Book description
A poignant memoir exploring small town baseball as a lens into what's right and wrong with modern America-written by an acclaimed journalist and Army Ranger who, after returning from Iraq to a painfully divided country, rediscovered its core values in the bleachers of a minor league ballpark in Batavia, New York.What happens when a minor league team-the heart and soul of a Rust Belt town in western New York-is shut down by the billionaires who run Major League Baseball?Batavia, New York-between Rochester and Buffalo-hosted its first professional baseball game in 1897. Despite decades of deindustrialization and evaporating middle-class jobs, the Batavia Muckdogs endured. When Major League Baseball cravenly shut them down in 2020-along with forty-one other minor league teams-the town fought back, reviving the Muckdogs as a summer league team comprised of college players. As MLB considers further cuts and private equity buys up what remains, the mom-and-pop operations once prevalent in baseball are endangered. But for now, the sights and sounds of local baseball live on in Batavia-cheap draft beer and hot dogs, starry-eyed kids seeking autographs, and breathtaking summer sunsets.With a vibrant, unforgettable cast of characters-from a librarian and her best friend whose relationship deepens with every "crepuscular hour" they spend together in the bleachers, to the former hockey brawler-turned team owner who greets regulars while working the concession stand, to the iconoclastic writer with a contagious love for his struggling hometown-Bardenwerper's Homestand exposes the beating heart of small town America, friends and neighbors coming together as the crack of the bat echoes in the summer twilight.
StorySculptor
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Sassy Muffin
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Zod
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Lskeee
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Bambi Wings
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EchoExplorer
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Vixen
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Lightweight
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Senior Smurf
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Winter Underdog
Unlimited audiobook length with ListenBook Pro is a game-changer. The equalizer is a great addition. It really enhances the audio quality. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
Snake Eyes
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MuseMaster
I've started reading more books than ever before, all thanks to this app. ListenBook's basic audio filters enhance my listening experience and make it uniquely mine. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer for immersive listening in any environment. ListenBook's interface is so intuitive. I was up and running in no time. The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together.
Shwatson
With ListenBook, I can immerse myself in captivating stories and enriching knowledge, all in one convenient app. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into every nook and cranny of my day. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Liquid Science
I can't get enough of this app's convenience – it has transformed my audiobook journey into a joyous experience. Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus! What a fantastic listening experience! The narrator brought the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. The pacing was perfect - not too fast to lose details, not too slow to become boring. I particularly appreciated how well the narrator conveyed the atmosphere of key scenes.
HOV
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TrinitySoul
The app's stability and reliability make it my go-to choice for audiobooks. With this app, I've discovered the joy of learning while I'm on the move – it's like having a tutor by my side. Audiobooks anytime, anywhere – this app's functionality is a reader's delight. ListenBook's noise reduction feature in the Pro version is a testament to the app's commitment to audio quality.
Microwave Chardonnay
ListenBook's library organization and book groups help me keep my content neatly sorted. This app is my secret to staying ahead on my reading list, even during my busiest days. 🎉 Rekindling my love for stories – this app's accessibility has reignited my passion! 📖🚀 Adjusting the tone of the voice is a novel feature that allows for a personalized listening experience. Good for background listening. I didn’t get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narrator’s voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
Snout Pixie
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks – this app has converted me! Audiobooks have become my companions during long hours of household chores. 🎉 Rekindling my love for reading – this app makes each day a new adventure! 📖🚀 I love the car mode. It’s so convenient for listening while driving.
Suicide Jockey
The family subscription option is a money-saver – everyone gets to enjoy their favorite books. ListenBook's features are a bookworm's dream come true – from chapters to bookmarks, it's got everything. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow. Binaural audio processing really works. Less fatigue during long listening sessions. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
The Final Judgement
Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's design focuses on seamless interaction. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and powerful features have rekindled my love for audiobooks. The audio filters and precise controls are fantastic! The app's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch enhances my listening experience on the go.
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