Book description
Following a young woman over the course of one outrageous and insufferable downtown dinner party at the home of her estranged best friends--an artist and curator couple, whom she now realizes stand for everything she detests--Happiness and Love is a piercing debut novel about brazen materialism, self-obsession, and the empty careerism of so-called cultural elites. Years after escaping New York and the center of its artistic world--a group of self-important, depraved, and unscrupulous artists, curators, and hangers-on--our narrator is back in town. With no plans to see anyone she once knew, she's wandering around the Lower East Side, thinking about the recent death of her former best friend, Rebecca, when she runs into Eugene, one half of the artist-curator couple at the heart of her old social set. Despite her better judgement, she accepts his invitation to a dinner party. And though the party is held only hours after Rebecca's funeral, it not a memorial of Rebecca but a dinner held in honor of a young, newly famous actress whose lateness delays the party by hours. As the guests sip their natural wine and await the actress's arrival, the narrator, from her perch on the corner seat of a white sofa, silently, systematically, and mercilessly eviscerates them--their manners, their relationships, their delusions and failures, and the complete moral poverty that brings them here, to Nicole and Eugene's loft on the Bowery. When the guest of honor finally does arrive, she sets in motion a disastrous end to the evening, laying bare the depravity and decadence of the hosts' empty little lives--a hollowness that the narrator herself knows all too well.
About the Author
Zoe Dubno is a writer from New York. She attended Oberlin College and has an MFA from Rutgers University, Newark. Her fiction has appeared in Granta and Muumuu House and NY Tyrant, her nonfiction in The New York Times Magazine, The New York Review of Books, The Guardian, The Nation, Vogue, BOMB, and elsewhere. She lives in New York and London. Happiness and Love is her first novel.
Clover Rabbit
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Station WMD
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Delicious Cupid
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Pinball Wizard
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Station WMD
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Sherwood Gladiator
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180
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BloodEater
The ability to listen to books while multitasking is a game-changer for me. The extensive statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption habits β so cool! The fact that ListenBook doesn't just play, but enhances audio quality, is truly remarkable. Audiobook joy made simple β this app's ease of use is a true marvel. I love the auto-rewind feature. Itβs great for when I zone out.
NightDream
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Tan Stallion
ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a unique touch that adds personalization to my audiobook journey. Bookmarks are a fantastic tool for keeping track of important moments. They're a game-changer. A decent listen overall. The narration was clear, though some character voices sounded similar. The story was interesting but had moments where it dragged slightly. Still, it was a good way to pass the time.
High Deck
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Short Firecracker
Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and visually appealing. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
CZR
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Trick Baron
The app is very intuitive. ListenBook makes finding and playing audiobooks simple. An acceptable audiobook that met basic expectations. No complaints about quality but nothing remarkable either. Would listen to this narrator again but wouldn't seek them out.
Twisty Dew
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xSTORMx
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. π Whether I'm cooking, commuting, or relaxing at home, this app's seamless functionality keeps me engaged in captivating narratives. π§β¨ Iβm so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
High Beam
Audiobooks on this app have transformed my daily routines into engaging experiences. ListenBook's commitment to a user-friendly interface and intuitive controls is evident in every aspect of the app. My audiobook collection has never been more organized. Library management is a breeze. ListenBook has become an integral part of my daily routine. Its compatibility with Apple Watch and CarPlay makes it the ultimate companion for various activities. The audio quality is superb. ListenBook enhances my audiobook experience.
West Warrior
I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users. Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! ππ§ ListenBook is a prime example of user-centered design. It's clear that the developers understand audiobook lovers' needs.
BoomerBox
My commutes to work have transformed into exciting journeys thanks to this app. ListenBook's dedication to optimizing for iOS 16 ensures a seamless experience on the latest devices. This app's ease of use has made my daily tasks so much more enjoyable. ListenBook has revolutionized the way I consume content. It's like having a personal tutor in my ear.
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