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.
Bug Blitz
The download options are versatile, making it a breeze to get my favorite audiobooks on the go. The interface is sleek and intuitive, making my audiobook experience a joy. Auto-rewind feature is very useful. Excellent app!
Sweetness
With this app, reading is no longer a luxury – it's a convenient habit. 🌟 Reading has never been this easy – this app fits right into my fast-paced lifestyle. 📚💫 Easy chapter navigation and beautiful design make this app stand out. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to jump between sections.
Ex0tic
This app's convenience has made reading a consistent part of my life. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking. Great for fans of this genre! The pacing, narration, and production quality were all excellent. It felt like a movie playing in my mind. I’ll be checking out more from this narrator for sure.
Lucky Aurora
I can't get enough of this app – it's like having a personal library with me. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my immersion in every audiobook, regardless of surroundings. Noise reduction and tone changing are awesome features. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Pop Bee
I can't get enough of the celebrity narrators – they add a unique charm to each book. It's like having a personal library that fits in my pocket – truly amazing! I can't imagine my life without this app – it has made audiobook enjoyment effortless and convenient. Bravo to the creators of this app – they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design have won me over. 📚👏 ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Campfire Mama
This app is a boon for book lovers who are always on the go. This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers – it's my go-to source for literary adventures! Finally, an app that understands the power of CUE playlists. Perfect for organizing. ListenBook has transformed my daily commute. I look forward to my journeys with this app by my side. I love the ability to change the font size. It makes reading the titles so easy.
Miss Mustard
With ListenBook, I've found a way to make the most of my free time while indulging in my love for audiobooks. I'm grateful for ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats, making it a one-stop solution for audio content. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literature. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate customized listening sessions, whether for study, relaxation, or entertainment.
Crash Test
ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. 🔥 Elevating my reading routine to new heights – this app is a real page-turner! 📚🚀
Indestructible Potato
ListenBook's compatibility with different formats ensures I never have to worry about file conversions. ListenBook has given me a renewed appreciation for audio content – it's my new favorite app. This app's sleek design and intuitive navigation have made audiobook listening a seamless experience. Auto-rewind is incredibly helpful. Excellent functionality. I’m so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
Voluntary
I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining. ⭐️ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. 📚👏 As an audiobook enthusiast, I'm in awe of ListenBook's advanced features. The ability to adjust the reader's voice tone is a unique and fun addition. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience. This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.
Martini Flower
ListenBook's support for playlists in the CUE format makes organizing and enjoying audiobook series a delightful experience. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my carefully curated audiobook collection.
Steel
I've been recommending this app to all my friends – it's a true game-changer. The app's design is sleek and modern – it's a pleasure to navigate. This app's sleek design and effortless controls have made audiobook listening an immersive experience. This app has made my daily routines more meaningful and enjoyable. This app's ease of use has made reading a seamless part of my daily routine.
Shamrock
With this app, every moment is an opportunity to dive into a new story. User-friendly audiobook experience – this app's design is a standout. Streamlined audiobook integration – this app's usability is truly impressive. Adjusting the tone of the voice is genius. It's like having a customizable audiobook narrator.
NexusNinja
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my dictaphone recordings much more comfortable to listen to. 📱 Carrying my library in my pocket – this app makes every moment a reading opportunity! 📚👜 Library organization and book groups make managing my audiobook collection a breeze.
Journeyman
🏝️🎧 Packing for vacation just got better – this app is my getaway entertainment! 🌴📖 💃 Dancing through chores with audiobooks – this app turns cleaning into a lively and literary affair! 🎶📚 The interface is sleek and user-friendly. Makes navigating through chapters a breeze. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique feature that adds a personalized touch to the listening experience.
Chameleon
Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! 🎙️ This app's user-friendly interface has transformed my daily walks into immersive storytelling sessions. Kudos to the developers! 🚶♀️📖 Savoring audiobooks without complications – this app's design is commendable. ListenBook's auto-rewind feature is a thoughtful addition that ensures I never miss a single word.
Danqqqqq
Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of intellectual discovery – a win-win! Kudos to the developers for making this app iOS 16 optimized. It runs like a dream!
BoomerBox
🏡 Embracing audiobooks while tidying up the house – it's like having a helper! 🏠📚 📱 An app that respects my time and delivers on functionality – audiobook listening has never been this effortless. 📖🔗 Library organization is simplified with ListenBook. It's easy to keep my audiobooks neat and tidy. Automated artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook collection. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Drop Stone
I can't believe how easy it is to download and manage my audio content using ListenBook. Finally, an app that understands the power of CUE playlists. Perfect for organizing. Adjusting the tone of the voice is so innovative. It's like personalizing the narration. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata keeps my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didn’t dislike it, but I also didn’t feel strongly about it one way or another.
Reno Monarch
The range of self-help and personal development audiobooks is truly enriching. Book Groups on ListenBook make it easy to categorize and access my audiobooks. ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that I can access my content without any limitations. ListenBook has made audiobook listening more convenient and enjoyable than ever before. Highly engaging! The combination of a well-written story and skilled narration made this audiobook hard to pause. I finished it much faster than I expected because I just couldn’t stop listening.
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