Book description
Could you write what you write if you weren't so tiny, Joan? --Eve Babitz, in a letter to Joan Didion, 1972 Joan Didion, revealed at last... Eve Babitz died on December 17, 2021. Found in the wrack, ruin, and filth of her apartment, a stack of boxes packed by her mother decades before. The boxes were pristine, the seals of duct tape unbroken. Inside, a lost world. This world turned for a certain number of years in the late sixties and early seventies, and centered on a two-story rental in a down-at-heel section of Hollywood. 7406 Franklin Avenue, a combination salon-hotbed-living end where writers and artists mixed with movie stars, rock 'n' rollers, and drug trash. 7406 Franklin Avenue was the making of one great American writer: Joan Didion, a mystery behind her dark glasses and cool expression; an enigma inside her storied marriage to John Gregory Dunne, their union as tortured as it was enduring. 7406 Franklin Avenue was the breaking and then the remaking--and thus the true making--of another great American writer: Eve Babitz, goddaughter of Igor Stravinsky, nude of Marcel Duchamp, consort of Jim Morrison (among many, many others), a woman who burned so hot she finally almost burned herself alive. Didion and Babitz formed a complicated alliance, a friendship that went bad, amity turning to enmity. Didion, in spite of her confessional style, is so little known or understood. She's remained opaque, elusive. Until now. With deftness and skill, journalist Lili Anolik uses Babitz, Babitz's brilliance of observation, Babitz's incisive intelligence, and, most of all, Babitz's diary-like letters--letters found in those sealed boxes, letters so intimate you don't read them so much as breathe them--as the key to unlocking Didion.Review“Anolik brings her journalistic instincts and her deep passion for Didion and Babitz to create a vivid, engrossing work.” —Vogue "Anolik unearths a complicated, contentious—and scandalously overlooked—alliance between these two glamorous behemoths of Californian literature. . . . What results is a love letter in the form of this detailed biography that reads like a propulsive novel. You’ll be reaching for Didion’s and Babitz’s books to search for evidence of the messy truths revealed on these pages." —Oprah Daily "[Anolik's] double biography is an account of a dispute between highly creative frenemies where the wounds festered for years and no one ever worked it out on the remix." —New York Magazine, Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLER * Named a Best Book of the Year by Time, Vogue, the Washington Post, Telegraph, and more Joan Didion is revealed at last in this outrageously provocative and profoundly moving new work "that reads like a propulsive novel" (Oprah Daily) on the mutual attractions--and mutual antagonisms--of Didion and her fellow literary titan, Eve Babitz. Could you write what you write if you weren't so tiny, Joan? --Eve Babitz, in a letter to Joan Didion, 1972 Joan Didion, revealed at last... Eve Babitz died on December 17, 2021. Found in the wrack, ruin, and filth of her apartment, a stack of boxes packed by her mother decades before. The boxes were pristine, the seals of duct tape unbroken. Inside, a lost world. This world turned for a certain number of years in the late sixties and early seventies, and centered on a two-story rental in a down-at-heel section of Hollywood. 7406 Franklin Avenue, a combination salon-hotbed-living end where writers and artists mixed with movie stars, rock 'n' rollers, and drug trash. 7406 Franklin Avenue was the making of one great American writer: Joan Didion, a mystery behind her dark glasses and cool expression; an enigma inside her storied marriage to John Gregory Dunne, their union as tortured as it was enduring. 7406 Franklin Avenue was the breaking and then the remaking--and thus the true making--of another great American writer: Eve Babitz, goddaughter of Igor Stravinsky, nude of Marcel Duchamp, consort of Jim Morrison (among many, many others), a woman who burned so hot she finally almost burned herself alive. Didion and Babitz formed a complicated alliance, a friendship that went bad, amity turning to enmity. Didion, in spite of her confessional style, is so little known or understood. She's remained opaque, elusive. Until now. With deftness and skill, journalist Lili Anolik uses Babitz, Babitz's brilliance of observation, Babitz's incisive intelligence, and, most of all, Babitz's diary-like letters--letters found in those sealed boxes, letters so intimate you don't read them so much as breathe them--as the key to unlocking Didion.SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLER * Named a Best Book of the Year by Time, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, The Washington Post, and more Joan Didion is revealed at last in this "vivid, engrossing" (Vogue), and outrageously provocative dual biography "that reads like a propulsive novel" (Oprah Daily) revealing the mutual attractions--and antagonisms--of Didion and her fellow literary titan, Eve Babitz. Could you write what you write if you weren't so tiny, Joan? --Eve Babitz, in a letter to Joan Didion, 1972 Eve Babitz died on December 17, 2021. Found in the wrack, ruin, and filth of her apartment, a stack of boxes packed by her mother decades before. The boxes were pristine, the seals of duct tape unbroken. Inside, a lost world. This world turned for a certain number of years in the late sixties and early seventies and centered on a two-story rental in a down-at-heel section of Hollywood. 7406 Franklin Avenue, a combination salon-hotbed-living end where writers and artists mixed with movie stars, rock 'n' rollers, and drug trash. 7406 Franklin Avenue was the making of one great American writer: Joan Didion, a mystery behind her dark glasses and cool expression; an enigma inside her storied marriage to John Gregory Dunne, their union as tortured as it was enduring. 7406 Franklin Avenue was the breaking and then the remaking--and thus the true making--of another great American writer: Eve Babitz, goddaughter of Igor Stravinsky, nude of Marcel Duchamp, consort of Jim Morrison (among many, many others), a woman who burned so hot she finally almost burned herself alive. Didion and Babitz formed a complicated alliance, a friendship that went bad, amity turning to enmity. Didion, in spite of her confessional style, is so little known or understood. She's remained opaque, elusive. Until now. With deftness and skill, journalist Lili Anolik uses Babitz, Babitz's brilliance of observation, Babitz's incisive intelligence, and, most of all, Babitz's diary-like letters--letters found in those sealed boxes, letters so intimate you don't read them so much as breathe them--as the key to unlocking Didion. And "what the book makes clear is that Didion and Babitz were more alike than either would have liked to admit" (Time).About the AuthorLili Anolik is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a writer at large for Air Mail. Her last book, the L.A. Times bestseller Hollywood's Eve, was also published by Scribner. Her last podcast, Once Upon a Time… at Bennington College, was produced by Cadence13. In 2024, she was a finalist for the National Magazine Award for profile writing. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.
