Book description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The epic tale of a brilliant woman who must reinvent herself to survive, moving from Mussolini's Italy to 1940s Los Angeles--a timeless story of love, deceit, and sacrifice from the award-winning author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena "A genuinely moving and life-affirming novel that's a true joy to read."--Celeste Ng, author of Little Fires Everywhere "A gorgeous book . . . sublime."--The New York Times (Editors' Choice) ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR, The Guardian, Booklist Like many before her, Maria Lagana has come to Hollywood to outrun her past. Born in Rome, where every Sunday her father took her to the cinema instead of church, Maria immigrates with her mother to Los Angeles after a childhood transgression leads to her father's arrest. Fifteen years later, on the eve of America's entry into World War II, Maria is an associate producer at Mercury Pictures, trying to keep her personal and professional lives from falling apart. Her mother won't speak to her. Her boss, a man of many toupees, has been summoned to Washington by congressional investigators. Her boyfriend, a virtuoso Chinese American actor, can't escape the studio's narrow typecasting. And the studio itself, Maria's only home in exile, teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. Over the coming months, as the bright lights go dark across Los Angeles, Mercury Pictures becomes a nexus of European émigrés: modernist poets trying their luck as B-movie screenwriters, once-celebrated architects becoming scale-model miniaturists, and refugee actors finding work playing the very villains they fled. While the world descends into war, Maria rises through a maze of conflicting politics, divided loyalties, and jockeying ambitions. But when the arrival of a stranger from her father's past threatens Maria's carefully constructed facade, she must finally confront her father's fate--and her own. Written with intelligence, wit, and an exhilarating sense of possibility, Mercury Pictures Presents spans many moods and tones, from the heartbreaking to the ecstatic. It is a love letter to life's bit players, a panorama of an era that casts a long shadow over our own, and a tour de force by a novelist whose work The Washington Post calls "a flash in the heavens that makes you look up and believe in miracles."
Teeder
⏰ Starting my mornings with inspiration – audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! ☀️🎧 💡 This app truly understands the needs of audiobook enthusiasts – it delivers an effortless and enjoyable listening experience. 📚🎧 Every moment is a chance to explore new stories with this app. Its intuitive features and compatibility ensure my audiobook journey is seamless. 🌌🎧 The app's versatility in audio downloading is unmatched. It's a comprehensive solution for my audiobook needs.
Steel Ginger
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch is a game-changer for my on-the-go listening. 🎙️ Grocery shopping has taken an exciting turn – I'm on a mission to explore new worlds through audiobooks! 🛒📚
HedgeH0g2
With this app, I've discovered the joy of learning while I'm on the move – it's like having a tutor by my side. 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. 🌌🎧
White Dragon
🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is a game-changer. The chapter navigation is a lifesaver. It makes finding my place so easy.
Dora the Destroyer
The app's recommendations are surprisingly accurate – it's like they know my taste perfectly! Binaural audio processing on ListenBook is a thoughtful addition that keeps my ears comfortable during extended listening sessions. Makes listening to audiobooks easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook! The app is worth every penny. It’s packed with features and works flawlessly. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
RealmRanger
I'm amazed at how this app's features cater to audiobook enthusiasts' every need. I can't imagine a day without this app – it has made my audiobook journey seamless and fulfilling. 📚 Embracing a new reading habit with this app's seamless accessibility. Say goodbye to boredom! 📱🎉 🏃♀️📚 Combining exercise and exploration – audiobooks make my runs more exciting! 🏃♀️🎧 🚗📚 Turn traffic into a literary escape – this app's functionality keeps me engaged while I'm on the move. 🚗🎧
Killer Grenade
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personalized touch to my audiobook experience. 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. 🌌🎧 Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a joy to use. It's a seamless experience.
Sun Runner
ListenBook's versatile controls and playback options have made my study sessions more productive and enjoyable. The convenience of having a library at my fingertips is unparalleled. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration is a brilliant touch. The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace. Perfect for repeat listening! The narrator's performance was so rich with detail that I'm sure I'll discover new layers on a second listen. Their interpretation felt authentic to the material while bringing fresh insights. The audio production was pristine from start to finish.
Saturn Extreme
Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze – a true travel essential. ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortless and enjoyable. ListenBook's commitment to user experience shines through its thoughtful design and seamless functionality. The audio filters to adjust playback speed and volume are a fantastic addition for customizing my experience. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Crash Enforcer
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic.
Mr. Peppermint
As a busy individual, I appreciate ListenBook's versatility in downloading audio files from various sources. It's a time-saver for sure! Binaural audio processing is a game-changer – my ears stay comfortable during long listening sessions.
Sprinkle Lovenuts
ListenBook's dedication to enhancing the audiobook experience has made it my preferred app for listening to content on the go. This app's dedication to providing high-quality narration has made all the difference. 🚶♀️📖 Walking my way through exciting narratives – this app makes exercise more fun! 🏞️🎧 I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Abiss
🔥 Spicing up my routine with this app – it's like having a personal storyteller on hand at all times! ✨📖 Looping playback is a study aid sent from heaven. It's helping me ace my exams! CUE playlist support is a rare gem. Perfect for organizing content efficiently.
Popeye Wipeout
ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats means I can listen to all my favorite content without worries. 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. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Microwave Chardonnay
I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. 📱 No more lugging around heavy books – this app brings the library to my phone! 📚📱 The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy. The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. The app is constantly updated with new features. The developers really care.
Liquid Death
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a winner. 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!
Mr. Spy
The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. 🎉 An app that turns house chores into exciting adventures – count me in! 🧹📖 Effortless audiobook exploration – this app's design is a reader's dream. The app's integration with CarPlay enhances my road trips with immersive audiobook journeys.
Whipsaw
I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. 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!
Virgo Moon
No more hassle with converting files – ListenBook supports a wide range of formats for a seamless listening experience. ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the audio quality and ensures that I can immerse myself fully in the content.
Pigeon Woman
The sleek and user-friendly interface makes navigating the app a breeze. It's a pleasure to use. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
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