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.
2nd Hand Joe
This app has helped me achieve my reading goals and explore new genres effortlessly. I've never experienced such a smooth audiobook player. The playback is seamless. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique and fun feature. I can customize the narration to my liking.
Pink Nightmare
It's like having a personal library that fits in my pocket β truly amazing! I can't believe how much more I'm 'reading' now, thanks to this app. This app is perfect for audiobook lovers. The interface is beautiful and easy to navigate. This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Microwave
This app's sleek design and intuitive navigation have made audiobook listening a seamless experience. ListenBook has transformed my daily commute. I look forward to my journeys with this app by my side. ListenBook has become an essential part of my day, enhancing my commute and allowing me to enjoy audiobooks like never before. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Manimal
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true savior for immersive listening, even in busy surroundings. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. I'm impressed by the app's compatibility with CarPlay. It keeps me entertained on long drives. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Crash Override
πββοΈπ Combining exercise and exploration β this app keeps me motivated on my daily jogs! πββοΈπ Effortless audiobook management β this app's usability is a winner. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. This app has completely transformed my daily routine. I can't imagine my commute without it!
Cool Law Topping
The app's compatibility with various devices ensures I never miss a moment of my book. ListenBook's support for chapters and bookmarks ensures that I never lose my place in a story. Audiobooks on this app have transformed my daily routines into engaging experiences. ListenBook has transformed my daily commute. I look forward to my journeys with this app by my side. The best app for audiobooks. Downloading and organizing files is super easy with ListenBook.
Milan Call Back
I've never been so entertained while doing household chores β this app is a lifesaver! It's impressive how the app caters to both seasoned readers and newcomers. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of reading through my ears, making every moment more valuable. The app's performance is nothing short of impressive β smooth, responsive, and designed with audiobook lovers in mind. The user-friendly interface and smooth navigation make this app a pleasure to use daily.
Red Hot Kevorkian
This app's user-friendly design makes navigating through books a breeze. With ListenBook, I've found a versatile and enjoyable way to listen to audiobooks and expand my knowledge. Finally, an app that turns my daily commute into an adventure through literature. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. It's like having virtual bookshelves! ListenBookβs interface is clean and intuitive. Itβs a joy to use.
Marshmallow
I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. Audiobook listening has never been this easy and convenient β it's like having a personal narrator.
Universe Bullet
With this app, audiobook listening has become a seamless and enjoyable part of my everyday life. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Bad Bond
Being able to download audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. I'm amazed at how this app has turned my errands into exciting reading sessions. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
MuseMaster
The ability to change playback speed and audio volume on ListenBook gives me full control over my listening experience. The ability to download audio from network devices directly within ListenBook is incredibly convenient. WiFi downloads save a lot of time. Great feature!
Spitfire
The ListenBook app has made my daily routines more enriching, allowing me to learn while on the go. Efficiency meets audiobooks β this app's functionality is a perfect match. Streamlined audiobook integration β this app's usability is truly impressive. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Snapple Whistler
The intuitive chapter navigation and quick access to controls make my audiobook experience seamless. ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
LifeRobber
I'm amazed at how this app's narrators bring characters and stories to life. The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together. Library organization has never been easier thanks to ListenBook. My collection is well-managed. Downloading over WiFi is super efficient. Saves a lot of time.
High Kingdom Warrior
Effortless and enriching β that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features redefine audiobook joy. π±π Binaural audio processing reduces fatigue during long listening sessions. A fantastic feature! Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a fantastic feature. It adds a personal touch. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my library look organized and visually appealing. The appβs design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Athena Star
The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library. The import process is seamless. I had no trouble adding my audiobooks.
Heaven Sent
Thanks to ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks without the need for constant synchronization. ListenBook's support for various audio formats makes it a versatile app for all kinds of audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook's audio filters are a fantastic addition, enhancing the sound quality of my audio files. ποΈ The app's functionality is a true work of art β it enhances the audiobook experience and brings stories to life. ππ¨ Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
Electric Player
With this app, I've turned mundane chores into exciting opportunities for intellectual growth. Savoring audiobooks without complications β this app's design is top-notch. No more limits on the genres I can explore! This app's versatility in downloading and organizing audiobooks ensures I always have a captivating tale at my fingertips. ππ±
Nola
This app's convenience has transformed my reading habits β it's a game-changer. ππ Exploring stories even with my eyes off the page β this app is a bedtime dream! π΄π§ Noise reduction in ListenBook Pro ensures crystal-clear playback even in noisy environments.
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