Book description
One of Japan's great modern masters, Kaoru Takamura, makes her English-language debut with this two-volume publication of her magnum opus. Tokyo, 1995. Five men meet at the racetrack every Sunday to bet on horses. They have little in common except a deep disaffection with their lives, but together they represent the social struggles and griefs of post-War Japan: a poorly socialized genius stuck working as a welder; a demoted detective with a chip on his shoulder; a Zainichi Korean banker sick of being ostracized for his race; a struggling single dad of a teenage girl with Down syndrome. The fifth man bringing them all together is an elderly drugstore owner grieving his grandson, who has died suspiciously after the revelation of a family connection with the segregated buraku community, historically subjected to severe discrimination. Intent on revenge against a society that values corporate behemoths more than human life, the five conspirators decide to carry out a heist: kidnap the CEO of Japan's largest beer conglomerate and extract blood money from the company's corrupt financiers. Inspired by the unsolved true-crime kidnapping case perpetrated by "the Monster with 21 Faces," Lady Joker has become a cultural touchstone since its 1997 publication, acknowledged as the magnum opus by one of Japan's literary masters, twice adapted for film and TV and often taught in high school and college classrooms.
Romance Guppy
The narrator's voices are so captivating, it's like they bring the stories to life. ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. π Rekindling my love for reading β this app has reintroduced me to the joy of books in a whole new way. ππ₯
DreadSherX
With ListenBook Pro, I can customize the tone of the sound to match my preferences β it's a fantastic touch. With this app, I can read anytime, anywhere β it's a reader's dream come true.
ZenZone
The narrator's voices are so captivating, it's like they bring the stories to life. I can't believe how quickly I finish books now, all thanks to this app. π± Carrying stories wherever I go β this app's convenience allows me to indulge my love for reading on the move. πποΈ
Loot
The app's compatibility with various devices ensures I never miss a moment of my book. This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading.
Gr8 Flick
ππ Beating traffic blues with engaging audiobooks β driving has never been this fun! ππ§ The app is perfect for people with visual impairments. Itβs so easy to navigate.
Riff Raff
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. Efficiency meets audiobooks β this app's functionality is a true standout. I've never experienced such a smooth audiobook player. The playback is seamless. Looping playback has made memorization so much easier. I'm acing my exams! 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.
Referee
ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app. Sharing audiobooks with friends is so easy with AirDrop. It's a great way to spread happiness. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection. CUE playlist support is a fantastic organizational feature. It keeps my audiobooks neatly arranged.
Trixie
This app isn't just a tool, it's a wellspring of inspiration and positive vibes. Audiobooks on demand β this app's functionality is a true technological gem. I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itβs perfect for my needs.
Crazy Rox
I'm blown away by the range of non-fiction audiobooks available β so much to learn! With ListenBook, my daily commutes have become a cherished time for learning and enjoyment. ListenBook has rekindled my passion for learning. I'm exploring new topics every day. ListenBook has completely transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The chapter navigation is seamless, and the statistics feature is a fun way to track my listening progress. The app is stable, fast, and incredibly user-friendly. Five stars!
RiddleRover
This app makes traffic jams a breeze β time flies by while I'm engrossed in a story. This app has reignited my love for literature and made it a part of my everyday life. ListenBook Pro is worth every penny. The unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true. Download options are abundant, from WiFi to iTunes. It's all about convenience with this app.
Opulent Gamer
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personalized touch to my audiobook experience. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive design and user-friendly interface. My house has never been cleaner! I kept finding chores to do just to keep listening. The narrator's energy matched the tone of the book perfectly.
Nola
The fact that ListenBook supports a wide range of formats without DRM protection is a huge win. User-friendly brilliance! This app's functionality enhances my audiobook experience.
Apple Nola
The noise reduction feature on ListenBook Pro is a godsend for clear and comfortable listening. ListenBook has become my go-to workout companion. It keeps me motivated and entertained. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a game-changer. It's like customizing my listening experience.
QuantumQuill
Seamless audiobook integration β this app's design is remarkable. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction makes sure that background distractions don't interfere with my listening. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive. I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy.
Dr. Cocktail
ListenBook has made me fall in love with my audio content all over again β it's a must-have. This app's sleek design and intuitive navigation have made audiobook listening a seamless experience. Finally, an app that understands the power of CUE playlists. Perfect for organizing. The app never crashes. Itβs reliable and stable. 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!
Thunder Nut
This app has turned my daily routine into a source of excitement and joy. Finally, an app that turns my daily commute into an adventure through literature. AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends.
Dropkick
ListenBook has redefined my audiobook journey, making it more enjoyable and convenient than ever before. I'm hooked on this app's intuitive features β from chapters to playback controls. I'm addicted to this app's ability to turn mundane moments into opportunities for intellectual growth.
Gbbledgoodk
ListenBook's customizable features, from playback speed to audio filters, cater to every audiobook lover's preferences. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and precise controls make it a joy to use every day. With ListenBook Pro, long audiobooks are no problem. I love it!
RedFisher
I never knew my daily walks could be so fulfilling β all thanks to this app. I can't imagine my life without this app β it's my constant source of books. π± An app that respects my time and delivers on functionality β audiobook listening has never been this effortless. ππ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that caters to audiobook lovers like me. From sleek design to functional features, it's a true gem. ππ Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a thoughtful and enjoyable way to share my favorite stories with friends and introduce them to new worlds of literature.
Tse Tse Guy
The voice boost feature is amazing. It makes every word crystal clear. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureβitβs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
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