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 Katniss
Quick access to chapters is a blessing. No more scrolling through endless content. The app is lightweight and doesn’t drain my battery.
Wanted Candy
The captivating narrators make each story come alive in a unique way. With this app, I'm rediscovering the joy of reading in the most convenient way. Accessing literary treasures has never been this straightforward – thank you, app! Library organization is brilliant. No more cluttered audiobook collection. I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time.
Mum Mary
This app makes traffic jams a breeze – time flies by while I'm engrossed in a story. I never knew my daily walks could be so fulfilling – all thanks to this app. ListenBook's audiobook player is a true workhorse – chapters, controls, and filters are all seamlessly integrated. With ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become hassle-free, thanks to the various download options.
Nessie Pork
Adjusting the tone of the voice is a game-changer. It's like customizing my listening experience. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
Kinged
Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice adds a layer of personalization that I never knew I needed. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to introduce them to captivating stories. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
Bowler
ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats means I can listen to all my favorite content without worries. ListenBook has become my constant companion, filling my days with captivating narratives. 🌟 Making every moment count – this app turns everyday activities into a reading adventure! 📚💫
NexusNomad
The sleek design and easy navigation are visually pleasing and user-friendly. Audiobooks have become my companions during long hours of household chores. The app's interface is so sleek and modern. It's a joy to use.
Poppy Coffee
ListenBook's library organization and Book Groups feature make it easy to keep my audiobooks organized and accessible. ListenBook has given me a renewed appreciation for audio content – it's my new favorite app. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features add versatility to my audiobook listening experience. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of storytelling with friends. The customer support is amazing. They responded to my query within hours.
Demand Chopper
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 has rekindled my love for audiobooks. The app's interface is beautiful and user-friendly. ListenBook's dedication to user convenience is evident in the drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
Night Magnet
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. Audiobooks have become my bedtime companions, soothing me into a peaceful sleep. ListenBook is a prime example of user-centered design. It's clear that the developers understand audiobook lovers' needs. Looping playback helps me focus on challenging content and grasp complex concepts. A study must-have!
RiddleRover
Unlocking a world of literary possibilities, this app's extensive compatibility and user-friendly controls have made audiobook enjoyment an everyday joy. 📱🔊 Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats! Flawless playback.
ThreadTrail
Finally, an app that values usability – navigating and listening is a breeze! The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together. Binaural audio processing is amazing. Reduced my listening fatigue significantly. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Heaven Sent
My kids are hooked on the children's audiobook collection – it's a parenting win! Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's functionality is a standout.
Soiled Dove
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic. 🏝️ Basking in the sun with an audiobook – relaxation meets storytelling paradise! ☀️📖 The download options are versatile, making it a breeze to get my favorite audiobooks on the go. This app is perfect for audiobook lovers. The interface is beautiful and easy to navigate.
WanderWord
The absence of synchronization requirements on ListenBook is a breath of fresh air. This app's convenience has made my audiobook addiction thrive! 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!
Lounge Master
ListenBook's basic audio filters enhance my listening experience and make it uniquely mine. 🎶📚 Replacing tunes with stories – my house is alive with the sound of narration! 🎧🏠 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to a whole new level. I love the auto-rewind feature. ListenBook always picks up right where I left off. As someone who struggles to focus on audiobooks, this kept my attention the whole way through. The narrator's clear diction and expressive delivery were perfect.
Mother Hen
With ListenBook, I've found a convenient and enjoyable way to engage with audiobooks and educational content. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant companion for literary adventures. Savoring stories has never been this smooth – this app's functionality is genius. 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!
Peanut Butter Woman
This app has added a new layer of enjoyment to my downtime – I'm truly grateful. 🌟 Unleashing the power of audiobooks with this user-friendly app – it's like having a personal storyteller on demand! 📚🔥 Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's design is a true winner. The narrator's voice took some getting used to - a bit nasal at first - but I grew to like it after a few chapters. Their pacing was excellent throughout.
Mad Kid
This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Queen Ginger
This app's support for various formats and genres ensures that there's always something new to explore. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. The interface is sleek and intuitive, making my audiobook experience a joy. The app is perfect for long commutes. It keeps me entertained for hours.
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