Book description
Imagine hearing the clink of cafΓ© cups and the murmur of Parisian streets while Michael Peppiatt, a master chronicler of the city's art soul, guides you through Alberto Giacometti's life. This isn't just a biography-it's a velvet-soft invitation into the very heart of 20th-century art, narrated with the intimate warmth of a friend sharing secrets over coffee. As Paul Theroux noted, it reads like a Samuel Beckett novel: gripping, raw, and utterly human.
Peppiatt, who spent decades walking those same Parisian streets, doesn't just recount Giacometti's journey-he makes you feel the grit of his studio's crumbling walls, smell the damp stone of Montparnasse, and hear the debates spilling from cafΓ©s where Picasso, Breton, and Sartre once argued. You'll walk beside Giacometti as he navigates surrealism's shadows, wrestles with artistic despair, and finds solace in his mother's gaze. His love affairs, the weight of his fractured marriage, the quiet agony of creation-Peppiatt reveals it all without a single dry art-history lecture.
What makes this audiobook magical is how Peppiatt's voice-calm, precise, deeply familiar-turns history into a living breath. You're not just learning about Giacometti; you're sitting across from him in his Parisian hovel, watching his figures emerge from the city's very bones. The city itself becomes a character: the grey stone streets, the buzzing terraces, the post-war shadows where genius was forged.
It's the perfect listen for anyone who's ever wondered how art feels-not just how it looks. You'll hear the echoes of Beckett's wit in Giacometti's struggles, the scent of Gauloises in the air, and the quiet triumph of a sculptor who transformed Paris into his masterpiece. This isn't just the best art book of 2023 (as The Times and Waterstones declared); it's the sound of history whispering directly to your soul. Let Peppiatt's voice carry you into the heart of Paris, where every shadow held a story, and every figure told a life. You won't just hear about Giacometti-you'll live it.
Slow Trot
ListenBook has made my commutes more enjoyable, transforming them into learning sessions. This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.
CommandX
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JesterZilla
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DARK HQ
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Marshmallow Treat
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Pusher
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Shadow Gal
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Sugar Domino
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Lord Theus
The app's reliability and ease of use make it a true gem in the world of audiobooks. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile. I don't have strong feelings about this one either way. The narration was competent but forgettable. The story itself was more engaging than the performance.
Poppy Coffee
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Sassy Muffin
I love that I can switch between devices seamlessly and continue where I left off. Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats. It's a dream come true for audiophiles like me. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch. The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
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Queen Ginger
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Mechani-Man
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RealmRanger
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CirrusFlash
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Sun Lemon
I love how this app turns even the dullest tasks into exciting storytelling moments. I can't get enough of this app's convenience β it has transformed my audiobook journey into a joyous experience. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection.
Mantis Queen
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Campfire Mama
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Sly Silvermoon
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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