Book description
The bookshop is, and will always be, the soul of the trade. What happens there does not happen elsewhere. The multifariousness of human nature is more on show there than anywhere else, and I think it's because of books, what they are, what they release in ourselves, and what they become when we make them magnets to our desires.A memoir of a life in the antiquarian book trade, A Factotum in the Book Trade is a journey between the shelves-and then behind the counter, into the overstuffed basement, and up the spine-stacked attic stairs of your favourite neighbourhood bookshop. From his childhood in rural Ontario, where at the village jumble sale he bought poetry volumes for their pebbled-leather covers alone, to his all-but-accidental entrance into the trade in London and the career it turned into, poet and travel writer Marius Kociejowski recounts his life among the buyers, sellers, customers, and literary nobility-the characters, fictional and not-who populate these places we all love. Cataloging their passions and pleasures, oddities and obsessions, A Factotum in the Book Trade is a journey through their lives, and a story of the serendipities and collisions of fate, the mundane happenings and indelible encounters, the friendships, feuds, losses, and elations that characterize the business of books-and, inevitably, make up an unforgettable life.Praise for A Factotum in the Book Trade"A dizzying diversity of books and authors strike against each other, creating sparks of insight. In the space of a few pages, he mentions Robert Louis Stevenson, Henry Green, Emily Dickinson, William Hazlitt, J.L. Carr and Patrick Leigh Fermor, offering concise assessments of each. Frequent footnotes, rendered as chatty asides, deepen his memoir's digressive charm."-The Wall Street Journal"A Factotum in the Book Trade is an extraordinary work that will give all readers an increased appreciation for what books are and the many intricate roles that books play in our lives."-Ottawa Review of Books"[I]n the book's swirling opening chapter [...], we find him reflecting on a working life (mostly in the antiquarian book trade) [...] Mortality sets off this reflection [...] then books [...] and bookselling [...] It is this interplay between books (Kociejowski has authored books of poetry and travel writing) and bookselling (a staging ground into which enter books, employees and casual customers, but also literary archives, personal libraries, collectors and celebrated authors like Patti Smith, Robert Graves and Bruce Chatwin) where the magic happens." -Michael Turner, The British Columbia Review"An absolute 'must' for the personal reading lists of all authors, publishers, booksellers and dedicated bibliophiles, A Factotum in the Book Trade is an absorbing, entertaining, informational, and inherently fascinating combination of memoir and book trader insights and commentaries. One of those life stories that will linger on in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf ... A Factotum in the Book Trade should be on the Biography/Memoir shelf of every community, college, and university library."-Midwest Book Review
Delirious Supernova
The narrator's voices are so soothing – a perfect way to unwind after a stressful day. I've become a more attentive listener thanks to the engaging audiobooks. Precise controls on ListenBook give me complete command over my audio playback. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true blessing for enjoying clear audio even in noisy environments. Looping playback helps me focus on challenging content and grasp complex concepts. A study must-have!
M8deUp
The narrator's voices are so soothing – a perfect way to unwind after a stressful day. The 'Discover' section is a treasure trove for finding hidden literary gems. I'm in awe of how this app has made reading a part of my busy life.
Raggedy Ann
I'm grateful for this app, as it allows me to keep up with my reading even while multitasking. ListenBook's integration with AirDrop and sharing options makes it simple to spread the joy of storytelling. Looping playback has taken my language learning to new heights. Highly recommended! 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.
Star Scratch
The sound quality is outstanding – it's like having a movie theater in my ears! I love how I can create playlists. It’s perfect for organizing my books. The app is so intuitive. I didn’t even need to read the instructions.
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Wheels
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ByteBard
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Chocolate Thunder
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Girl Brownie
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Twiddle Twix
With ListenBook Pro, I can customize the tone of the sound to match my preferences – it's a fantastic touch. WiFi downloads save a lot of time. Great feature! Makes audiobook listening super easy and enjoyable. Thank you! This served its purpose as background listening while I worked. I probably missed some details but the narrator's voice was pleasant enough.
Killer Grenade
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly improved the audio quality of my recordings. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
LuminaLore
This app has turned even my mundane tasks into exciting learning opportunities. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a social audiophile's dream. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand that transforms even the noisiest environments into cozy listening spaces. I love the auto-rewind feature after interruptions. No more searching for where I left off!
Pink Hopper
The smart recommendation feature keeps surprising me with books I never knew I'd love. 🏃♂️📚 Combining exercise and exploration – this app keeps me motivated on my daily jogs! 🏃♂️📖 ListenBook has truly transformed my audiobook experience. The sleek interface, extensive format support, and easy downloading options make it my go-to app! CarPlay compatibility is a fantastic addition. It enhances my driving experience with seamless audiobook integration.
Loot
ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a playful addition that lets me tweak the audiobook experience. CUE playlist support is a rare gem. Perfect for organizing content efficiently. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! 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!
Gold Dahlia
This app has made my workouts and chores so much more enjoyable. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive design and user-friendly interface. Audiobooks on this app have turned my travels into explorations of new narratives. ListenBook has made my audiobook journey effortless, turning every moment into an escape. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic!
Sir Shove
ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch is seamless. I can now enjoy my favorite audiobooks during commutes and workouts. ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy.
ByteBard
Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable. ListenBook's dedication to delivering a top-notch experience is evident in every detail. 🎧 Immerse yourself in stories effortlessly – this app's functionality is the gateway to endless audiobook adventures. 📚🌟
Tall Honey
The convenience of having a library at my fingertips is unparalleled. Audiobooks have never been this immersive – this app transports me to different worlds. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive controls – it's the perfect way to indulge in audiobooks. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive offerings, from statistics tracking to immersive audio processing, have breathed new life into my reading. 📚✨
Snout Pixie
I'm enjoying books I never thought I'd be interested in – all thanks to this app. ListenBook has given me a renewed appreciation for audio content – it's my new favorite app. This app's versatility and convenience have transformed my screen time into a productive reading journey. ListenBook's dedication to providing an exceptional listening experience shines through in every aspect of the app. The app's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically is a huge time-saver.
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