Book description
In this poignant, delicious memoir, American tax preparer and food writer Steve Hoffman tells the story of how he and his family move to the French countryside, where the locals upend everything he knows about food, wine, and learning how to belong. Steve Hoffman is a perfectly comfortable middle-aged Minnesotan man who has always been desperately, pretentiously in love with France, more specifically with the idea of France. To follow that love, he and his family move, nearly at random, to the small, rural, scratchy-hot village of Autignac in the south of the country, and he immediately thinks he's made a terrible mistake. Life here is not holding your cigarette chest-high while walking to the cafΓ© and pulling off the trick of pretending to be Parisian, it's getting into fights with your wife because you won't break character and introduce your very American family to the locals, who can smell you and your perfect city-French from a mile away. But through cooking what the local grocer tells him to cook, he feels more of this place. A neighbor leads him into the world of winemaking, where he learns not as a pedantic oenophile, but bodily, as a grape picker and winemaker's apprentice. Along the way, he lets go of the abstract ideas he'd held about France, discovering instead the beauty of a culture that is one with its landscape, and of becoming one with that culture.
About the Author
Steve Hoffman shares one acre on Turtle Lake, in Shoreview, Minnesota, with his family, an ill-behaved puggle, and roughly 80,000 honeybees. He is a writer, tax preparer, and occasional French villager. He is the winner of the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award at the James Beard Awards, as well as an IACP Bert Greene Award for narrative culinary writing and five Association of Food Journalism awards.
Lope Lope
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks with enhanced sound quality and personalized settings. This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. Finally, an app that supports all my audiobook formats! ListenBook is a game-changer.
Lucky Brandy
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. ListenBook's versatile controls and playback options have made my study sessions more productive and enjoyable. I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook!
Mr. Gadget
Precise controls on ListenBook give me complete command over my audio playback. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive offerings, from statistics tracking to immersive audio processing, have breathed new life into my reading. πβ¨ Perfect for studying with its playback controls and audio filters. Excellent app!
Criss Cross
Navigating through chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's easy to jump to specific sections. Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience. ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
Woodland Beauty
ListenBook has taken my listening pleasure to new heights β it's a true audio marvel. I'm impressed by the app's performance β it's stable, fast, and tailored for audiobook enthusiasts. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Grave Digger
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy. This app has introduced me to genres I never thought I'd enjoy β it's eye-opening. ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. 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.
Reno Monarch
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my audio content much more enjoyable in noisy environments. π‘ This app's convenience is a blessing β I can squeeze in reading time between managing household tasks! π±π©βπ³ The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy.
Betty Cricket
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. ListenBook's versatile controls and playback options have made my study sessions more productive and enjoyable. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work! Iβm so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
Pixie Soldier
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience. Effortlessly managing my audiobook collection β this app's functionality is a winner. Looping playback of a single track helps me focus and absorb complex content.
Howitzer Rise
Audiobooks made delightful β this app's usability is a breath of fresh air. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
Ice
I love that I can switch between devices seamlessly and continue where I left off. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook is a fun feature that adds a unique touch to my audiobook experience. This app's library is a treasure trove β I'm always discovering new favorites. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options.
Blue Despair
The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. The noise reduction feature is a game-changer for clearer dictaphone recordings. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasnβt blown away. The narratorβs performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
ELLerG!c
With ListenBook, I've found a convenient and enjoyable way to engage with audiobooks and educational content. ListenBook's audio filters and controls have revolutionized the way I enjoy my audio content. ListenBook has become my trusted companion, making even the busiest days enjoyable. π‘ This app's convenience is a blessing β I can squeeze in reading time between managing household tasks! π±π©βπ³ Effortlessly accessing my favorite audiobooks has become a reality, all thanks to this app's user-centric design and comprehensive format support. A must-download! π±π§
PP Dubs
ListenBook has made my daily routines more vibrant and exciting with its immersive features. With this app, I can switch seamlessly between my iPhone and iPad, making my reading experience continuous.
Commando
ListenBook has made me fall in love with my audio content all over again β it's a must-have. Accessing literary treasures has never been this straightforward β thank you, app! ListenBook's sharing options make it a breeze to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts and share recommendations.
Gentle Avenger
Audiobooks have made my morning routine something to look forward to. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my downtime more enriching and meaningful. Audiobooks made convenient β this app's functionality is impressive. ListenBook has become an essential part of my day, enhancing my commute and allowing me to enjoy audiobooks like never before. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional.
Alley Cat
This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook!
DreadSherX
π Drifting into dreamland with enchanting audiobooks β bedtime has become a gateway to imagination. ππ π Elevating everyday moments β this app adds an extra layer of magic to every aspect of my day. πβ¨ Savoring audiobooks without fuss β this app's design is impressive. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Rando Tank
The vast selection of titles on this app is a book lover's dream come true. ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful β I'm hooked! With this app, audiobook listening has become a seamless and enjoyable part of my everyday life. This app has made me realize that I don't need a lot of time to read. Streamlining my audiobook journey β this app's design is top-notch.
Milan Call Back
π± Carrying stories in my pocket β this app's convenience is a game-changer! πποΈ ListenBookβs bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
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