Book description
The road to hell is paved with good intentions...and gold dust. When Henry Jenkins's sawmill business goes bust and his family loses their Indiana farm to foreclosure, he sees gold as the answer to his financial woes. Joining a company of younger men, Jenkins and the other prospective miners sign fraudulent promissory notes to borrow from a ruthless businessman, Allen Makepeace, to reach the gold mines. They sail the risky route via Panama to the mines in 1851. But gold is not so easy to find by then. Making enough to survive and get home will be difficult; repaying Makepeace could be impossible. As Henry Jenkins becomes mired in mining, his wife, Abby, struggles to meet the needs of her large family amidst crop failures, waves of deadly disease, and harassment by Henry's creditors. When Henry's sons-in-law follow in his wake, they find themselves on a notorious death ship, stranded in the vast Pacific. Will any of these frantic men make it home to their distressed families? Fortune's Frenzy reveals the plight of miners who borrowed at extortionate rates to get to California, and explores the dangerous and deadly sea routes to the west coast that killed roughly 10 percent of those who risked the journey. Alternating between the miners' trials and terrors, and the challenges for the wives, children, and mothers left behind, Fortune's Frenzy delves into the country's pressing social, economic, and nationalist issues in the pre-Civil War decades. The theme is age-old, and still relevant: desperate people falling for get-rich-quick schemes. They fail to consider the sacrifices they will have to make and the dismal odds of their success.
IdeaAlchemy
π± Accessing my favorite stories has never been this straightforward β this app's functionality is a bookworm's dream come true. ππ« Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is such a fun way to spread joy. 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! 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.
Disco Thunder
π Rekindling my love for reading β this app has reintroduced me to the joy of books in a whole new way. ππ₯ Audiobook multitasking made simple β this app's functionality is a true delight. Effortless audiobook exploration β this app's functionality is remarkable. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
RawSkills
The interface is clean and intuitive. I was up and running in seconds. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are simply amazing.
Gbbledgoodk
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options. ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Mt. Indiana
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my dictaphone recordings much more comfortable to listen to. ListenBook's absence of synchronization requirements adds to its convenience and flexibility. Listening statistics are a great motivator. Love this feature!
Buckshot
This app's user-friendly interface has made reading on-the-go a breeze. Navigating through chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's easy to jump to specific sections. An absolutely stellar production from start to finish! The narrator's command of pacing and tone was masterful, knowing exactly when to speed up for excitement or slow down for dramatic effect. The audio quality was pristine with no distracting mouth sounds or uneven volume.
Sir Shark
I've fallen in love with literature all over again, thanks to this incredible app. This app has made my workouts and chores so much more enjoyable. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my daily routines more enriching and rewarding. The tone adjustment feature in ListenBook Pro is a novel addition that allows me to personalize my audiobook experience. No more interruptions β the auto-rewind feature is a genius solution for seamless listening.
Disco Potato
ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. π§ββοΈβ Sipping tea and getting lost in stories β the ultimate way to unwind! π΅π The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
PP Dubs
My long walks have turned into exciting adventures with this app. πββοΈπ Running with purpose β audiobooks keep my mind engaged as I conquer my fitness goals. πββοΈπ§ π₯ Audiobook enjoyment at the tap of a finger β this app's functionality is a testament to modern convenience. π±π A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
Eye Candy Kitten
With this app, I've turned mundane chores into exciting opportunities for intellectual growth. ListenBook's customizable audio filters are a game-changer for tailoring my audiobook playback. Easy chapter access and smooth playback. Love this app!
Shade Nightman
With this app, reading is no longer a luxury β it's a convenient habit. Auto-rewind is incredibly helpful. Excellent functionality.
EchoEnigma
The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together. The app's performance is nothing short of impressive β smooth, responsive, and designed with audiobook lovers in mind.
SWAT Honey
π Elevating my reading routine β this app's functionality is the key to unlocking new worlds of storytelling. ππ ListenBook's comprehensive format support makes it the ultimate companion for audiobook enthusiasts. The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions. Auto-rewind is a brilliant feature. Never lose track of where I left off. It was fine. The narrator did an adequate job but nothing about the performance particularly stood out to me. Got me through my commute though.
Devine Melon
Noise reduction is magic. I can finally enjoy dictaphone recordings without discomfort. Binaural audio processing reduces listening fatigue. Fantastic feature! ListenBookβs interface is clean and intuitive. Itβs a joy to use.
StorySculptor
Thank you for making my reading goals more achievable and enjoyable. Audiobooks have become a source of inspiration and motivation, thanks to this app. ListenBook is a prime example of user-centered design. It's clear that the developers understand audiobook lovers' needs.
Abyss Tamer
I love that I can switch between devices seamlessly and continue where I left off. CUE playlist support is a brilliant feature that allows me to create customized listening experiences for different moods, activities, and moments of the day.
Cosmo
I'm amazed at how this app has made my workouts more motivating and my audiobooks more accessible. I can't believe I waited this long to discover the joy of audiobooks through this app.
Hex Panther
I'm hooked on this app β it's like Netflix for book lovers! The customer support team is responsive and always ready to assist. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortless and enjoyable. Noise reduction and tone changing are awesome features.
Stick Shift
I love that I can switch between devices seamlessly and continue where I left off. This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks hassle-free. I can't get enough of this app β it's a true game-changer for book lovers. ListenBook is fantastic! Supports every audiobook format I have. Super convenient!
MysticMingle
π The ease and functionality of this app make it my go-to choice for immersive audiobook experiences. π±π§ πββοΈπ Experiencing stories while staying active β this app's functionality enhances my walks and runs like never before. π§ποΈ Library organization has never been easier thanks to ListenBook. My collection is well-managed.
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