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.
MysticMingle
Thanks to ListenBook, I've rediscovered the joy of exploring my favorite content on multiple devices. I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. I'm impressed by ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically. 🚶♀️📖 Walking my way through exciting narratives – this app makes exercise more fun! 🏞️🎧 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!
CuriousCoder
The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile. I’ve tried several audiobook players, but ListenBook stands out for its reliability and ease of use. The equalizer and voice boost features make every book sound amazing. Plus, the dark mode is perfect for nighttime listening. Great job, developers! As someone who struggles to focus on audiobooks, this kept my attention the whole way through. The narrator's clear diction and expressive delivery were perfect.
QuestQuill
I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my downtime more enriching and meaningful. Seamless audiobook integration – this app's design is a true delight. The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together.
Sidewalk Enforcer
ListenBook's features make it the ultimate audio companion for any audiobook enthusiast. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising.
StarZen
Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's elegant design and robust functionality make it a must-have for anyone who loves to listen on the go. 🎧📱 Sharing audiobooks with friends is a fantastic way to introduce them to new stories.
Bad Princess
This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful – I'm hooked! 💡 Balancing learning and living effortlessly – audiobooks on demand, thanks to this app! 🎧💫
Dallas Burn
The extensive audiobook collection for children is a blessing for my little ones. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Dark Horse
The app's layout is clean and intuitive, making it a pleasure to navigate. Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's ease of use is a game-changer.
ManBreaker
This app is my travel companion – making long journeys enjoyable and insightful. ListenBook's looping playback, shuffle feature, and configurable controls make learning a breeze. 🎧 Finally, an app that understands my need for convenience and ease of use! Audiobooks have never been this accessible. 📚📱 The intuitive interface and efficient navigation make this app a pleasure to use every day.
Easy Street
The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together. I'm blown away by the app's performance. It's fast, reliable, and tailored for audiobook lovers.
Toy Dogwatch
With this app, I've discovered a whole new way to enjoy literature. 💡 This app has made my daily schedule more interesting – 'reading' on the go! 📱🚶♂️ 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 Listening stats keep me motivated to read more. Great addition! The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Demand Chopper
ListenBook's intuitive controls and beautiful layout make my audiobook experience a delightful one. ListenBook's audiobook player is a true workhorse – chapters, controls, and filters are all seamlessly integrated. 🎉 The ease and functionality of this app make it my go-to choice for immersive audiobook experiences. 📱🎧 The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Whistler
This app has become my go-to for audiobooks, adding a layer of convenience and enjoyment to my days. Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and diverse compatibility ensure that every tale is a captivating journey. 🌌🎧 Adjustable playback speed is a fantastic feature. It allows me to customize my listening experience.
Bae
My productivity has soared since I started using ListenBook for my study materials. With ListenBook Pro, long audiobooks are no problem. I love it!
Demo Zero
📱 It's like having a personal audiobook library at my fingertips! This app's functionality is a dream come true for book lovers. 📚🔥 Audiobook joy made simple – this app's ease of use is a true marvel. An audiobook lover's dream come true! This app's seamless functionality and diverse format support make it my go-to choice for immersive storytelling. 📚🎧 ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. It's reliable, versatile, and a pleasure to use. I’m blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and I’ve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend!
Knight Light
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. ListenBook Pro is worth every penny. The unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true.
Gentle Avenger
This app has enriched my daily routine and added a touch of intellectual stimulation. Automatic artwork and metadata extraction keep my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. With its powerful audio downloading features, I can have my favorite audiobooks ready to go, anytime and anywhere. Packed with useful features. My favorite audiobook app! I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Instant Star
I've become so much more productive while cleaning or exercising – thanks to this app! With this app, I've discovered the joy of learning while I'm on the move – it's like having a tutor by my side. The statistics tracking feature is eye-opening. I never realized how much time I spend on audiobooks until now!
Manly
This app's customizable features, from playback speed to filters, are fantastic. 🚗📖 Road trips have never been this entertaining – this app keeps me engaged on the highway! 🚙🎉 Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and diverse compatibility ensure that every tale is a captivating journey. 🌌🎧
CuriousCoder
The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are excellent.
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