Book description
An impassioned homage to the divas who shake up our world and transform it with their bold, dazzling artistry. What does it mean to be a “diva”? A shifting, increasingly loaded term, it has been used to both deride and celebrate charismatic and unapologetically fierce performers like Aretha Franklin, Divine, and the women of Labelle. In this brilliant, powerful blend of incisive criticism and electric memoir, Deborah Paredez—scholar, cultural critic, and lifelong diva devotee—unravels our enduring fascination with these icons and explores how divas have challenged American ideas about feminism, performance, and freedom. American Diva journeys into Tina Turner’s scintillating performances, Celia Cruz’s command of the male-dominated salsa world, the transcendent revival of Jomama Jones after a period of exile, and the unparalleled excellence of Venus and Serena Williams. Recounting how she and her mother endlessly watched Rita Moreno’s powerhouse portrayal of Anita in West Side Story and how she learned much about being bigger than life from her fabulous Tía Lucia, Paredez chronicles the celebrated and skilled performers who not only shaped her life but boldly expressed the aspiration for freedom among brown, Black, and gay communities. Paredez also traces the evolution of the diva through the decades, dismayed at the mid-aughts’ commodification and juvenilizing of its meaning but finding its lasting beauty and power. Filled with sharp insights and great heart, American Diva is a spirited tribute to the power of performance and the joys of fandom.
Tweety Bun Bun
🏃♂️📚 Combining exercise and exploration – this app keeps me motivated on my daily jogs! 🏃♂️📖 🚶♂️🌟 Strolling through captivating narratives has never been easier – this app's intuitive controls make audiobook listening a delight. 🎧🏞️ Effortlessly managing my audiobook collection – this app's functionality is a winner.
Sand Whiskers
Language courses on audiobooks helped me pick up a new language effortlessly. Audiobooks on this app have made my workouts more enjoyable and productive. This app has reignited my love for literature and made it a part of my everyday life. ListenBook's features make it the ultimate audio companion for any audiobook enthusiast. Kudos to the developers for creating an app that caters to audiobook lovers like me. From sleek design to functional features, it's a true gem. 💎📚
NoiseCake
Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive. I love the bookmarking feature. ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off.
Mindless Bobcat
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made multitasking with audio content a breeze. Listening to audiobooks has never been this convenient and enjoyable! Effortless and enriching – that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features have set the bar high for audiobook enjoyment. 📱📖 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!
Fuzzy Rainbow
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks with enhanced sound quality and personalized settings. Audiobooks have never been this engaging – this app takes them to the next level. The app is perfect for people with visual impairments. It’s so easy to navigate.
Star Jammer
Listening to audiobooks has become my daily ritual for relaxation and escape. The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Carrot Joker
Integration with Apple CarPlay has made long road trips so much more enjoyable. This app has turned my household chores into moments of intellectual growth. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play – it's genius!
NexusNavigator
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a versatile companion for my daily activities. ListenBook's features are a bookworm's dream come true – from chapters to bookmarks, it's got everything. ListenBook's commitment to providing top-notch audio quality has taken my audiobook experience to a new level. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration is a brilliant touch. The equalizer is a great addition. It really enhances the audio quality.
Patton Digger
Audiobooks have made my morning routine something to look forward to. Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable. The layout of ListenBook is so beautiful and user-friendly, making it a pleasure to use. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant companion for literary adventures.
Bootleg Taximan
I've become so much more productive while cleaning or exercising – thanks to this app! Simplifying audiobook adventures – this app's ease of use is a delight. Every moment is a chance to dive into a new adventure with this app. Its smart controls and comprehensive format support ensure that my audiobook journey is a seamless one. 🌌🎧 ListenBook Pro is worth every penny. The unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true. 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!
Saturnalia
The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become effortless, regardless of the source. Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus! I was thoroughly impressed by this audiobook. The combination of engaging content and skilled narration made my daily commute something to look forward to. The narrator's timing and intonation were spot-on, enhancing rather than distracting from the material. Definitely worth a credit!
Bad Badminton
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. The intuitive interface and efficient navigation make this app a pleasure to use every day. The detailed listening stats are fantastic. Helps me keep track of my progress. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
Mental Prophet
I can't get enough of this app's intuitive design – it's like a personal library right at my fingertips. 🚗 Long road trips? No problem – this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! 🚙📚 ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. I can't imagine going back!
S’more Vixen
The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. The range of supported formats is impressive. No more converting files!
Miss Mustard
The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. With this app, I've turned my daily commutes into exciting journeys through the world of literature. 💪 Crushing workouts while devouring books – this app makes fitness fun and educational! 🏋️♀️🎉 📱 Turning my phone into a portal of endless stories – this app is pure magic! 📚✨ Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful!
Saint La-Z-Boy
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. The listening stats feature is awesome. I can track my audiobook habits effortlessly. The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it. 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.
Juice Petite
This audiobook app is an absolute lifesaver! It brings my favorite stories to life with unparalleled convenience. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Willow Dragon
No more fighting over the radio during family trips – we're all hooked on audiobooks now. ListenBook’s CarPlay support makes listening in the car a seamless experience.
RealmRanger
ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my workouts and downtime more engaging and insightful. Audiobooks anytime, anywhere – this app's functionality is a reader's delight.
True Sweetness
This app is my secret weapon for learning while I'm on the move. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the joy of storytelling. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and moments of relaxation. It's a true companion.
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