Book description
A beautifully written memoir-in-essays on fairy tales and their surprising relevance to modern life, from a Jewish woman raising Black children in the American South--based on her acclaimed Paris Review column "Happily" "One of the most inventive, phenomenally executed books I've read in decades."--Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy The literary tradition of the fairy tale has long endured as the vehicle by which we interrogate the laws of reality. These fantastical stories, populated with wolves, kings, and wicked witches, have throughout history served as a template for understanding culture, society, and that muddy terrain we call our collective human psyche. In Happily, Sabrina Orah Mark reimagines the modern fairy tale, turning it inside out and searching it for the wisdom to better understand our contemporary moment in what Mark so incisively calls "this strange American weather." Set against the backdrop of political upheaval, viral plague, social protest, and climate change, Mark locates the magic in the mundane and illuminates the surreality of life as we know it today. She grapples with a loss of innocence in "Sorry, Peter Pan, We're Over You," when her son decides he would rather dress up as Martin Luther King, Jr., than Peter Pan for Halloween. In "The Evil Stepmother," Mark finds unlikely communion with wicked wives and examines the roots of their bad reputation. And in "Rapunzel, Draft One Thousand," the hunt for a wigmaker in a time of unprecedented civil unrest forces Mark to finally confront her sister's cancer diagnosis and the stories we tell ourselves to get by. Revelatory, whimsical, and utterly inspired, Happily is a testament to the singularity of Sabrina Orah Mark's voice and the power of the fantastical to reveal essential truths about life, love, and the meaning of family.
ZenZone
Perfect for studying with its playback controls and audio filters. Excellent app! Great for fans of this genre! The pacing, narration, and production quality were all excellent. It felt like a movie playing in my mind. Iβll be checking out more from this narrator for sure.
Psycho Thinker
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can acquire new content in a way that suits me best. Perfect for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful app.
Round Kick Boomer
πͺ Doubling the impact of my workouts β exercising and exploring stories, all thanks to this app! πͺπ§ πΆββοΈπ± I'm exploring new worlds while on the move, all thanks to this app's seamless functionality. ποΈπ Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks.
Koi Diva
The sleek design and easy navigation are visually pleasing and user-friendly. With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient. Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
Chicago Blackout
This app has turned even the most ordinary moments into reading sessions. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device.
Leaf Assassin
This app has transformed my daily walks into insightful journeys of knowledge β talk about efficiency! π§ This app has changed my reading game! Now I can 'read' while I work β genius! ππΌ Enhancing my daily routines β this app's design makes listening a joy. CarPlay compatibility takes my driving experience to a whole new level. Audiobooks on the road have never been better. ListenBookβs support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
K-Tin Man
ListenBook's unlimited length of audiobooks with the Pro version is a fantastic value for avid listeners. ListenBook's intuitive controls and features have made it my preferred choice for audiobooks. I love how easy it is to download audiobooks with ListenBook. The app is incredibly convenient. The app is perfect for multitasking. I can listen while doing other things.
Street Squirrel
Seamless integration with all my devices and flawless synchronization β top-notch. ListenBook's audio filters are a valuable tool for customizing my audiobook playback to perfection.
LocKz
I'm hooked on this app's curated content β it's like having a personal librarian. Audiobook heaven! This app has revolutionized the way I enjoy stories. Its sleek design and seamless functionality make it a must-have for book lovers. ππ§ Automated artwork and metadata extraction keeps my audiobook library visually appealing.
ByteBard
This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. This app has revolutionized my daily routine β I can't imagine life without it. Savoring audiobooks without complications β this app's design is top-notch. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Fire Fish
The ability to adjust playback speed is a game-changer for faster or more immersive listening. ListenBook's features make it the ultimate audio companion for any audiobook enthusiast. This app's ease of use has made reading an integral part of my everyday life. Auto-rewind feature is a lifesaver. I never lose my place!
Deano
ποΈ Grocery shopping has taken an exciting turn β I'm on a mission to explore new worlds through audiobooks! ππ Audiobook lovers, meet your new best friend! This app's smooth playback and easy organization have transformed my reading experience. ππ§ Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a joy to use. It's a seamless experience. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Dahlia Bumble
This app has reignited my love for literature in the most delightful way. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality, providing a clear and immersive listening experience that enhances my enjoyment.
Ex0tic
The interface is sleek and user-friendly. Makes navigating through chapters a breeze. Binaural audio processing is a godsend. My ears don't fatigue even during extended listening.
Silent
Effortlessly switching between stories β this app's ease of use is impressive. Finally, an app that understands the power of CUE playlists. Perfect for organizing. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment enhance the listening experience significantly. The audio quality is superb. ListenBook enhances my audiobook experience. The app never crashes. Itβs reliable and stable.
Sleepwalker
ListenBook has made me fall in love with my audio content all over again β it's a must-have. πΌ Juggling tasks while exploring narratives β this app is my multitasking hero! π»π ListenBook has revolutionized how I consume content. It's like having a personal library in my pocket.
Acetic Princess
The convenience of having an entire library at my fingertips is a dream come true. Audiobooks have never been this engaging β this app takes them to the next level. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive design β it's like a personal library right at my fingertips.
Little Cobra
With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my workouts and downtime more engaging and insightful. Auto-rewind feature is very useful. Excellent app!
Napoleonic Haze
I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in books through this app. This app's ease of use has made my daily tasks so much more enjoyable. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch adds convenience to my audiobook routine. The statistics tracking is a nice touch. ListenBook helps me keep track of my audiobook habits.
Saber-RED
ListenBook's comprehensive support for a wide range of audio formats sets it apart from other audiobook apps. I'm amazed at how this app has turned my errands into exciting reading sessions. The statistics feature in ListenBook adds an element of self-awareness to my audiobook consumption. Noise reduction and tone changing are awesome features.
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