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.
Bang Shift
With ListenBook Pro, I can customize the tone of the sound to match my preferences – it's a fantastic touch. 🚶♂️🌟 Strolling through stories on a lazy afternoon – this app is my relaxation buddy! 🏖️🎧 The app's support for different audio formats is like a dream come true for audiophiles. ListenBook has become my go-to workout companion. It keeps me motivated and entertained. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
NexusNomad
Audiobooks have made my morning routine something to look forward to. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a feature I can't live without. 🧘♀️☕ Sipping tea and getting lost in stories – the ultimate way to unwind! 🍵📖 ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a game-changer. Listening to audiobooks on my iPad has never been easier. Highly recommend ListenBook!
MindfulMingle
ListenBook's comprehensive support for a wide range of audio formats sets it apart from other audiobook apps. High-quality playback even with complex formats like FLAC. Impressive! I’m blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and I’ve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend!
Black Fantastic
With this app, I've turned my everyday moments into meaningful opportunities for growth and learning. 👩🍳 Cooking up a storm while enjoying thrilling stories – this app adds flavor to my meals! 🍳🎧 Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature. I'm loving it!
ThoughtTrail
ListenBook's audio filters and controls have turned my listening sessions into immersive experiences. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading such a natural part of my day. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into every nook and cranny of my day. I love the auto-rewind feature after interruptions. No more searching for where I left off! The app is worth every penny. It’s packed with features and works flawlessly.
Mint Ness
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. 🎉 My audiobook haven – this app is like a door to endless adventures and knowledge! 📚🔑 CarPlay compatibility is a fantastic addition. It enhances my driving experience with seamless audiobook integration. ListenBook Pro takes things up a notch with unlimited audiobook length. It's a game-changer! Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional.
Treasure Devil
Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful! This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
Alias Stick
ListenBook has made listening to audiobooks, lectures, and speeches an absolute pleasure. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app. I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. 🧘♀️☕ Unwinding with a cup of tea and a captivating audiobook – relaxation meets intellectual stimulation. 🍵📖
Sleek Assassin
Listening to audiobooks has become my daily ritual for relaxation and escape. Audiobooks have become my companion during long walks, transforming exercise into a pleasure. I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for learning.
Tall Sally
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my audiobook experience, ensuring I catch every detail. The app's performance is unparalleled. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Forger
💼 Balancing responsibilities with relaxation – audiobooks make even mundane tasks feel like an escape. 💻📖 A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
Slow Trot
I'm amazed at how this app's narrators bring characters and stories to life. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative touch that adds a layer of personalization. Adjusting the tone of the voice is genius. It's like having a customizable audiobook narrator.
Digital Goddess
🎶📚 Replacing melodies with literary symphonies – my ears are in love! 🎵📚 Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a winner. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional.
Troubled Pie
If you love stories but have a busy schedule, this app is your solution! WiFi downloads save a lot of time. Great feature! I love the bookmarking feature. ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Troubled Chick
ListenBook's clean interface and organized layout make it a pleasure to browse through my audiobooks. 🎉 This app has turned my errands into exciting quests – I can conquer the grocery store while enjoying a book! 🛒📖 💡 Nurturing my curiosity with audiobooks – this app adds a touch of wonder to my daily routines. 📱📖 My workouts have become more enjoyable and productive with ListenBook's compatibility with Apple Watch. The app is perfect for road trips. It keeps me entertained for hours.
Red Heroine
I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. I'm amazed at how effortlessly this app has made reading a constant in my life. ListenBook's audio filters allow me to customize the audio playback to suit my preferences perfectly. Noise reduction feature is magic. Now I can listen to recordings even in noisy settings. 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.
Lil Rebel Ma
The layout of ListenBook is so beautiful and user-friendly, making it a pleasure to use. As an audiobook aficionado, this app is a dream come true. Its support for various formats and effortless navigation make it my perfect reading companion. 🌟🎧 ListenBook's sharing options make it a breeze to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts and share recommendations. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Pop Bee
I love that ListenBook Pro allows me to customize the tone of the sound – it adds a personal touch. Effortless and enriching – that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features redefine audiobook joy. 📱📖 The sleek and user-friendly interface makes navigating the app a breeze. It's a pleasure to use. Great app for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful!
Emerald Goddess
ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. I can't believe how easy it is to dive into a new world with this app. The app's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically is a huge time-saver. Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful! Listening statistics motivate me to read more. Excellent feature!
Dark Horse
From MP3 to FLAC, this app plays them all flawlessly. Say goodbye to compatibility issues! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read. I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy.
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