Book description
June 12th, 2024
Dear Reader,
Last night, I couldn't sleep. Not because of the book-though I nearly stayed up until dawn, the Kindle light blazing-but because of the sound of it. I'd been listening to Blake Crouch's Dark Matter on audiobook, and the moment Jason Dessen hears those words-"Are you happy with your life?"-and then the world shatters... well, I felt it in my bones. Not just read it. Lived it.
Marc Vietor's narration? Perfect. He's got this quiet intensity, this way of making you lean in, like he's whispering secrets in your ear while the world outside is falling apart. When Jason wakes up strapped to that gurney, hazmat suits looming, and that stranger says "Welcome back, my friend," Vietor's voice doesn't shout-it hisses, low and urgent, and I swear I felt my own breath catch. It's not just a story; it's a soundtrack to your own panic.
You know how sometimes a book makes you question your own life? Dark Matter does that with a scalpel. Jason's ordinary-college professor, quiet life, a wife he loves-and then bam. The other version of him? A genius. A hero. His son never existed in this world. The grief in Vietor's voice when Jason realizes his wife is a stranger? Chilling. You don't just imagine it-you hear the crack in his voice, the way he stops breathing for a second. It's visceral.
And that opening line? "Are you happy with your life?" It's not just a hook-it's a question that sticks with you long after the audiobook ends. Crouch doesn't just give you a sci-fi thriller; he makes you wonder: What if? What if you'd taken that job? Said that thing? Chose differently? The audiobook version makes that itch physical. You're not just thinking it-you're feeling it, through Vietor's pacing, the subtle pauses, the way his voice tightens when Jason realizes: This isn't the life I remember.
I listened to it while walking my dog at 2 a.m. The city was quiet, but my mind was racing. Which world is real? And the worst part? Crouch doesn't give you easy answers. You're right there with Jason, desperate to get back to the life he knows, even as he realizes it might be the dream. That tension? It's made for audio. You hear every heartbeat, every gasp, every silent scream.
Entertainment Weekly called it "mind-blowing," and they weren't wrong. But what the audiobook does better than any printed page is pull you inside Jason's head. You're not just reading about his confusion-you're hearing it, in the tremor of his voice when he asks, "Is it this life or the other that's the dream?" It's not just a thriller; it's a mirror. And I'll admit-after finishing it-I sat in the dark for a full ten minutes, just... thinking. About my own choices. My own path.
This isn't just a book you read. It's one you live. And if you haven't heard it yet? Do yourself a favor. Press play, turn off the lights, and let Blake Crouch and Marc Vietor take you on the ride of your life. Just... maybe don't listen while driving. You'll want to pull over, just to sit with the silence afterward.
You'll never look at your own life the same way again.
- A fellow traveler in the dark,
Alex
CoB@lt
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Murder Matter
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Popeye Wipeout
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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