Book description
"The perfect pick to really light a fire under my book club, and yours....A reminder that goodness, and books, can still win in this world." --New York Times Book Review"A beautiful, big-hearted treasure of a novel." --Lily KingNational Bestseller * From the award-winning author of The One-in-a-Million Boy comes a heartfelt, uplifting novel about a chance encounter at a bookstore, exploring redemption, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories. Our Reasons meet us in the morning and whisper to us at night. Mine is an innocent, unsuspecting, eternally sixty-one-year-old woman named Lorraine Daigle...Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from rural Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher.Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest.Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn't yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed.When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland--Violet to buy the novel she was reading in the prison book club before her release, Harriet to choose the next title for the women who remain, and Frank to dispatch his duties as the store handyman--their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways.How to Read a Book is an unsparingly honest and profoundly hopeful story about letting go of guilt, seizing second chances, and the power of books to change our lives. With the heart, wit, grace, and depth of understanding that has characterized her work, Monica Wood illuminates the decisions that define a life and the kindnesses that make life worth living. "A deeply humane and touching novel; highly recommended for book clubs and fans of Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures." -- Booklist
About the Author
Monica Wood is a novelist, memoirist, and playwright; the 2019 recipient of the Maine Humanities Council Carlson Prize for contributions to the public humanities; and a recipient of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance Distinguished Achievement Award for contributions to the literary arts. She lives in Portland, Maine, with her husband, Dan Abbott, and their cat, Susie.
Bad Beh8vior
The ability to switch between devices seamlessly is a game-changer for busy readers. Thanks to ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks without the need for constant synchronization. Every moment is a chance to dive into a new adventure with this app. Its smart controls and comprehensive format support ensure that my audiobook journey is a seamless one. ππ§ Unlocking a world of literary possibilities, this app's extensive compatibility and user-friendly controls have made audiobook enjoyment an everyday joy. π±π
Mr. Wholesome
I love how this app makes my daily commute a journey through literature. ListenBook's interface is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's also highly functional. Navigating through chapters and controls is a breeze. ListenBook Pro is worth every penny. Unlimited audiobook length? Count me in! I love the ability to import books from my computer. Itβs so easy.
Danger Menace
Audiobooks have become my companion during long walks, transforming exercise into a pleasure. I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily activities more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itβs perfect for my needs.
Murmur
Audiobooks on this app have expanded my horizons and introduced me to new ideas. π The ease and functionality of this app make it my go-to choice for immersive audiobook experiences. π±π§ Audiobooks made easy β this app's functionality is truly a gift. ListenBook Pro is totally worth it. Unlimited audiobook length β I'm in!
Sly Silvermoon
Audiobook immersion simplified β this app's ease of use is a true asset. I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks and this narrator is now in my top 5. Their timing and inflection were masterful. Never a dull moment in the entire performance.
Street Jolly
I'm hooked on this app's ability to make every moment a reading moment. Quick access to chapters and controls ensures a seamless listening experience with ListenBook. It's effortless to use. Automated artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook collection. Binaural audio reduces listening fatigue. Such a great feature! ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Truth
I'm amazed by the variety of genres available β there's something for everyone. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear listening in noisy environments. I can't get enough of this app β it's a true game-changer for book lovers. Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a joy to use. It's a seamless experience. The tone adjustment feature is an exciting touch, allowing me to immerse myself even more in the content.
Zod
The smart recommendation feature keeps surprising me with books I never knew I'd love. This app has added a touch of magic to my mundane moments β I'm forever grateful. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my library look organized and professional.
Pigeon Woman
Listening to audiobooks has made my daily commute more enjoyable and productive. With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with maximum comfort and convenience. ListenBook's interface is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's also highly functional. Navigating through chapters and controls is a breeze. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! The narration elevated an already good book to greatness! The performer's subtle vocal variations conveyed nuance I might have missed while reading. Their ability to maintain consistent character voices across many hours was impressive. Technical quality was flawless throughout.
Gothic Gucci
Bravo to the creators of this app β they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design are a win. ππ ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to share the joy of captivating stories with friends and family. My productivity has soared since I started using ListenBook for my study materials. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Pyscho Hun
I can't remember the last time I was this excited about 'reading' books! Listening to audiobooks while cooking has made meal prep much more enjoyable. Binaural audio processing is a game-changer β my ears stay comfortable during long listening sessions. The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, becoming an indispensable companion for various activities. Its user-friendly interface, features, and performance make it a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts.
Helmet Destroyer
This app's playback controls and features make it a breeze to customize my listening experience. πββοΈπ Running through chapters has never been smoother β the app's streamlined functionality keeps me on track with my reading goals. πββοΈπ§ 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 app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
Red Pepper
I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time. I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and this one stands out for its professional quality. The narrator struck the ideal balance between dramatic interpretation and letting the text speak for itself. The audio engineering was superb with consistent volume levels and crystal-clear recording.
Light Despair
This app's user-friendly interface has made reading on-the-go a breeze. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening. Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
BloodEater
Audiobooks have made my morning routine something to look forward to. ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features are a game-changer β I can have my audiobooks ready in no time.
Natural Gold
The convenience of having a library at my fingertips is unparalleled. Audiobooks at my fingertips β this app's functionality is truly impressive.
Instant Star
Hands down, the best audiobook collection I've ever come across. It has everything I want to listen to. Audiobooks have never been this engaging β this app takes them to the next level. This app's efficient downloading process ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks whenever and wherever.
Juice Petite
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise. Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are excellent.
Sir Squire
ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach. 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!
Lady Petal
ListenBook has transformed my daily commute. I look forward to my journeys with this app by my side. The import process is seamless. I had no trouble adding my audiobooks. The app is so reliable. Iβve never had any issues with it.
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