Book description
Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to surviveOne late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to transform Hai's relationship to himself, his family, and a community on the brink.Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Ocean Vuong's writing-formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness-are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life's most fleeting mercies: a second chance.
Cupid Dust
Thanks for making my daily commute to work enjoyable and engaging! 🌟 Making every moment count – this app turns everyday activities into a reading adventure! 📚💫 ListenBook's interface is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's also highly functional. Navigating through chapters and controls is a breeze.
Spooky Electric
With this app, reading is no longer a luxury – it's a convenient habit. 📱 Carrying stories wherever I go – this app's convenience allows me to indulge my love for reading on the move. 📚🛍️ ListenBook has breathed new life into my audiobook collection. I can't imagine using anything else.
Bat Magenta
I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. Audiobooks have become a cherished part of my daily life, all thanks to this app. Chapters, configurable auto-rewind, and bookmarks on ListenBook keep me in control of my content. Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds – this app's functionality is genius.
Bitmap
I've become a loyal fan of audiobooks, and this app is the reason why! This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading. The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
Green Ghost
This app has brought storytelling into every corner of my life – it's incredible. ListenBook's absence of synchronization requirements adds to its convenience and flexibility. ListenBook has made audiobook listening a personalized and enriching journey. 💃 Grooving to the rhythm of stories while tackling household chores – a dance of productivity! 🎶📖 Savoring audiobooks without complications – this app's design is top-notch.
Buckshot
Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension. Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Fantastic app! ListenBook’s audio filters are great. The app provides a high-quality listening experience.
Killer Merlot
ListenBook's interface is so intuitive. I was up and running in no time. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise. Listening to audiobooks on my iPad has never been easier. Highly recommend ListenBook! The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time.
Bad Beret
This app's sleek design and effortless controls have made audiobook listening an immersive experience. Elevating my reading experience to a whole new level, this app's user-friendly interface and easy navigation have me hooked. Audiobooks have never been this enjoyable! 📱🔊
Tin Mutt
I'm blown away by ListenBook's ability to maintain audio quality even for formats like FLAC and AWB. Effortlessly managing my audiobook library – this app's design is a triumph. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature.
Bridge Whip
Simplifying audiobook management – this app's functionality is a true asset. Binaural audio processing really works. Less fatigue during long listening sessions.
The Shield Toronto
I love how this app brings stories to life, even during my morning jogs. No more hassle with formats – this app ensures my audiobook adventures are smooth, and my favorite tales are just a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically adds a visual touch to my audiobook collection. The variety of supported formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from different sources hassle-free. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Digital Moonshine
💼 Workday blues? Not anymore – this app turns my office hours into reading time! 💻📖 Navigating audiobooks seamlessly – this app's design is top-notch. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature for those who enjoy organized and structured listening.
Midnight Rambler
With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature. I appreciate the dark mode option. It’s easy on the eyes during nighttime listening.
Drop Stone
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends. Looping playback helps me retain knowledge from audiobooks effectively. It's an invaluable tool. A textbook example of great audiobook narration! The performer's diction was flawless, their pacing ideal, and their emotional range impressive. I never felt like I was being "read to" but rather like I was experiencing the story firsthand. The audio engineering was equally professional.
Lady Q
The voice actors are incredible – they make the characters come alive. I can't believe how much more I'm able to read with the help of this app. This app has reignited my passion for literature – I'm devouring books like never before. This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of intellectual discovery – a win-win!
Stud muffin
Audiobooks have become my companion during long walks, transforming exercise into a pleasure. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's a game-changer. 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.
TrixiePhany
I can't stop raving about this app – it's like having a personal library in my pocket. Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. As a busy individual, I appreciate ListenBook's versatility in downloading audio files from various sources. It's a time-saver for sure! I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
InsightfulInk
Audiobooks have turned my quiet moments into imaginative journeys – thank you, app! Quick access to chapters is a blessing. No more scrolling through endless content. Great app! ListenBook supports so many formats, and the playback is always smooth.
Mr. Alien
ListenBook's customizable audio filters add a new dimension to my audiobook enjoyment. Automatic metadata extraction keeps my library organized. It's a time-saver! Listening to audiobooks on my iPad has never been easier. Highly recommend ListenBook! Downloading books over WiFi is quick and hassle-free. Very convenient.
Steel Ginger
This app has turned my household chores into moments of intellectual growth. ⏰ Waking up to audiobooks – mornings have never been this magical and inspiring! ☀️🎧 Seamless integration of audiobooks – this app's ease of use is impressive.
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