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.
Reed Lady
ListenBook's thoughtful inclusion of chapters, controls, and filters has enhanced my audiobook experience. Audiobook excellence simplified – this app's functionality is a true delight. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to introduce others to the joys of audiobook storytelling. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Peanut Butter Woman
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks.
Fresh Peper
The statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption – a fantastic way to measure my progress. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. This app has made my downtime so much more productive and enjoyable. Audiobook enjoyment without the hassle – this app's design is a win. Makes audiobook listening super easy and enjoyable. Thank you!
Pepper Legs
This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my life so much easier.
MrOnsTr
This app's compatibility with different formats has made my audiobook collection diverse and enjoyable. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
McDreamy
ListenBook's commitment to delivering an exceptional audiobook experience is evident in its thoughtful features and design. The features on this app, from bookmarks to playback speed, cater to all preferences. ListenBook's auto-rewind feature is a thoughtful addition that ensures I never miss a single word. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise. ListenBook has become my gateway to new worlds, allowing me to explore stories, ideas, and knowledge.
Airport Hobo
I love that ListenBook Pro allows me to customize the tone of the sound – it adds a personal touch. I'm hooked on this app – it's my escape to different worlds and adventures.
Plenty Orange
This app is a treasure trove of knowledge, entertainment, and imagination. The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. ListenBook has made my daily commutes enjoyable. No more boredom!
Trixie
With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual growth and personal enjoyment. This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure. ListenBook has redefined my audiobook experience. It's a true companion for all my literary adventures. Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook! Perfect for my daily walks. The story was engaging enough to keep me motivated to exercise but not so complex that I got lost in thought. Great production quality too.
Sprinkle Lovenuts
I love that I can enjoy audiobooks while cooking elaborate meals in the kitchen. 🛌 Indulging in soothing bedtime stories – this app is my nightly retreat into imagination. 🌙📚 The user-friendly interface and smooth navigation make this app a pleasure to use daily. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks. Very convenient. Downloading over WiFi is super efficient. Saves a lot of time.
WanderWord
The sound quality is outstanding – it's like having a movie theater in my ears! I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings. This served its purpose as background listening while I worked. I probably missed some details but the narrator's voice was pleasant enough.
DreadSherX
Audiobook immersion without fuss – this app's ease of use is commendable. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to create curated listening experiences for different moods and settings.
Lightweight
I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
AxelRoad
This app has brought back the joy of reading, even when I'm on the move. ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment.
Geneva Cuffs
This app has transformed my screen time into valuable learning and entertainment. 💼 Making work hours enjoyable – audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. 💻📖
FrankenGrin
Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is a true marvel. Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Fantastic app!
Trash
The ability to listen to books while multitasking is a game-changer for me. ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. I'm hooked on this app's curated content – it's like having a personal librarian.
Tart Voodoo
This app's user-friendly controls and sleek design have made audiobook listening a truly immersive journey. 💡 The future of audiobook listening is here – this app's sleek functionality redefines how we enjoy our favorite stories. 🎧🔮 Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds – this app's functionality is genius. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
VisionVoyager
The ListenBook app has enriched my daily life, adding a layer of intellectual and emotional fulfillment. ListenBook's innovation, seamless playback, and versatile features make it a standout app. I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. This audiobook spoiled me for others! The narrator's professional delivery set a high bar - perfect diction, ideal pacing, and emotional authenticity. The recording quality was equally impressive with no distracting artifacts. I finished it far too quickly because I couldn't stop listening.
Loot
I can finally listen to all my audiobooks seamlessly with ListenBook. The customizable playback controls and chapter navigation make it a breeze. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to an impressive degree.
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