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.
Venom Charms
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CuriousCrafter
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EchoExplorer
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a unique feature that adds a personal touch to my listening. Streamlined audiobook integration – this app's usability is impressive. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature elevates my listening experience, allowing me to focus on the content. Drag and drop downloads directly from my web browser? That's a level of convenience I appreciate.
Jersey
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Microwave Chardonnay
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Sweet Bacon
This app has made reading a part of my lifestyle, no matter where I am. The library organization feature is a blessing. My audiobooks are finally organized and easy to find. The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy.
Indigo Red
Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds – this app's functionality is genius. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a major convenience during road trips. Tone adjustment adds a new layer of personalization to my audiobook experience. It's like having the narrator tailor the voice to my preferences.
Shadow Chaser
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Flash Protein
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Twisty Dew
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Freeze Queen
I'm addicted to the personalized recommendations – it's like the app knows me! This app's sleek design and effortless navigation have made my audiobook journey a true delight. Looping playback is my secret weapon for language learning. It's revolutionized my approach.
Romance Guppy
⭐️ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. 📚👏 Navigating audiobooks effortlessly – this app's functionality is commendable.
Bourbon Mirage
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High-Fructose
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StorySculptor
Audiobook lovers, rejoice! This app's functionality is a game-changer. Seamlessly switch between formats and enjoy a hassle-free reading experience. 📱🎧 ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a unique touch that adds personalization to my audiobook journey. Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Excellent app! The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze. 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!
Lady Fantastic
I can't imagine a day without this app – it has made my audiobook journey effortless and rewarding. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and quick access to chapters enhance my overall listening experience. Auto-rewind feature is extremely helpful. Great functionality.
Berlin Kamikaze
I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn any moment into a reading opportunity. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. ListenBook’s playback is smooth and reliable. I never have issues with audio quality.
Skool
This app is a game-changer for audiobook lovers! The interface is clean and easy to use. The sleep timer is a lifesaver. I fall asleep listening to my books every night.
CyberScribe
I'm constantly amazed by the vast selection – there's always something new to discover. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature turns any environment into a cozy listening haven. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. They help me keep related titles together for a seamless experience. ListenBook Pro takes things up a notch with unlimited audiobook length. It's a game-changer!
HOV
Listening to audiobooks has become my guilt-free indulgence, and I love it. ⏰ Starting my mornings with inspiration – audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! ☀️🎧 I can't get enough of ListenBook's silky-smooth playback and intuitive design. It's my go-to app for both leisurely listening and study sessions. ListenBook has redefined my workout routine. The controls are so user-friendly. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
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