Book description
The English-language debut of Indonesia's rising star. The epic novel Beauty Is a Wound combines history, satire, family tragedy, legend, humor, and romance in a sweeping polyphony. The beautiful Indo prostitute Dewi Ayu and her four daughters are beset by incest, murder, bestiality, rape, insanity, monstrosity, and the often vengeful undead. Kurniawan’s gleefully grotesque hyperbole functions as a scathing critique of his young nation’s troubled past:the rapacious offhand greed of colonialism; the chaotic struggle for independence; the 1965 mass murders of perhaps a million “Communists,” followed by three decades of Suharto’s despotic rule. Beauty Is a Wound astonishes from its opening line: One afternoon on a weekend in May, Dewi Ayu rose from her grave after being dead for twenty-one years.... Drawing on local sources—folk tales and the all-night shadow puppet plays, with their bawdy wit and epic scope—and inspired by Melville and Gogol, Kurniawan’s distinctive voice brings something luscious yet astringent to contemporary literature.
Twine X
Background play feature lets me multitask while enjoying a book – brilliant! I'm in awe of how technology has enhanced my reading experience through this app. Discovering new literary worlds has never been this easy. This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audiobook library is at my fingertips. 📚🔊 Finally, an app that supports a wide range of audio formats! It's a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. The narration elevated an already good book to greatness! The performer's subtle vocal variations conveyed nuance I might have missed while reading. Their ability to maintain consistent character voices across many hours was impressive. Technical quality was flawless throughout.
Milan Call Back
With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a creative feature. It allows for a unique and personalized experience. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks perfectly. Very convenient. The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy. Perfect for both first-time listeners and audiobook veterans! The narrator's warm, inviting tone made this an incredibly comfortable listening experience. I particularly appreciated how well they handled dialogue - each character felt distinct without being cartoonish. The pacing kept me engaged throughout.
Dance Cannon
The ability to adjust the playback speed has made my commute even more efficient. The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual discovery and personal fulfillment. With this app, I've discovered a whole new way to enjoy literature. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience.
Lady Q
The app's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a huge plus. Easy chapter navigation and beautiful design make this app stand out.
Miss Fix It
Audiobooks have never been this immersive – this app transports me to different worlds. ListenBook has made my daily routines more vibrant and exciting with its immersive features. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple. The sleep timer is a lifesaver. I fall asleep listening to my books every night.
Flakes
🎧 Making housework more enjoyable – audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. 🧹📚 From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing different formats has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary listening sessions. 📱🔊 ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options are essential for my audiobook enjoyment and study.
Rook
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. If you love stories but have a busy schedule, this app is your solution! Streamlined audiobook integration – this app's usability is impressive.
Mother Hen
The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive. Great app for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful!
Heavenly Connection
I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant source of books. Quick access to chapters is a blessing. No more scrolling through endless content. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. 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!
Shimmy Shammy
Automatic artwork and metadata extraction keep my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. ListenBook’s support for Apple Watch is a great touch. I can control my audiobooks on the go.
Rink Ruler
ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats ensures that I can enjoy a wide range of content hassle-free. ListenBook’s interface is sleek and user-friendly. Finding and playing my audiobooks has never been easier.
Digger
🎶📚 Replacing tunes with stories – my house is alive with the sound of narration! 🎧🏠 CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience.
Feral Mayhem
I can finally tackle my reading list while stuck in traffic – what a win! 🚶♂️🌟 Strolling through stories on a lazy afternoon – this app is my relaxation buddy! 🏖️🎧
Milan Call Back
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's intuitive and user-friendly design. No more straining my eyes – this app lets me 'read' with my ears! Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's design is a standout. With ListenBook, I've rediscovered my love for audiobooks. The binaural audio processing is a game-changer for comfortable, fatigue-free listening.
Miss Mustard
Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. ListenBook Pro is totally worth it. Unlimited audiobook length – I'm in! ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like my personal audiobook oasis. Elegant design and easy-to-navigate interface. Very pleased with ListenBook.
Risen
Listening to books in their original language has improved my foreign language skills. I love how ListenBook extracts artwork and metadata from audio files, adding a visual touch to my listening experience. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Switch
The variety of narrators adds a unique touch to each book, making every experience special. 💼 Boosting productivity at work with an audiobook in the background – love it! 💻🎧 ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
MythMaker
ListenBook has become my constant companion, filling my days with captivating narratives. Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and diverse compatibility ensure that every tale is a captivating journey. 🌌🎧 ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a playful addition that lets me tweak the audiobook experience. Looping playback is a study tool that I can't live without. It helps me master challenging content. I love how easy it is to download audiobooks with ListenBook. The app is incredibly convenient.
IdeaAlchemy
I can't remember the last time I was this excited about 'reading' books! 🚶♀️📖 Discovering new worlds on my daily walks – this app is my travel companion! 🌍🎧 Navigating chapters and genres is a breeze with this app's functionality. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my immersion in every audiobook, regardless of surroundings. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to jump between sections.
NightWonka
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's intuitive and user-friendly design. 🚶♀️🎧 Strolling through captivating narratives while I take my daily walks – pure bliss! 🏞️📚
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