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.
Good-lookin’
This app has made me appreciate the art of storytelling even more. ListenBook Pro's sharing features allow me to spread the joy of audiobooks with my friends and family.
Show Off
Effortlessly switching between stories – this app's ease of use is impressive. Adjustable playback speed is a brilliant feature. It adds a layer of customization to my audiobook enjoyment. The listening stats feature is awesome. I can track my audiobook habits effortlessly.
Boost Princess
The ListenBook app has enriched my daily life, adding a layer of intellectual and emotional fulfillment. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into any moment. The user-friendly interface and precise controls make listening to audiobooks an absolute delight.
Palomino Cake
🌟 Making every moment count – this app turns everyday activities into a reading adventure! 📚💫 Adjustable playback speed is a fantastic feature. It allows me to customize my listening experience. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
RiddleRover
Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a winner. ListenBook is my go-to companion for immersive audiobook experiences. The ease of use and extensive format support make it a must-have!
Saber-RED
ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful – I'm hooked! 🎧 Satiate your reading cravings while managing household affairs – this app has it all! 📚💼 The best app for audiobooks. Downloading and organizing files is super easy with ListenBook.
ThoughtTracer
This app has made my commutes and long drives a source of joy and learning. 💼 Merging work and pleasure – audiobooks keep me company during house admin tasks! 💻🎧 No need for file conversion is a game-changer. Love using ListenBook on my iPhone. The narration elevated an already good book to greatness! The performer's subtle vocal variations conveyed nuance I might have missed while reading. Their ability to maintain consistent character voices across many hours was impressive. Technical quality was flawless throughout.
Shwatson
Audiobooks have made my long commutes enjoyable, and I'm always eager to see what's next. The controls on ListenBook are intuitive and user-friendly, making it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. Audiobooks made easy – this app's functionality is truly a gift. My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch. Downloading over WiFi saves so much time. Very efficient.
Parallax Sugar
The convenience of having a library at my fingertips is unparalleled. The listening stats feature is awesome. I can track my audiobook habits effortlessly.
Mr. 44
Adjustable playback speed is a fantastic feature. It allows me to customize my listening experience. Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library. Downloading audiobooks over WiFi is super easy. Saves time. An acceptable audiobook that met basic expectations. No complaints about quality but nothing remarkable either. Would listen to this narrator again but wouldn't seek them out.
Sun Leo
This app has become my loyal companion during travels and relaxation times. The selection of classics is a treasure trove for literature enthusiasts. I love how this app allows me to enjoy books even when I'm on the move. ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. It's reliable, versatile, and a pleasure to use.
Alley Cat
This app has turned my cooking sessions into culinary adventures with a side of stories. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative touch that adds a layer of personalization. Flawless support for various audio formats. Highly satisfied.
Gothic Slacker
I'm hooked on this app's intuitive features – from chapters to playback controls. Audiobooks on this app have transformed my daily routines into engaging experiences. I can't get enough of the binaural audio processing. It's like a breath of fresh air for my ears.
Knuckles
ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful – I'm hooked! ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures through stories. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading fit into every aspect of my life. 🏃♀️📚 Running with purpose – audiobooks keep my mind engaged as I conquer my fitness goals. 🏃♀️🎧 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made a significant difference in the clarity of recordings.
Mad Rascal
Audiobook joy made simple – this app's ease of use is a true marvel. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of storytelling with friends.
Pistol Hydro
ListenBook's comprehensive support for a wide range of audio formats sets it apart from other audiobook apps. ListenBook's intuitive controls and features have made it my preferred choice for audiobooks. With this app, my daily commute has transformed into an engaging journey through captivating stories. 🏃♂️📚 I'm conquering literary marathons with ease, all thanks to this app's intuitive controls and smooth functionality. 📱📖 ListenBook has become my go-to app for all audiobooks. Full of useful features.
Are Ess Tee
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. ListenBook has brought stories back into my life, making every moment a new adventure. Audiobook enthusiasts, gather round! This app's remarkable features, including audio filters and compatibility, have transformed my commutes into captivating journeys. 🎉🎧 With support for various formats, I can finally listen to my diverse audiobook collection.
Station WMD
ListenBook's smooth playback and easy navigation ensure that my audiobook experience is always top-notch. 🎶 Music? Nah, I prefer immersing myself in captivating stories with this app! 🎶📖 ListenBook Pro is worth every penny. Unlimited audiobook length? Count me in! A serviceable audiobook that met basic expectations. The narration was clear if somewhat unremarkable, and the production quality was standard without any noticeable technical issues. It kept me moderately engaged during workouts but didn't leave a lasting impression.
Flyswat Briggs
ListenBook's features are a dream come true for anyone who loves to learn on the go. With this app, I've turned mundane tasks into moments of inspiration and education – it's brilliant! I can't get enough of this app – it's a true game-changer for book lovers. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make every moment a reading moment. Adjustable playback speed and volume control are top-notch.
Scare Stone
Audiobooks have become a cherished part of my daily life, all thanks to this app. Apple Watch compatibility adds a new level of convenience to my audiobook enjoyment. It's seamless control at my wrist. ListenBook has made managing my audiobook collection a breeze. Library organization is top-notch. Excellent support for various audio formats. Very satisfied. ListenBook’s interface is sleek and user-friendly. Finding and playing my audiobooks has never been easier.
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