's a true delight. 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. 📱📖
Flash Protein
Noise reduction on ListenBook enhances the clarity of dictaphone recordings, allowing me to enjoy content even in noisy environments. 💼 Merging work and pleasure – audiobooks keep me company during house admin tasks! 💻🎧 I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature. A wonderful performance! The narrator captured the mood of the book perfectly, making it easy to visualize each scene. The audio quality was crisp, and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish.
Taz Ringer
I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. 🎶 Saying goodbye to tangled headphones and complex controls – this app's easy navigation has made audiobook listening a breeze. 🎵📖 Perfect for listening to educational content. Highly recommend! This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
Saturnalia
The audio filters on ListenBook enhance the sound quality, making every listening session a treat for my ears. Looping playback has revolutionized my study sessions. I'm learning faster than ever.
MuseMaster
This app has added a new layer of enjoyment to my downtime – I'm truly grateful. 🚗📚 Turn traffic into a literary escape – this app's functionality keeps me engaged while I'm on the move. 🚗🎧 The app is perfect for long flights. It keeps me entertained the whole time. Good but not great. The narration was competent but lacked the extra spark that makes some audiobooks truly special. Still worth a listen though.
Metal Lady
With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. 🎶📚 Enriching my environment with the power of storytelling – audiobooks infuse my home with literary magic. 🎧🏠 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!
Mr. Fabulous
I'm blown away by the range of non-fiction audiobooks available – so much to learn! 🎶📚 The harmony between simplicity and functionality in this app is truly impressive. Audiobooks have never sounded this good! 🎵🎧 Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. I can focus on challenging content. AirDrop sharing is a very convenient feature. Thanks, ListenBook!
Pocket Muzzie
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is fantastic. 🎧 My daily chores just got an upgrade! Thanks to this app, I can dive into captivating stories while cooking and cleaning. 📚🍳 🌟 Adding excitement to each day – this app ensures that every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories. 📚🚀
Grabber
I'm absolutely in love with this app! The interface is so intuitive and user-friendly. ListenBook is a true audio treasure! It turns my own audio files into immersive listening experiences. Perfect for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful app. The app is perfect for language learners. The playback speed control is a game-changer.
AxelRoad
I'm absolutely in love with this app! The interface is so intuitive and user-friendly. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literature. 🧘♂️ Finding zen through storytelling – this app makes meditation even more calming. 🧘♂️🎧 User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
PixelPathfinder
The app's recommendations are surprisingly accurate – it's like they know my taste perfectly! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fantastic way to introduce them to captivating stories. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. 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!
Metal Lady
👩🍳 Turning cooking sessions into culinary adventures, complete with intriguing tales! 🍳🎧 I can finally listen to all my audiobooks seamlessly with ListenBook. The customizable playback controls and chapter navigation make it a breeze. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
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