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.
GuTzd
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true blessing for enjoying clear audio even in noisy environments. I love the ability to change the font size. It makes reading the titles so easy. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. 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!
RedFisher
ListenBook has become my go-to app for all things audio – from lectures to speeches, it's got it all. The vast selection of titles on this app is a book lover's dream come true. ListenBook has become my constant companion, filling my days with captivating narratives. This app has made long flights and road trips so much more enjoyable. 🎉 An app that turns house chores into exciting adventures – count me in! 🧹📖
Canary Apple Red
The bookmarking feature ensures I never lose my place in a book – so convenient! I can't get enough of this app's convenience – it has transformed my audiobook journey into a joyous experience. 💡 Enriching my daily routines with wisdom and wonder – thank you, this app! 📱📖 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.
Saturnalia
🎉 Making each day a new chapter – this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! 📖🌄 Audiobook excellence made simple – this app's functionality is a true asset. Bravo to the creators of this app – they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design have won me over. 📚👏 The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it. As someone who struggles to focus on audiobooks, this kept my attention the whole way through. The narrator's clear diction and expressive delivery were perfect.
Minty Devil
The sleep timer is a brilliant addition – I drift off to sleep with amazing stories. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook is a fun feature that adds a unique touch to my audiobook experience. Finally, an app that values usability – navigating and listening is a breeze!
3D Waffle
The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. I've become an audiobook addict, all thanks to this amazing app. This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions.
Poppy Coffee
Thanks for making my daily commute to work enjoyable and engaging! 🔥 Elevating my reading routine to new heights – this app is a real page-turner! 📚🚀 As an audiobook enthusiast, this app is a dream come true. Its compatibility with various formats and easy navigation make it my ultimate reading companion. 🌟🎧 The tone adjustment feature is an exciting touch, allowing me to immerse myself even more in the content.
Lightening Trip
📱 An app that respects my time and delivers on functionality – audiobook listening has never been this effortless. 📖🔗 Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
Prof. Smirk
ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its powerful features and seamless performance. Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off – no more searching for my spot! This audiobook made my workouts fly by! The engaging narration kept me motivated to keep listening, which meant longer gym sessions. The narrator's energy matched the material perfectly - upbeat when needed, somber when appropriate. A great example of how narration can enhance text.
ByteBard
The app's stability is impressive – it runs smoothly without any glitches. ListenBook's dedication to excellence is evident in its well-designed interface, smooth playback, and powerful features. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed.
Freak
Audiobooks have made my long drives enjoyable, and this app is my co-pilot. ListenBook has elevated my audiobook enjoyment to a whole new level – it's a must-have for any audio enthusiast. 🎧 This app is my saving grace! Now I can enjoy my beloved books while cooking up a storm! 📚🍳 The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
Shwatson
Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. 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!
SunVolt
I can't imagine my audio routine without ListenBook's seamless and user-friendly design. 📚 The simplicity and functionality of this app are top-notch. I can start a book with just a tap and immerse myself in the story instantly. 📱📖 Seamless audiobook integration – this app's design is remarkable.
Freak
Thanks to ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks without the need for constant synchronization. 🚶♂️🌟 Strolling through stories on a lazy afternoon – this app is my relaxation buddy! 🏖️🎧 ListenBook's sharing options make it easy for me to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts.
Nacho
Binaural audio processing is a godsend. My ears don't fatigue even during extended listening. Library organization is brilliant. No more cluttered audiobook collection. ListenBook has completely transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The chapter navigation is seamless, and the statistics feature is a fun way to track my listening progress. The app is stable, fast, and incredibly user-friendly. Five stars!
Father Abbot
Thanks to ListenBook, I've rediscovered the joy of exploring my favorite content on multiple devices. Audiobook multitasking made simple – this app's functionality is a true delight. ListenBook is like a personal audiobook curator, allowing me to enjoy my favorite speeches and lectures with unmatched comfort and convenience. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become effortless, regardless of the source. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Mafia Rapunzel
ListenBook has reignited my love for storytelling and learning, one audio file at a time. 🏝️🎧 Packing for vacation just got better – this app is my getaway entertainment! 🌴📖
Clover Dragon
ListenBook's user-friendly audio filters and controls have made my audiobook sessions more interactive and engaging. Talk about convenience! This app's ease of use and support for multiple audio formats ensure that I can enjoy my favorite stories without any hassle. 📱🔊 The intuitive interface and efficient navigation make this app a pleasure to use every day. The best app for audiobooks. Downloading and organizing files is super easy with ListenBook.
AirportHobo XD
This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. With this app, reading is no longer a luxury – it's an essential part of my day. 🎉 This app has turned my errands into exciting quests – I can conquer the grocery store while enjoying a book! 🛒📖 Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Excellent app! Good but not great. The narration was competent but lacked the extra spark that makes some audiobooks truly special. Still worth a listen though.
Texas Butterfly
The statistics feature in ListenBook adds an element of self-awareness to my audiobook consumption. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length feature is fantastic. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
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