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.
Fl00d
With this app, I can devour books like never before – it's incredibly efficient. 🚗 Long road trips? No problem – this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! 🚙📚 💼 Elevating my work-from-home routine with this app's delightful audiobook selection! 💻📖 Drag and drop downloads are so convenient. No more messing around with complicated steps. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic!
Snapdragon
The bookmarking feature ensures I never lose my place in a book – so convenient! 🏃♀️📖 Running with purpose – this app keeps my mind engaged as I conquer my fitness goals! 🏃♀️📚
Winded On Friday
I'm absolutely in love with this app! It's like a library of stories in my pocket. Audiobooks have become my companions during long hours of household chores. 📱 A world of books at my fingertips – this app's user-friendly design makes it a true reading companion. 📚📱 Discovering new worlds through audiobooks has never been easier! This app's intuitive interface and seamless functionality make every listening session a delight. 📚🎧 My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch.
Fl00d
Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. This app's seamless integration with CarPlay and other devices has revolutionized my audiobook experience.
Mustard Centaur
ListenBook's extensive statistics feature adds a new level of insight to my audiobook habits. This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure. The versatility of this app is mind-boggling. It's like a one-stop solution for audiobooks. With features like auto-rewind, I never lose my place when I pause listening. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
Mercury Reborn
I'm able to enjoy books in a whole new way – while cooking, working out, or even gardening. With ListenBook, I've found a versatile and enjoyable way to listen to audiobooks and expand my knowledge. I'm blown away by the attention to detail in every aspect of this app. Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature! The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
Spoiler
This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a dream for road trips. It keeps me entertained. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata keeps my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. The statistics tracking is a nice touch. ListenBook helps me keep track of my audiobook habits.
Snow Hound
I've become the storyteller of my family, sharing the amazing audiobooks I've discovered. With ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become hassle-free, thanks to the various download options. Tone adjustment is such an innovative feature. It adds a personal touch to narration. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily life, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and relaxation periods. It's an indispensable part of my routine.
Frosty
I've become so much more productive while cleaning or exercising – thanks to this app! Streamlining my audiobook journey – this app's design is top-notch. Auto-rewind is a brilliant feature. Never lose track of where I left off. 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!
Gold Dahlia
ListenBook has made listening to audiobooks, lectures, and speeches an absolute pleasure. ListenBook has breathed new life into my audiobook collection. I can't imagine using anything else. Automated extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Tan Stallion
As a language enthusiast, this app has been a fantastic tool for learning new languages. With ListenBook, I can enjoy my own audio content with unparalleled ease and comfort. ListenBook's sharing options make it a breeze to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts and share recommendations. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
Venious
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. This app has turned my cooking sessions into culinary adventures with a side of stories. Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is impressive.
Mauve Cactus
🔥 Streamlined functionality that's music to my ears – audiobook enjoyment has reached a new level of convenience. 🎵📖 ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and moments of relaxation. It's a true companion. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Dr. Jam Man
User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive. Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device.
Dark Horse
The app's stability is impressive – it runs smoothly without any glitches. As a busy individual, I appreciate ListenBook's versatility in downloading audio files from various sources. It's a time-saver for sure!
NightDream
🏝️🎧 Packing for vacation just got better – this app is my getaway entertainment! 🌴📖 💪 Flexing my reading muscles with this app's easy-to-use controls – I'm devouring books while managing my busy schedule. 💼📚 ListenBook has completely elevated my audiobook experience. It's an integral part of my daily routine.
Shadow Gal
I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. Supports extensive playlists and bookmarks. Very user-friendly. I appreciate the dark mode option. It’s easy on the eyes during nighttime listening.
Heavenly Connection
This app's support for various formats has made my audiobook collection even more diverse and exciting. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and visually appealing.
Cream
Bookmarks have become my study companion. I can easily revisit important passages in my audiobooks. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. 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!
Freeway
This app's compatibility with various devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playback—it's all up to me! Auto-rewind feature is extremely helpful. Great functionality. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
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