Book description
One of Literary Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2025 One of The Millions' Most Anticipated Books of Winter 2025 A young woman's seasonal job working a sugar beet harvest takes a surreal turn in this surprising and vivid debut. Elise and her boyfriend, Tom, set off for Minnesota, hoping the paycheck from the sugar beet harvest will cover the rent on their Brooklyn apartment. Amidst the grueling work and familiar anxieties about her finances, Elise starts noticing strange things: threatening phone calls, a mysterious rash, and snatches of an ominous voice coming from the beet pile. When Tom and other coworkers begin to vanish, Elise is left alone to confront the weight of her past, the horrors of her uncertain future, and the menacing but enticing siren song of the beets. Biting, eerie, and confidently told, Beta Vulgaris harnesses a distinct voice and audacious premise to undermine straightforward narratives of class, trauma, consumption, and redemption.Review"I'm trying to create a niche for myself as the preeminent weird-girl-book guy. To cement my legacy, I'm recommending Beta Vulgaris, a very weird book that I'm very excited for! When a young woman and her boyfriend start working a seasonal job at a sugar beet farm, she wants to make enough money to pay her rent for a few months. What she gets is a string of mysterious disappearances and a pile of beets that seems to be talking to her. Thank you Margie Sarsfield for your contribution to the "vegetable gothic" canon." -McKayla Coyle, Literary Hub "Named for the humble beet plant and meaning, in a rough translation from the Latin, "vulgar second," Sarsfield's surreal debut finds a seasonal harvest worker watching her boyfriend and other colleagues vanish amid "the menacing but enticing siren song of the beets."" -John H. Maher, The Millions "Uncanny and electric and quietly harrowing. . . . Margie Sarsfield dazzles us and challenges us, delivering a novel so vivid and memorable, I'll be thinking of beet pilers for years to come." -Danya Kukafka, author of Notes on an ExecutionAbout the AuthorMargie Sarsfield was the recipient of the 2019 Calvino Prize. She earned her MFA from Ohio State University. Her work has appeared in Salt Hill, CutBank, the Normal School, Seneca Review, Hippocampus, and elsewhere. She lives in Reno, Nevada.
PixelPioneer
I'm rediscovering my love for literature through this app – it's revitalizing. This app has reignited my passion for literature – I'm devouring books like never before. ListenBook's dedication to providing an exceptional listening experience shines through in every aspect of the app. 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!
Star Scratch
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Blade
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The Dude
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MysticMingle
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Infinite Hole
I'm addicted to this app – it's a non-stop journey through captivating tales. 🚶♀️🎧 Strolling through captivating narratives while I take my daily walks – pure bliss! 🏞️📚 Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends, sparking engaging conversations and connections that transcend boundaries. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Star Scratch
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. ListenBook's intuitive controls and features have made it my preferred choice for audiobooks. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like my personal audiobook oasis.
Bae
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Kamikaze Grandma
ListenBook's commitment to providing a high-quality audiobook experience is truly commendable. The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playback—it's all up to me! ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It keeps me entertained and motivated during exercise. The audiobook player's silky-smooth playback is like music to my ears. Flawless performance! Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch.
ThreadTrail
I'm enjoying books I never thought I'd be interested in – all thanks to this app. The fact that ListenBook doesn't just play, but enhances audio quality, is truly remarkable. Audiobooks on this app have made me look forward to my long commutes. ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach. This app has made audiobook listening an integral part of my daily routine – it's a habit I cherish.
Fl00d
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RDTN
ListenBook's sleek layout and quick chapter access have made my audiobook journey incredibly enjoyable. The app is perfect for long flights. It keeps me entertained the whole time.
SmartieQuest
With ListenBook, I've found a versatile and enjoyable way to listen to audiobooks and expand my knowledge. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
Saber-RED
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand, transforming noisy environments into serene listening spaces. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction makes sure that background distractions don't interfere with my listening. The ability to download audio from various sources without syncing is fantastic. ListenBook makes it so easy.
The Final Judgement
ListenBook's support for binaural audio processing is a thoughtful touch that reduces listening fatigue. ListenBook has turned my audio content into an immersive, personalized, and unforgettable experience. I'm amazed at how this app has made my workouts more motivating and my audiobooks more accessible. 🌟 Making every moment count – this app turns everyday activities into a reading adventure! 📚💫
9Lives
Audiobooks made delightful – this app's usability is a breath of fresh air. Looping playback has revolutionized my study sessions. I'm learning faster than ever. Perfect for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful app.
Delirious Supernova
This app's convenience has made my audiobook addiction thrive! Navigating chapters and genres is a breeze with this app's functionality. The app's performance is top-notch. It's stable, responsive, and optimized for a seamless audiobook experience. Kudos to the developers! The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Roller Girl
I love that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features, catering to all types of users. ListenBook has changed my audiobook game forever. No more format woes! The ability to adjust playback speed is a fantastic study aid. I'm absorbing information faster than ever. The audiobook player's silky-smooth playback is like music to my ears. Flawless performance! The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Flashpoint
This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. I'm blown away by how this app has made my workouts more enjoyable and my mind more active. 🏃♀️📚 Combining exercise and exploration – audiobooks make my runs more exciting! 🏃♀️🎧 🌟 Who needs a dull commute when you can embark on literary journeys with this app? 🚗📖 Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
Wooden Man
The narrators have a way of bringing characters to life – it's a unique experience. This app's customizable features, like playback speed and bookmarks, have transformed my experience. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a fantastic feature. It adds a personal touch. Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
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