Book description
Our politics are broken; our world is melting; the next catastrophe looms. Enter James Parker, who for years now has been writing odes of appreciation on subjects from the seemingly minor ("Ode to Naps") to the unexpected ("Ode to Giving People Money") to the seemingly minor, unexpected, and hyperspecific ("Ode to Running in Movies"). Finally collecting Parker's beloved and much-lauded odes in one place, this volume demonstrates the profound power of the form. Each ode is an exercise in gratitude. Each celebrates the permanent susceptibility of everyday humdrum life to dazzling saturations of divine light: the squirrel in the street, the crying baby, the misplaced cup of tea. Parker's odes are songs of praise, but with a decent amount of complaining in there, too: a human ratio of moans. Varied in length but unified in tone, mostly in prose, sometimes toppling into verse, the odes range across music, movies, literature, psychology, and beyond, all through the lens of Parker's personal history. Gathered together, they form an accidental how-to guide to honoring your own experience--and to finding your own odes.
About the Author
James Parker is a staff writer for The Atlantic. Since 2011, he has run the Black Seed Writers Group--a weekly writing workshop for homeless, transitional, and recently housed writers--and edited The Pilgrim, a literary magazine from the homeless community of downtown Boston. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
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WordWanderer
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The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. Navigating chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and seamless experience.
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Navigating chapters and genres is a breeze with this app's functionality. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer for immersive listening in any environment. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. It's like having virtual bookshelves! Tone adjustment adds a new layer of personalization to my audiobook experience. It's like having the narrator tailor the voice to my preferences.
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Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's design is user-centric. The app's interface is so sleek and modern. It's a joy to use.
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🎧 Immerse yourself in stories effortlessly – this app's functionality is the gateway to endless audiobook adventures. 📚🌟 Effortlessly enjoying audiobooks on the go – kudos to this app's functionality. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to create curated listening experiences for different moods and settings.
Drift
🌟 Reading has never been this easy – this app fits right into my fast-paced lifestyle. 📚💫 Book groups feature keeps series and related titles together. Neat and tidy! The interface is sleek and intuitive, making my audiobook experience a joy. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are simply amazing. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Peanut Butter Woman
With ListenBook, I can effortlessly manage and organize my audiobook library. ListenBook's commitment to delivering an exceptional audiobook experience is evident in its thoughtful features and design. Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is a technological marvel. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It eliminates distractions and enhances the clarity of recordings, resulting in a more immersive experience. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch.
Twiddle Twix
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Vermilion
The app's customization options allow me to tailor the listening experience to my liking. This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers – it's my go-to source for literary adventures! 🧘♂️ Finding zen through storytelling – this app makes meditation even more calming. 🧘♂️🎧 Bravo to the creators of this app – they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design have won me over. 📚👏 Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is impressive. My recordings sound crystal clear.
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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