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.
Proper
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Blizzard Vixen
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Orange Teflon
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Mallow Man
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Noh Noh
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Metal Aphrodite
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Take Away
I appreciate the option to listen to samples before committing to a book. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities.
Springheel Jack
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Kawaii Red
This app has made my workouts and chores so much more enjoyable. Efficient audiobook enjoyment – this app's functionality is a revelation. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true standout. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear dictaphone recordings. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
Father Abbot
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Wheels
This app has turned long waits into exciting opportunities to dive into a new story. ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. 💃 Grooving to the rhythm of stories while tackling household chores – a dance of productivity! 🎶📖 Navigating my audiobook library is a breeze – thank you, app developers!
Lincoln Rider
I've discovered authors I'd never heard of before, and now they're among my favorites. This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of intellectual discovery – a win-win! Savoring stories has never been this smooth – this app's functionality is genius. Looping playback is a study aid sent from heaven. It's helping me ace my exams! Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch.
Rope
ListenBook's compatibility with playlists and CUE files is a great addition for those who love organized listening. ListenBook's sleek interface and precise controls make it a joy to use during my daily listening sessions. Listening to books while doing chores? This app makes it possible! I can't believe how easy it is to download audio from various sources. So convenient!
Soda Delirium
The minimalist interface and intuitive settings make for an amazing user experience. I can't get enough of this app's convenience – it has turned my audiobook journey into a delightful habit. ListenBook's interface is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's also highly functional. Navigating through chapters and controls is a breeze. Noise reduction feature is magic. Now I can listen to recordings even in noisy settings. I’d listen to this narrator read anything! Their voice was so expressive and fitting for the material. The story itself was great, but the narration took it to the next level. Definitely a 5-star experience.
Eye Candy Kitten
No more fighting over the radio during family trips – we're all hooked on audiobooks now. ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures through stories. ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It keeps me entertained and motivated during exercise.
Flash Protein
The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. The ListenBook app has become an indispensable part of my daily routine, helping me learn and relax simultaneously. This app has broadened my literary horizons, introducing me to new authors. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a testament to its innovation.
Roma Kabuki
Seamless integration with all my devices and flawless synchronization – top-notch. This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions. ListenBook has made audiobook listening more convenient and enjoyable than ever before. Good but not great. The narration was competent but lacked the extra spark that makes some audiobooks truly special. Still worth a listen though.
2nd Hand Joe
This app's ease of use has made my daily activities more enjoyable and educational. Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is remarkable. Audiobooks made convenient – this app's functionality is a true gift. Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 ListenBook's statistics feature is both enlightening and motivating. It's incredible to see the time I've invested in learning through audiobooks.
Sherm
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly enhanced my audio quality. The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy.
Star Sword
Listening to audiobooks has turned mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences. This app's compatibility with different devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks anywhere, anytime. The intuitive interface and efficient navigation make this app a pleasure to use every day. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
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