Book description
A brilliant literary memoir of chosen family and chosen heritage, told against the backdrop of Chicago's North and South SidesAs a multiracial household in Chicago's North Side community of Rogers Park, race is at the core of Francesca T. Royster and her family's world, influencing everyday acts of parenting and the conception of what family truly means. Like Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts, this lyrical and affecting memoir focuses on a unit of three: the author; her wife Annie, who's white; and Cecilia, the Black daughter they adopt as a couple in their forties and fifties. Choosing Family chronicles this journey to motherhood while examining the messiness and complexity of adoption and parenthood from a Black, queer, and feminist perspective. Royster also explores her memories of the matriarchs of her childhood and the homes these women created in Chicago's South Side--itself a dynamic character in the memoir--where "family" was fluid, inclusive, and not necessarily defined by marriage or other socially recognized contracts. Calling upon the work of some of her favorite queer thinkers, including José Esteban Muñoz and Audre Lorde, Royster interweaves her experiences and memories with queer and gender theory to argue that many Black families, certainly her own, have historically had a "queer" attitude toward family: configurations that sit outside the white normative experience and are the richer for their flexibility and generosity of spirit. A powerful, genre-bending memoir of family, identity, and acceptance, Choosing Family, ultimately, is about joy--about claiming the joy that society did not intend to assign to you, or to those like you.
Lady Fantastic
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. ListenBook has made my audiobook journey effortless, turning every moment into an escape. Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didn’t have any major complaints, but I also don’t see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
Bad Bond
The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. The ability to highlight passages and take notes while listening is a fantastic feature. No need to convert files anymore – ListenBook's seamless playback of various formats is a game-changer for audiobook enthusiasts like me! 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!
Winter Underdog
This app's convenience has made my downtime more rewarding and enriching. ⏰ Waking up to audiobooks – mornings have never been this magical and inspiring! ☀️🎧 Adjustable playback speed is my secret weapon for covering more material in less time. A productivity boost! Noise reduction and voice tone changing are brilliant features. 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.
Mad Robin
This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
PepperBurst
This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of literary escape. 📚 Farewell, boredom during ironing sessions – audiobooks make it a breeze! 👗🎧 ⏰ Starting my mornings with inspiration – audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! ☀️🎧 Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is remarkable. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the audio quality and ensures that I can immerse myself fully in the content.
McDreamy
I've found hidden gems in genres I never thought I'd be interested in. Audiobook immersion simplified – this app's ease of use is a true asset. The speed adjustment feature is my secret weapon for studying complex materials. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions.
Sugar Apple
This app's user-friendly layout and quick access to controls have made audiobook listening a breeze. 🌌 Elevating my reading routine – this app's functionality is the key to unlocking new worlds of storytelling. 📚🔑 I'm impressed by the app's performance – it's stable, fast, and tailored for audiobook enthusiasts.
Shadow Chaser
With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. 🏝️🎧 Escaping to paradise with a beach read – this app is my vacation in audio form! 🏖️📖
Super Flick
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a fantastic addition that enhances my audio experience. This app's convenience has transformed my reading habits – it's a game-changer.
Tabasco Dracula
🎧 Navigating through narratives has never been simpler – this app's functionality enhances my audiobook journey. 📚💫 The interface is clean and intuitive. I was up and running in seconds. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear and distraction-free listening. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app! Good for background listening. I didn’t get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narrator’s voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
HOV
🎉 This app has ignited my passion for reading – I can't get enough of its convenience! 📚🔥 This app is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. The ability to adjust skip intervals and playback speed is fantastic. I also love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Worth every penny!
VPR
This app has made my downtime so much more productive and enjoyable. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a blast. AirDrop makes it seamless. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions. Binaural audio reduces listening fatigue. Such a great feature!
Plenty Orange
I can finally tackle my reading list while stuck in traffic – what a win! The narrator's voice was so pleasant and easy to listen to. They had perfect pacing and made even the slower parts engaging. I found myself looking forward to my commute just to listen more!
Sexual Chocolate
I'm blown away by how this app has revolutionized my reading experience. Perfect for repeat listening! The narrator's performance was so rich with detail that I'm sure I'll discover new layers on a second listen. Their interpretation felt authentic to the material while bringing fresh insights. The audio production was pristine from start to finish.
Virgo Moon
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch, combined with its chapters, controls, and filters, make it the ultimate audiobook app! 🔥 Streamlined functionality that's music to my ears – audiobook enjoyment has reached a new level of convenience. 🎵📖 Download via WiFi, WebDAV, iTunes – options galore to suit everyone's preferences. Great app! ListenBook supports so many formats, and the playback is always smooth.
DuckDuck
With ListenBook, I can enjoy a wide range of audiobook formats without any hassle, making my listening experience seamless. ListenBook's commitment to a seamless user experience is evident in its sleek design and intuitive controls. The speed adjustment feature is my secret weapon for studying complex materials. I’ve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best.
PixelPilgrim
I've become a more empathetic listener and reader, thanks to the power of audiobooks. This app's seamless integration with CarPlay and other devices has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Looping playback helps me retain knowledge from audiobooks effectively. It's an invaluable tool. Looping playback is a game-changer for my study routine. It helps me retain information effectively.
Pigeon Woman
ListenBook's intuitive controls and beautiful layout make my audiobook experience a delightful one. 🎉 Rekindling my love for reading – this app makes each day a new adventure! 📖🚀 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 Adjusting the tone of the voice is an innovative feature that allows for a personalized listening experience. This is exactly what I look for in an audiobook! The narrator's pleasant voice and excellent diction made even complex passages easy to follow. I appreciated the subtle but effective use of pauses and emphasis that added depth to the listening experience. Finished it in record time because I couldn't stop listening.
Proper
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my audiobook experience, ensuring I catch every detail. Downloading books directly in the app is so easy. Highly recommend! Perfect for listening to educational content. Highly recommend!
Boost Princess
I've found hidden gems in genres I never thought I'd be interested in. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic. Library organization has never been easier thanks to ListenBook. My collection is well-managed. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading. ListenBook has streamlined my audiobook experience. It's a must-have app for enthusiasts.
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