Rooster
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has elevated my listening experience. Audiobooks on the go – this app's design prioritizes convenience.
Danqqqqq
This app has made multitasking a breeze – I can 'read' while I work! ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch adds a new level of convenience to my audiobook journey. I've never experienced such silky-smooth playback even with high-quality FLAC files. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze.
ByteBard
I've found my new favorite way to relax – cuddled up with an audiobook. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature. Decent narration, predictable story. The voice actor did a good job, but the plot followed a familiar formula. If you’re looking for something new and groundbreaking, this might not be it.
Super Flick
I can't believe how much time I've saved thanks to this efficient app! I can't thank this app enough for making my audiobook experience so effortless. From downloading to playback, it's a true companion for book lovers. 📚💫 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!
Nice Gnome
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks – this app has converted me! The ability to highlight passages and take notes while listening is a fantastic feature. I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's intuitive and user-friendly design. ListenBook's sleek design and easy chapter access make navigation a breeze. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a thoughtful gesture that ListenBook makes seamless.
DreamWeaver
Thanks to this app, listening to audiobooks has become a delightful habit. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is impressive. It's like getting a clear, immersive listening experience. I love the statistics feature. It’s fun to see how much I’ve listened.
Rosie Bird
Book Groups on ListenBook make it easy to categorize and access my audiobooks. 🏃♂️📚 I'm conquering literary marathons with ease, all thanks to this app's intuitive controls and smooth functionality. 📱📖 Effortlessly switching between stories – this app's ease of use is impressive. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature.
Kabuki
The app's intuitive design makes it easy to find and listen to my favorite authors. I can't believe how quickly I finish books now, all thanks to this app. 🎧 Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app – pure listening pleasure! 📚🔥 ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience.
Contrary Mary
With this app, I can dive into captivating narratives while cooking, cleaning, or commuting – pure magic! ListenBook’s interface is beautiful and functional. It’s my favorite app for audiobooks.
Commando
ListenBook's customizable audio filters allow me to personalize my listening experience – a fantastic feature. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my daily activities more seamless and convenient. Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is truly impressive. Navigating through my audiobook collection is a breeze – this app's intuitive interface and convenient controls have made my reading journey effortless. 📱📖 Configurable auto-rewind is genius. No more confusion when I pause and resume.
Backstreet
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my content wherever I go. ListenBook's attention to detail in design and functionality sets it apart from other audiobook apps. Drag and drop downloads are so convenient. No more messing around with complicated steps.
Natural Mess
ListenBook's commitment to user experience shines through its thoughtful design and seamless functionality. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to spread the joy. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has transformed the audio quality. It's crystal clear now. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes. 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.
xFRST
ListenBook's support for a variety of download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. 👀📚 Exploring stories even with my eyes off the page – this app is a bedtime dream! 😴🎧 The attention to detail is commendable. Artwork and metadata are sorted automatically.
IceDog
Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. 🌌🎧 The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience. Perfect for my daily walks. The story was engaging enough to keep me motivated to exercise but not so complex that I got lost in thought. Great production quality too.
Coffee
I can't believe how much time I've gained by listening while cooking and doing chores. Binaural audio processing is a godsend. My ears don't fatigue even during extended listening. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app is packed with useful features. The app is perfect for long flights. It keeps me entertained the whole time.
MindfulMingle
🎉 This app has ignited my passion for reading – I can't get enough of its convenience! 📚🔥 🎉 Rekindling my literary flame – this app has brought back the joy of reading in a whole new format. 📖🚀 As an audiobook enthusiast, this app is a dream come true. Its compatibility with various formats and easy navigation make it my ultimate reading companion. 🌟🎧 Noise reduction feature is magic. Now I can listen to recordings even in noisy settings.
RealmRanger
I can't believe how easy it is to download and manage my audio content using ListenBook. This app has made my commutes and long drives a source of joy and learning. Audiobook lovers, you need this app in your life. The innovative features, from audio filters to compatibility, enhance my reading journey. 🎉🎧 ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Spellbinder
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Vermilion
With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch adds convenience to my audiobook routine. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time. 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!
Vixen
I've found solace and relaxation in the pages of countless audiobooks. ListenBook's versatile controls and playback options have made my study sessions more productive and enjoyable. Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is remarkable. The ability to download audio directly within the app is a lifesaver. ListenBook is incredibly convenient. The narrator's voice was like butter - smooth, rich, and utterly pleasant to listen to for hours. They handled complex sentences with ease, making even dense material accessible. I never had to rewind because I missed something due to unclear delivery. Perfection!
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