Book description
When Ishmael Beah says, "I was twelve years old when I learned to kill," the words land like a stone in still water. Not a story read, but a truth spoken into your ear, the raw, unvarnished voice of a boy who carried an AK-47 before he knew how to carry a book. Listening to A Long Way Gone as an audiobook is not passive consumption; it's an intimate, almost unbearable, descent into the heart of a war that stole childhoods. Beah's voice, steady yet haunted, doesn't just tell you what happened-it makes you feel the weight of the rifle, smell the gunpowder, hear the silence after the crack of a shot that became his only lullaby.
The beauty here is in the devastating simplicity. He doesn't scream; he simply states: I danced to the rhythm of gunfire. The audiobook format amplifies this. You hear the pause before he describes the day he killed a man, the slight tremor in his voice as he says, "I was not a killer. I was a child." The rhythm of his speech becomes the rhythm of his survival-fragile, urgent, a heartbeat against the roar of conflict. You hear the Sierra Leonean landscape in his cadence, the way the land became a stranger, the way laughter turned to ash.
This is not a book about war's grand strategy, but about its intimate horror: the way a child's hands, once used to hold crayons, learn to pull a trigger; the way drugs numb the terror so that the terror becomes the normal. Beah doesn't seek pity. He offers witness. His voice, clear and present, carries the unbearable weight of a truth we often turn away from: children are not just victims of war-they are its instruments, its living proof of humanity's collapse. You hear him describe the government army's "training" not as a process, but as a slow unmaking: "They gave us drugs to make us forget who we were." The audiobook makes the forgetting visceral, the drugs a tangible fog in his voice.
What makes this recording transcendent is its quiet humanity. Beah doesn't become a symbol. He remains Ishmael, the boy who loved rap music, who dreamed of becoming a rapper. The horror isn't in the violence alone-it's in the contrast, the way his voice softens when he recalls his mother's laugh, then hardens again as he recounts the day he stopped remembering it. The rhythm of the prose, now spoken, flows like a river carrying both light and debris. "The land was unrecognizable," he says, and in that phrase, the entire broken world of his childhood is contained.
This is the power of the audiobook: it strips away the distance. You don't read about the child soldier; you hear the child soldier's voice, trembling with the memory of the boy he was. The final lines-"I am no longer that child. I am the man who was him"-land not as a resolution, but as a fragile, hard-won dawn. To listen is to understand: survival is not the absence of trauma, but the courage to carry it. Beah doesn't ask for your tears. He asks for your attention. And in that attention, in the space between his words, you find the echo of every child who ever lost their way home. Listen. And remember.
Darkside Hooker
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. ๐ง This app has changed my reading game! Now I can 'read' while I work โ genius! ๐๐ผ Navigating audiobooks with ease โ this app's design is user-centric. No need to convert files anymore โ ListenBook's seamless playback of various formats is a game-changer for audiobook enthusiasts like me! Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly.
MeeP
With ListenBook, I can now listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. I love how this app fits seamlessly into my daily routine. ๐ฅ Streamlined functionality that's music to my ears โ audiobook enjoyment has reached a new level of convenience. ๐ต๐
Palomino
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. ๐ Unlocking the door to imagination โ this app is my key to endless stories and endless possibilities. ๐๐
VisionVortex
I can't get enough of this app's convenience and the endless possibilities it offers. ListenBook's tone adjustment feature in the Pro version is a creative tool that adds a fun twist to my audiobook journey. Binaural audio processing really works. Less fatigue during long listening sessions. ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureโitโs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Suicide Jockey
ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. This app's convenience has made my audiobook addiction thrive!
Midas
The diverse selection of audiobooks has made me fall in love with storytelling all over again. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient. ListenBookโs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
The China Wall
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. ListenBook's compatibility with multiple downloading methods ensures there's always a way to get my content.
Bad Bond
With ListenBook, I can effortlessly manage and organize my audiobook library. With ListenBook, I can explore new genres, learn new topics, and enjoy classic literature with ease. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and polished.
Digital Moonshine
โฐ Waking up to audiobooks โ mornings have never been this magical and inspiring! โ๏ธ๐ง The app's compatibility with CarPlay has made my road trips so much more enjoyable. Love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Toy Dogwatch
This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience!
Kimono Goddess
๐ถ๐ My new soundtrack? Audiobooks, of course! This app makes every day musical. ๐ง๐ถ ๐ฑ Carrying stories wherever I go โ this app's convenience allows me to indulge my love for reading on the move. ๐๐๏ธ
Dance Bloom
ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make navigation effortless. This app has brought back the joy of reading, even when I'm on the move. Audiobooks made accessible and enjoyable โ this app's design is a triumph. ListenBookโs design is sleek and modern. The app is a pleasure to use. The app is perfect for road trips. It keeps me entertained for hours.
TeederSmartie
This app's user-friendly design makes navigating through books a breeze. Audiobooks have made my morning routine something to look forward to. ListenBook is like a personal audiobook curator, allowing me to enjoy my favorite speeches and lectures with unmatched comfort and convenience. ListenBook has revolutionized the way I consume content. It's like having a personal tutor in my ear.
InsightfulInk
๐ง This app has changed my reading game! Now I can 'read' while I work โ genius! ๐๐ผ ListenBook Pro takes my experience to the next level. Unlimited audiobook length, noise reduction, and voice tone adjustment? Count me in! The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
DreadSherX
I can't imagine my daily routine without ListenBook's intuitive layout and easy-to-access controls. ๐ง An audiobook treasure trove in the palm of my hand โ this app is pure convenience! ๐๐ ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options are essential for my audiobook enjoyment and study. The app is lightweight and doesnโt drain my battery.
Coma Stalk
ListenBook's commitment to providing top-notch audio quality has taken my audiobook experience to a new level. The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption.
MysticMingle
I'm rediscovering my favorite classics in a whole new way โ through audiobooks! ListenBook has turned my everyday moments into extraordinary journeys of imagination. ListenBookโs design is sleek and modern. The app is a pleasure to use. The app is so reliable. Iโve never had any issues with it.
Shady Lady
ListenBook is my go-to companion for immersive audiobook experiences. The ease of use and extensive format support make it a must-have! Finally, an app that supports all my audiobook formats! ListenBook is a game-changer. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureโitโs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app! This was a competent audiobook production with no major flaws. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough and the audio quality was acceptable, though not exceptional. While the performance didn't particularly stand out, it served its purpose adequately for my daily commute.
Alias Stick
Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! ๐๐ง The appโs design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. This audiobook was neither good nor bad - simply average. The narrator's delivery was professional but uninspired, and the recording quality was clean though not exceptional. It provided satisfactory entertainment without standing out from similar titles.
Whistler
I've been recommending this app to all my friends โ it's a true game-changer. This app's compatibility with different devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks anywhere, anytime. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like having a library on my phone!
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