Book description
"The only Lou Reed bio you need to read." --The Washington Post"There have been many biographies of Lou Reed, but Will Hermes has written the definitive life . . . He has brought to the assignment a sharp eye, a clear head, a lucid prose style, and a determination to let Lou be Lou, without judgment." --Lucy Sante, author of Low LifeThe most complete and penetrating biography of the rock master, whose stature grows every year.Since his death ten years ago, Lou Reed's living presence has only grown. The great rock-poet presided over the marriage of Brill Building pop and the European avant-garde, and left American culture transfigured. In Lou Reed: The King of New York, Will Hermes offers the definitive narrative of Reed's life and legacy, dramatizing his long, brilliant, and contentious dialogue with fans, critics, fellow artists, and assorted habitués of the demimonde. We witness Reed's complex partnerships with David Bowie, Andy Warhol, John Cale, and Laurie Anderson; track the deadpan wit, street-smart edge, and poetic flights that defined his craft as a singer and songwriter with the Velvet Underground and beyond; and explore the artistic ambition and gift for self-sabotage he took from his mentor Delmore Schwartz. As Hermes follows Reed from Lower East Side cold-water flats to the landmark status he later achieved, he also tells the story of New York City as a cultural capital. The first biographer to draw on the New York Public Library's much-publicized Reed archive, Hermes employs the library collections, the release of previously unheard recordings, and a wealth of recent interviews to give us a new Lou Reed--a pioneer in living and writing about nonbinary sexuality and gender identity, a committed artist who pursued beauty and noise with equal fervor, and a turbulent and sometimes truculent man whose emotional imprint endures.
BuzzBait
With this app, reading has become an integral part of my daily routine. Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's design is a true winner. No more converting files – this app effortlessly handles various formats, saving me time and effort. Binaural audio processing is amazing. Reduced my listening fatigue significantly.
Renegade Slugger
This app has rekindled my passion for literature in a whole new way. This app has made my downtime so much more productive and enjoyable. ListenBook is like a personal audiobook library in my pocket. Organized and easily accessible. 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.
Silver Agent
I'm able to enjoy books in a whole new way – while cooking, working out, or even gardening. I can't imagine my daily routine without ListenBook's intuitive layout and easy-to-access controls. ListenBook's audio filters have given me the power to tailor my listening experience to my preferences. The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Gingersnap Woman
ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its performance and features. Automatic metadata extraction keeps my library organized. It's a time-saver! The statistics tracking feature is eye-opening. I never realized how much time I spend on audiobooks until now!
Mafia Princess
🔥 Simplifying my reading routine – the app's functionality ensures I'm always one click away from literary adventures. 📚🔗 ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for learning and enjoyment. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Light Despair
I'm hooked on this app – it's my escape to different worlds and adventures. ⭐️ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. 📚👏 🎉 The ease and functionality of this app make it my go-to choice for immersive audiobook experiences. 📱🎧 Audiobooks made simple – this app's functionality is a breath of fresh air. Highly engaging! The combination of a well-written story and skilled narration made this audiobook hard to pause. I finished it much faster than I expected because I just couldn’t stop listening.
Midnight Rider
This app is a must-have for any book lover on the go – it's my daily companion. CarPlay compatibility takes my driving experience to a whole new level. Audiobooks on the road have never been better. 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! Not bad, but not amazing either. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
Kazami of Truth
ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is amazing. ListenBook is top-notch.
CuriousCoder
📱 My pocket-sized library – this app makes reading accessible anytime, anywhere! 📚📱 Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds – this app's functionality is genius. Good for background listening. I didn’t get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narrator’s voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
ThreadTrail
This app has reignited my passion for reading, and I'm forever grateful. ListenBook has made my commutes more enjoyable, transforming them into learning sessions. 🎉 This app is a testament to thoughtful design – its functionality seamlessly blends with my lifestyle, making reading effortless. 📚✨ I'm blown away by the app's performance. It's fast, reliable, and tailored for audiobook lovers. With support for various audio formats, ListenBook ensures I can enjoy my favorite audiobooks without worries.
Santa's Little Helper
This app is a boon for book lovers who are always on the go. I'm on a literary adventure wherever I go, all thanks to this app. Its extensive format support and effortless navigation make audiobook listening a breeze. 🌟📚 Adjusting the tone of the voice adds a unique touch to my listening experience. I love the personalization! Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a touch of elegance to my audiobook collection. The playback history is a great feature. I can easily revisit my favorite parts.
Saber-RED
Kudos for the thoughtfully curated collections – I'm discovering hidden gems! Audiobook heaven! This app has revolutionized the way I enjoy stories. Its sleek design and seamless functionality make it a must-have for book lovers. 📚🎧 ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true for those epic tales. It's like having a personal audiobook library in your pocket. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app! As someone who struggles to focus on audiobooks, this kept my attention the whole way through. The narrator's clear diction and expressive delivery were perfect.
Pistol Hydro
Adjusting playback speed has transformed the way I consume audiobooks. I can tailor the pacing to match my learning style and preferences. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks perfectly. Very convenient.
EchoExplorer
ListenBook's comprehensive support for a wide range of audio formats sets it apart from other audiobook apps. Listening to books while doing chores? This app makes it possible!
Digger
The sleep timer is a brilliant addition – I drift off to sleep with amazing stories. This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing. A middle-of-the-road audiobook that neither impressed nor disappointed. The narrator's voice was agreeable enough for extended listening, though their character differentiation could have been stronger. The production met basic industry standards without any standout qualities. Not the best audiobook I've heard but far from the worst. The production quality was good and there were no major issues with the narration.
Spunky Chick
From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing different formats has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary listening sessions. 📱🔊 ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. It's like having a personal assistant for my literary adventures. Auto-rewind is a very handy feature. Excellent app. Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didn’t have any major complaints, but I also don’t see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
Queen Ginger
I'm hooked on this app's ability to make every moment a reading moment. 🌟 Simplifying my reading routine – this app's user-friendly design ensures I'm always in sync with my favorite stories. 📚✨ The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Lord Theus
Listening to audiobooks has become a ritual, thanks to this incredible app. Perfect for both first-time listeners and audiobook veterans! The narrator's warm, inviting tone made this an incredibly comfortable listening experience. I particularly appreciated how well they handled dialogue - each character felt distinct without being cartoonish. The pacing kept me engaged throughout.
Miss Nova
User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to connect over shared interests.
Bourbon Mirage
I love how this app's user-friendly interface allows me to navigate through chapters and controls effortlessly. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's my go-to for staying informed and entertained. With this app, I can seamlessly switch between audiobooks and real life. The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions.
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