Book description
'Elegant and heartaching, these poems illuminate the sorrows of life with a bright flame, returning us to that miraculous human capacity for love and faith even in our darkest days.' Liz Berry'Declan Ryan reveals himself a master of both the telling detail and of narrative suspense. Each exquisitely orchestrated vignette delivers a punch worthy of the heroes of the ring here commemorated.' Mark FordCrisis Actor chronicles various failures and farewells. It is peopled by faded heroes and deferential devotees; a hanged donkey, a bloated rat; solitary bachelors and disillusioned youths - these are the watchers, not the players. The poems are awash with rueful self-accusation and laconic scepticism. There are touching elegies, reportage and bruised, wary replayings. A blistering sequence about boxers and their fates weaves through the collection. The overwhelming sense is of life going on elsewhere, the halcyon days and brightest of years long past. This is the aftermath of being one who - in Matthew Arnold's words - 'has reached his utmost limits and finds . . . himself far less than he had imagined himself'.But there are still flashes of camaraderie, of stars aligning: lunchtimes in sunlit garden squares, languorous pub afternoons, cheering on and hard-won triumphs. These precious, precarious moments point to how we might reclaim potential, discover human connection in times of defeat or despair, and reach towards grace and redemption.
Sienna Princess
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. ListenBook’s audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
Wolf Tribune
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my daily activities more seamless and convenient. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic. Audiobooks on the go – this app's design prioritizes convenience. Looping playback helps me focus on challenging content and grasp complex concepts. A study must-have!
Mr. Peppermint
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch has streamlined my multitasking. This app has become my ultimate travel companion, ensuring that I'm always entertained and inspired. The user-friendly interface and smooth navigation make this app a pleasure to use daily. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
Super Flick
I'm hooked on this app – it's like Netflix for book lovers! The ListenBook app has transformed my device into a portable audiobook library that I can carry everywhere. This app's ease of use has made my daily activities more enjoyable and educational. The app's performance is unparalleled. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. The app's performance is remarkable – it's fast, stable, and designed to cater to audiobook enthusiasts. It's a pleasure to use.
Acetic Princess
I'm able to enjoy books in a whole new way – while cooking, working out, or even gardening. The sleek design and easy navigation are visually pleasing and user-friendly. 🏝️ Basking in the sun while indulging in literary adventures – this app makes outdoor relaxation even better. ☀️📖 My audiobook collection has never been more organized. Library management is a breeze.
Stone Boomstick
User-friendly brilliance! This app's functionality enhances my audiobook experience. The best app for audiobooks. Downloading and organizing files is super easy with ListenBook. The app is lightweight and doesn’t drain my battery. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
Stacker of Wheat
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. This app has introduced me to genres I never thought I'd enjoy – it's eye-opening. The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playback—it's all up to me! Adjustable playback speed and volume control are top-notch.
Mirage
ListenBook's chapters, controls, and filters have transformed my listening sessions into immersive journeys. I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling. The app's performance is unparalleled. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. 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! ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Bombay Shivers
The narrator's voice in some audiobooks is so soothing, it's like a spa for the ears. ListenBook's library organization keeps my audiobooks neat and accessible. A true organizational lifesaver! My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch.
Swedish Twizz
I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users. I'm hooked on this app's curated content – it's like having a personal librarian. ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats is impressive. From MP3 to FLAC, it handles them all flawlessly. ListenBook has transformed my daily commute. I look forward to my journeys with this app by my side. Great app for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook supports a wide range of formats.
Backstreet
ListenBook has reignited my love for storytelling and learning, one audio file at a time. ListenBook has become an essential part of my day, enhancing my commute and allowing me to enjoy audiobooks like never before. The app is perfect for long flights. It keeps me entertained the whole time.
Shay
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks with enhanced sound quality and personalized settings. ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. I'm amazed at how this app's narrators bring characters and stories to life. 🎶📚 Enriching my environment with the power of storytelling – audiobooks infuse my home with literary magic. 🎧🏠
Sweetness
This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a huge plus during long drives. 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.
Spooky Yellowjacket
The app never crashes. It’s reliable and stable. 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!
Pusher
With ListenBook, I can effortlessly manage and organize my audiobook library. With this app, every moment is an opportunity to dive into a new story.
Mad Irishman
🔥 Adding a spark of excitement to my daily routine – this app is my secret weapon! ✨📖 ListenBook has completely transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The chapter navigation is seamless, and the statistics feature is a fun way to track my listening progress. The app is stable, fast, and incredibly user-friendly. Five stars!
Night Train
ListenBook has made my daily routines more vibrant and exciting with its immersive features. 🌟 Simplifying my reading routine – this app's user-friendly design ensures I'm always in sync with my favorite stories. 📚✨ ListenBook's support for playlists in the CUE format makes organizing and enjoying audiobook series a delightful experience. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
21st Street
I'm discovering books I wouldn't have considered before, and my reading horizons are expanding. The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Hitch Frenzy
With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. It's my go-to app for literary adventures. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like having a personal reading guide. The audio quality is excellent, and the interface is intuitive. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Vixen
Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a winner. My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch.
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