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.
WittyWordsmith
I've discovered authors I'd never heard of before, and now they're among my favorites. Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. This app has transformed my long flights into productive and enjoyable experiences. Download options are plenty – I can get my audiobooks from various sources hassle-free.
Trip
Looping playback is my secret weapon for language learning. It's revolutionized my approach. is a breeze. It's incredibly convenient for building my collection. The narrator's voice was so pleasant and easy to listen to. They had perfect pacing and made even the slower parts engaging. I found myself looking forward to my commute just to listen more!
Club Nola
The extensive statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption habits – so cool! The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Bat Magenta
This app has turned even the most ordinary moments into reading sessions. ListenBook’s interface is beautiful and functional. It’s my favorite app for audiobooks.
MindfulMingle
ListenBook's dedication to optimizing for iOS 16 ensures a seamless experience on the latest devices. The ListenBook app is a must-have for anyone who loves to learn and be entertained through audiobooks. ListenBook is my go-to companion for immersive audiobook experiences. The ease of use and extensive format support make it a must-have! ListenBook has breathed new life into my audiobook collection. I can't imagine using anything else.
Wild Hair
Audiobooks have never been this engaging – this app takes them to the next level. Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is truly impressive. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and moments of relaxation. It's a true companion.
Peanut Butter Woman
The diverse range of narrators adds a new layer of depth to each story. This app's user-friendly layout and quick access to controls have made audiobook listening a breeze.
Dropkick
ListenBook has turned my everyday moments into extraordinary journeys of imagination. 🌟 Simplifying my reading routine – this app's user-friendly design ensures I'm always in sync with my favorite stories. 📚✨
Slacker Cat
Background play feature lets me multitask while enjoying a book – brilliant! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true blessing for enjoying clear audio even in noisy environments. This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. I love how this app makes my daily commute a journey through literature. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
CirrusFlash
With ListenBook, I've found a convenient and enjoyable way to engage with audiobooks and educational content. The noise reduction feature in ListenBook Pro is a game-changer for enjoying clear recordings.
Solitaire
I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining. I'm grateful for this app – it's made reading a part of my everyday life. This app is my audiobook haven. With a user-friendly interface and features like audio filters, I'm engrossed in stories like never before. 📖🔊 ListenBook has become an integral part of my daily routine. Its compatibility with Apple Watch and CarPlay makes it the ultimate companion for various activities.
DreadSherX
I can't get enough of this app's convenience – it has turned my audiobook journey into a delightful habit. 💃 Grooving to the rhythm of stories while tackling household chores – a dance of productivity! 🎶📖 ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook lovers. The auto-rewind feature ensures I never miss a word. Book groups help me keep series together and navigate my collection more efficiently. A great feature! Library organization and book groups make managing my audiobook collection a breeze.
Plenty Orange
This app is a treasure trove of knowledge, entertainment, and imagination. Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free.
Venom Charms
The ability to switch between different books effortlessly is a major plus. 🧘♀️☕ Sipping tea and getting lost in stories – the ultimate way to unwind! 🍵📖 Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds – this app's functionality is genius. The playback controls are so responsive. No lag at all. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Jelly Momentum
🎧 Making housework more enjoyable – audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. 🧹📚 Looping playback of a single track helps me master difficult concepts. So helpful! The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Night Train
With ListenBook, I can effortlessly manage and organize my audiobook library. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy of audiobooks. 📱 An app that truly understands audiobook enthusiasts – it's all about functionality, and this app nails it! 📚💡 ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it an essential companion for my daily commutes and workouts. It's convenience at its finest! Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
Take Away
My kids are hooked on the children's audiobook collection – it's a parenting win! Looping playback has taken my language learning to new heights. Highly recommended!
SmartieQuest
This app has added a touch of magic to my mundane moments – I'm forever grateful. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 The seamless integration with CarPlay adds convenience and entertainment during my daily commutes.
Darth 44
Thanks for making my daily commute to work enjoyable and engaging! I've become a loyal fan of audiobooks, and this app is the reason why! I'm hooked on this app's sleek design and seamless performance – it's a must-have for any reader. ⭐️ This app's functionality is a symphony of efficiency – I'm savoring stories with ease, even on the busiest days. 🎶📖 My productivity has soared since I started using ListenBook for my study materials.
Kinged
This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. Drag and drop downloads are genius. It simplifies the entire process.
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