Book description
Many years ago, long before the present prosaic era in ancient japan, there lived in Yedo a young samurai named Toshika. His family belonged to the aristocratic rank of the hatamoto samurai, those knights who possessed the right to march to battle directly under the Shogun's flag (hata), and his father was a high official in the Tokugawa Shogunate.Toshika, whose disposition was of a dreamy and indolent nature with scholarly tastes, had no occupation. He took life easily, and when his studies were finished, he went to live at the family villa situated in the suburb of Aoyama.Toshika was not interested in society, and except for an occasional visit to his home or to his favourite friend, he never went anywhere. Far from the world he spent his days quietly and pleasantly, reading books, tending and watering his flowers, practising the tea-ceremony, and composing poetry and playing on the flute. He was a young man of many accomplishments and studied art. He collected curios and specimens of well-known calligraphy, which all Japanese prize greatly, and he particularly delighted in pictures.One day a certain friend whom Toshika had not seen for several months, came to call upon him. He had just returned from a visit to the seaport of Nagasaki and knowing the young man's tastes had brought with him, as a present, a Chinese drawing of a beautiful woman, which he begged Toshika to accept.Toshika was very pleased with this acquisition to his treasures. He examined the painting carefully, and though he could find no signature of the artist, his knowledge of the subject told him that it was probably drawn by the well-known Chinese painter of the Shin era.It was the portrait of a young woman in the prime of youth, and Toshika felt intuitively that it was a real likeness. The face was one of radiant loveliness, and the longer he gazed at it, the more the charm and fascination of it grew upon him. He carried it to his own room and hung it up in the alcove. Whenever he felt lonely he retired to the solitude of his chamber, and sat for hours before the drawing, looking at it and even addressing it. As the days went by, gradually the picture seemed to glow with life and Toshika began to think of it as a person. He wondered who the original of the portrait could have been, and said that he envied the artist who had been granted the happiness of looking upon her beauty......
RealmRanger
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks β this app has converted me! With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Steel Heart
ListenBook's unlimited length of audiobooks with the Pro version is a fantastic value for avid listeners. This app has transformed my daily walks into insightful journeys of knowledge β talk about efficiency! This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. πͺ Doubling the impact of my workouts β exercising and exploring stories, all thanks to this app! πͺπ§
Cabbie
ListenBook's library organization and Book Groups feature make it easy to keep my audiobooks organized and accessible. I can't imagine my life without this app β it's my constant source of books. Effortless and enriching β that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features redefine audiobook joy. π±π Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and broad compatibility ensure every story is a captivating ride. ππ§ The appβs design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Zorkle Sporkle
ListenBook's support for network device downloads and drag-and-drop is a time-saving delight. I'm hooked on this app's effortless downloading process β I can have my favorite audiobooks in seconds. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable.
Miss Lucky
This app is a gift for book lovers who struggle to find reading time. π§ Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app β pure listening pleasure! ππ₯ Streamlined audiobook integration β this app's usability is truly impressive. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
NightWonka
Being able to customize the listening duration is perfect for quick breaks. ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It keeps me entertained and motivated during exercise. I love the cloud integration. I can access my books from anywhere. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting. The narrator's voice took some getting used to - a bit nasal at first - but I grew to like it after a few chapters. Their pacing was excellent throughout.
Dahlia Bumble
I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. ListenBook's sleek layout and quick chapter access have made my audiobook journey incredibly enjoyable.
Snout Pixie
π Say goodbye to boredom during long drives β this app makes road trips fly by! ππ Simplifying audiobook adventures β this app's ease of use is a delight. Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience. Iβve been using ListenBook for months, and itβs been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesnβt drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Gov Skull
I can't get enough of the celebrity narrators β they add a unique charm to each book. Listening to audiobooks has become a ritual, thanks to this incredible app. I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time. ListenBook has become my go-to app for all audiobooks. Full of useful features. The app is perfect for people with busy schedules. I can listen on the go.
Kinged
This app's simplicity has made me fall in love with books all over again. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a playful addition that lets me tweak the audiobook experience. Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful!
Flint
Incredible character voices! Each person felt distinct without being over-the-top. The emotional scenes gave me chills with how well they were delivered. Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
Undergrad
Kudos to the app for making literature accessible to those with busy schedules. ListenBook's support for various formats means I can explore a wide range of content without limitations. π My audiobook haven β this app is like a door to endless adventures and knowledge! 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 The sleep timer is a lifesaver. I fall asleep listening to my books every night.
Pluto
With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. πΆββοΈπ Strolling through stories on a lazy afternoon β this app is my relaxation buddy! ποΈπ§ Audiobook lovers, you need this app in your life. The innovative features, from audio filters to compatibility, enhance my reading journey. ππ§
EchoEnigma
This app has reignited my love for literature and made it a part of my everyday life. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Scare Stone
The audio filters on ListenBook enhance the sound quality, making every listening session a treat for my ears. With this app, I've found a way to make my daily errands more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating.
Pinball Esq
This app is a book lover's dream come true β a vast library right at your fingertips. ListenBook's audio filters and controls have revolutionized the way I enjoy my audio content. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience. The appβs design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
CommandX
I've become a more attentive listener thanks to the engaging audiobooks. ListenBook's features make it the ultimate audio companion for any audiobook enthusiast. ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. This app's customizable features, like playback speed and bookmarks, have transformed my experience. With its powerful audio downloading features, I can have my favorite audiobooks ready to go, anytime and anywhere.
ThoughtTrailblazer
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks β this app has converted me! ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its powerful features and seamless performance. I can't get enough of ListenBook's silky-smooth playback and intuitive design. It's my go-to app for both leisurely listening and study sessions. AirDrop sharing makes it easy to share audiobooks. Great feature!
Sw00sh
πββοΈπ Combining exercise and exploration β this app keeps me motivated on my daily jogs! πββοΈπ πΆπ Replacing tunes with stories β my house is alive with the sound of narration! π§π I love the auto-rewind feature after interruptions. No more searching for where I left off! Perfect for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful app.
Sprinkle Lovenuts
This app has completely transformed my commute β I look forward to it now! Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a breeze to use. It's an intuitive experience. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and moments of relaxation. It's a true companion. Not bad, but not amazing either. The narratorβs voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldnβt necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
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