Book description
Ivan Jablonka's grandparents' lives ended long before his began: although Matès and Idesa Jablonka were his family, they were perfect strangers. When he set out to uncover their story, Jablonka had little to work with. Neither of them was the least bit famous, and they left little behind except their two orphaned children, a handful of letters, and a passport. Persecuted as communists in Poland, as refugees in France, and then as Jews under the Vichy regime, Matès and Idesa lived their short lives underground. They were overcome by the tragedies of the twentieth century: Stalinism, the mounting dangers in Europe during the 1930s, the Second World War, and the destruction of European Jews.
Jablonka's challenge was, as a historian, to rigorously distance himself and yet, as family, to invest himself completely in their story. Imagined oppositions collapsed--between scholarly research and personal commitment, between established facts and the passion of the one recording them, between history and the art of storytelling. To write this book, Jablonka traveled to three continents; met the handful of survivors of his grandparents' era, their descendants, and some of his far-flung cousins; and investigated twenty different archives. And in the process, he reflected on his own family and his responsibilities to his father, the orphaned son, and to his own children and the family wounds they all inherited.
A History of the Grandparents I Never Had cannot bring Matès and Idesa to life, but Jablonka succeeds in bringing them, as he soberly puts it, to light. The result is a gripping story, a profound reflection, and an absolutely extraordinary history.
Frosty Squid
Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is truly impressive. Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to spread the joy. ListenBook’s audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience. A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
Journeyman
The range of self-help and personal development audiobooks is truly enriching. ListenBook's smooth playback and easy navigation ensure that my audiobook experience is always top-notch. ListenBook's customizable audio filters are a game-changer for tailoring my audiobook playback. ListenBook's interface is so intuitive. I was up and running in no time. This app is perfect for audiobook lovers. The interface is beautiful and easy to navigate.
Risen
Finally, an app that lets me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. The library organization and book groups feature make navigation a breeze. Automated metadata extraction is a time-saver. My library is so organized now.
RoarSweetie
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with maximum comfort and convenience. ListenBook's seamless audio player has turned my listening sessions into moments of pure delight. This app is my constant companion, making every moment a chance to discover new worlds.
Troubled Chick
ListenBook has redefined my audiobook journey, making it more enjoyable and convenient than ever before. I'm amazed by ListenBook's dedication to quality – it's evident in every feature. My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch.
Toy Dogwatch
🎉 This app has turned my errands into exciting quests – I can conquer the grocery store while enjoying a book! 🛒📖 Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a breeze to use. It's an intuitive experience. Solid performance, but not outstanding. The narrator did a fine job, though their tone was a bit monotonous at times. The story itself was engaging enough, but I wouldn’t call it unforgettable.
ForumFlare
ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. I appreciate the dark mode option. It’s easy on the eyes during nighttime listening.
Shade Nightman
ListenBook's comprehensive format support makes it the ultimate companion for audiobook enthusiasts. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a delightful feature. Sharing is caring! Binaural audio processing really helps reduce listening fatigue. Great feature! The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Contrary Mary
Thank you for making my reading goals more achievable and enjoyable. 🎉 Unlocking the door to imagination – this app is my key to endless stories and endless possibilities. 📚🔑 The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night.
Referee
Streamlining audiobook enjoyment – this app's functionality is truly impressive. Audiobook enjoyment redefined – this app's design focuses on the essentials. User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is a true marvel. Chapters make it so easy to pick up where I left off. No more hunting around.
Disco Potato
Adjustable playback speed and volume control are top-notch. 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!
Killer Merlot
The narrator's voices are so engaging, it's like having a personal storytelling session. I can't get enough of this app's user-friendly interface – it's a true delight. 🧘♂️ Finding zen through storytelling – this app makes meditation even more calming. 🧘♂️🎧 The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Die Slice
I've become the go-to storyteller at bedtime with the help of this magical app. ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for personal growth. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's a game-changer. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading such a natural part of my day. 🎙️ Elevating grocery shopping to a whole new level – audiobooks make it an adventure! 🛒📚
Tootsie Killer
📱 Carrying my library in my pocket – this app makes every moment a reading opportunity! 📚👜 I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. It’s perfect for my listening style. 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!
Lightening Trip
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's seamless audio player. 🎉📚 This app has rekindled my love for books – I can't stop listening! 🚀🎧 Finally, an app that lets me enjoy audiobooks without worrying about file formats! The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a fantastic bonus. It keeps me entertained during long drives.
Uncle Psycho
ListenBook's smooth playback and easy navigation ensure that my audiobook experience is always top-notch. Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is a marvel. ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats is impressive. From MP3 to FLAC, it handles them all flawlessly. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length feature is fantastic.
Natural Gold
This app's compatibility with different devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks anywhere, anytime. I'm amazed by the extensive statistics tracking. It's fascinating to see my listening habits.
Killer Grenade
Audiobooks have never been this engaging – this app takes them to the next level. 💡 This app has made my daily schedule more interesting – 'reading' on the go! 📱🚶♂️
Digger
ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically adds a visual touch to my audiobook collection. Good for background listening. I didn’t get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narrator’s voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
Gold Bentley
This app has transformed my long flights into productive and enjoyable experiences. This app's ease of use has made my daily tasks so much more enjoyable. 💼 Making work hours enjoyable – audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. 💻📖 The range of supported formats is astounding. No more compatibility issues! This was an adequate audiobook for casual listening. The narrator maintained a consistent pace and clear diction throughout, though their performance lacked some emotional range. The audio quality was fine with no significant technical distractions.
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