Book description
April 12th, 2024
Dearest Listener,
I've been wrestling with Frankenstein for weeks now, and this audiobook changed everything. Not the familiar monster story, but the real Frankenstein-the one Mary Shelley wrote at nineteen, raw and furious, before the world softened it. Hearing the 1818 text read aloud, I felt like I'd stumbled into a secret conversation.
The narrator's voice-steady, clear-carried every sharp word Shelley meant. Lines like "I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel" landed differently when spoken, heavy with the weight of a young woman refusing to be erased. You hear her politics: the critique of unchecked ambition, the fear of women's voices being silenced, the way Victor's hubris mirrors the era's colonial violence. The 1831 rewrite toned all that down. This version? It sings.
Then came Charlotte Gordon's introduction, read with such warmth it felt like a letter from a friend. She didn't just explain the text-she defended Shelley, calling her "a radical, not a relic." And Charles Robinson's chronology? A quiet revelation. Learning how Shelley's own life-her mother's feminist writings, her marriage to Percy, the grief she carried-shaped Victor and the Creature? It made the story ache with new meaning.
I'd always thought of Frankenstein as a Gothic horror. This audiobook is a conversation. The Creature's plea-"I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel"-isn't just tragic; it's a mirror to every voice the world tries to drown out. And Shelley's wit! When Victor calls himself "a man of science," the narrator's pause before the next line feels like a sigh of shared understanding.
Last night, I listened to the passage where the Creature watches the De Lacey family. The words on the page are powerful, but hearing them-slow, deliberate, with the weight of his loneliness-made my throat tighten. It's not just a story about a monster. It's about who gets to be human.
This edition, with its scholarly grace, doesn't just preserve the text-it restores it. You hear Shelley's anger, her hope, her fierce belief that a woman's mind could shape the world. I kept pausing the audiobook, just to sit with the silence. Because now, I hear her. Not as Percy Shelley's wife, but as the brilliant, necessary mind who wrote these words.
You should hear it too. Not to feel scared, but to feel seen. And maybe, finally, to remember: the most terrifying monster isn't in the lab. It's the one we create when we refuse to listen.
- E.
Ice
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ZenaCake
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CyberScribe
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Pluto
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Nutmeg
The ability to highlight passages and take notes while listening is a fantastic feature. I'm amazed at this app's ability to transport me to different worlds through stories. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Lady Fantastic
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Shady Prairie
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Handsome
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Bootleg Taximan
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Mr. Wholesome
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Palomino Cake
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Skool
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ZenaCake
Audiobooks have become my bedtime companions, soothing me into a peaceful sleep. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app β it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playbackβit's all up to me! An audiobook Iβll listen to again! The story was engaging, and the narratorβs performance made it even better. Some parts were so well-delivered that I replayed them just to hear the emotion again.
Howitzer Rise
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Spicy Thunder
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Freaky Ratbuster
Thanks for making my daily commute to work enjoyable and engaging! ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration is a brilliant touch. π An app that turns house chores into exciting adventures β count me in! π§Ήπ β° Waking up to audiobooks β mornings have never been this magical and inspiring! βοΈπ§ Finally, an app that caters to audiobook enthusiasts like me. The diverse format support and user-friendly design are a game-changer. π±π
Shamrock
I can't get enough of this app's convenience β it has transformed my audiobook journey into a joyous experience. I can't believe how easily this app has fit into my daily routine. Efficiency meets audiobooks β this app's functionality is a true triumph. ListenBook's library organization keeps my audiobooks neat and accessible. A true organizational lifesaver! The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Fire Sass
Listening to audiobooks has become a ritual, thanks to this incredible app. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a huge plus during long drives. Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. It helps me absorb information more effectively. Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
Natural Mess
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Star Sword
Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue. Flawless support for various audio formats. Very happy with it.
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