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.
CZR
ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make every listening session a pleasure. This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of literary escape. ListenBook has made my daily commutes so much more enjoyable. I look forward to listening every day! ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length feature is fantastic. Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didnβt have any major complaints, but I also donβt see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
InfinityInsight
Great app! ListenBook supports so many formats, and the playback is always smooth. The app is so reliable. Iβve never had any issues with it.
Ember Rope
This app is my constant companion, making every moment a chance to discover new worlds. ListenBook has made my daily commutes so much more enjoyable. I look forward to listening every day!
Miss Murder
Listening to audiobooks while cooking has made meal prep much more enjoyable. π©βπ³ Elevating culinary experiences with auditory tales β cooking has never been this entertaining and educational! π³π§ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true savior for immersive listening, even in busy surroundings. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureβitβs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Darling Peacock
I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in stories with this app. This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of literary escape. π©βπ³ Elevating culinary experiences with auditory tales β cooking has never been this entertaining and educational! π³π§ Finally, an app that understands the power of CUE playlists. Perfect for organizing. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze.
Polar Bee
The features on this app, from bookmarks to playback speed, cater to all preferences. The adjustable playback speed is a revelation. It's like having a personal audiobook narrator at my pace. ListenBookβs bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Microwave
Audiobook immersion made simple β this app's ease of use is commendable. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable.
Dr. Jam Man
The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. The app's integration with CarPlay enhances my road trips with immersive audiobook journeys. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Pixie Soldier
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a unique feature that adds a personal touch to my listening. βοΈ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. ππ
Sneaky Lady
I can't believe how quickly I finish books now, all thanks to this app. ListenBook's Pro version is worth every penny. The noise reduction feature makes even noisy environments an ideal place for immersive listening. The customer support is amazing. They responded to my query within hours.
Atlantic Rim
Noise reduction on ListenBook enhances the clarity of dictaphone recordings, allowing me to enjoy content even in noisy environments. Listening statistics motivate me to read more. Excellent feature!
Backstreet
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook is a fun feature that adds a unique touch to my audiobook experience. ListenBook has given me a renewed appreciation for audio content β it's my new favorite app. I'm so grateful for this app β it's like having a personal storyteller wherever I go. Audiobook multitasking made simple β this app's functionality is a true delight.
General Broomdog
Audiobooks have never been this immersive β this app transports me to different worlds. Download options are plenty β I can get my audiobooks from various sources hassle-free.
Barbwire
This app's library is a treasure trove β I'm always discovering new favorites. π Rekindling my love for reading β this app makes each day a new adventure! ππ This app is like a personal audiobook concierge! The ability to download and organize audio files effortlessly is a game-changer for my reading routine. π±π Say goodbye to boring commutes β this app's immersive audio experience and intuitive controls have transformed my daily journeys. ππ
Bridge Whip
Navigating audiobooks effortlessly β this app's functionality is commendable. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow. Looping playback is an invaluable study tool. It helps me absorb complex information effortlessly. ListenBook has redefined my audiobook experience. It's a true companion for all my literary adventures. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read.
Cool Whip
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is fantastic. ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. The app's performance is unparalleled. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. Automatic metadata retrieval is a neat touch. My library is well-organized. The app's compatibility with CarPlay has made my road trips so much more enjoyable.
Athena Star
This app has reignited my passion for literature β I'm devouring books like never before. ListenBook has made my daily routines more vibrant and exciting with its immersive features.
Honey
I've become a more empathetic listener thanks to the emotional depth of audiobooks. I'm hooked on this app β it's my escape to different worlds and adventures. This app has become my ultimate travel companion, ensuring that I'm always entertained and inspired. ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureβitβs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Sun Washer
Audiobooks have become my go-to entertainment, and this app is the reason. This app's convenience has revolutionized the way I experience books. The playback controls are so responsive. No lag at all.
Guillotine
I'm enjoying books I never thought I'd be interested in β all thanks to this app. ListenBook's commitment to providing top-notch audio quality has taken my audiobook experience to a new level. This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. ππ Beating traffic blues with engaging audiobooks β driving has never been this fun! ππ§ The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
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