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 Γ©migrΓ©s: 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."
Black Walnut
ListenBook is a true audio treasure! It turns my own audio files into immersive listening experiences. πββοΈπ Experiencing stories while staying active β this app's functionality enhances my walks and runs like never before. π§ποΈ ListenBook's dedication to user convenience is evident in the drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality to a new level. ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Bambi Benz
No more carrying heavy books β this app has transformed my reading habits. π Adding a touch of magic to mundane tasks β this app turns errands into epic quests! ππ Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is such a fun way to spread joy. Love the silky-smooth playback and easy-to-use interface. ListenBook is the best! Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature!
Cool Iris
Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 β it shows their dedication to excellence. With this app, I've found a way to turn every moment into an opportunity for learning and enrichment. π Finding the perfect audiobook is a breeze with this app's robust search and recommendation features. My reading list has never been better! ππ« Savoring audiobooks without complications β this app's design is top-notch. ListenBook is hands down the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The interface is clean, intuitive, and packed with features like customizable playback speed and sleep timers. It supports all formats, which is a huge plus for me. Highly recommend!
InsightfulInk
ListenBook's basic audio filters enhance my listening experience and make it uniquely mine. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. No more interruptions β the auto-rewind feature is a genius solution for seamless listening.
DreadSherX
The ability to listen to books while multitasking is a game-changer for me. I'm grateful for ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats, making it a one-stop solution for audio content. No more carrying heavy books β this app has transformed my reading habits. My audiobook collection has never been more organized. Library management is a breeze.
Devil Blade
I never thought I'd find an app that supports such a wide range of audiobook formats. ListenBook is a true gem! ListenBook's customizable audio filters are a game-changer for tailoring my audiobook playback. ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Sienna Princess
ππ On-the-go listening has never been smoother β this app's functionality keeps me engaged during long commutes. ππ Download options are plenty β I can get my audiobooks from various sources hassle-free. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a game-changer. I can enjoy clear recordings. I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. Itβs perfect for my listening style.
Lightening Trip
The ability to listen to books while multitasking is a game-changer for me. As a visually impaired person, this app has opened up a new world of stories for me. I'm grateful for this app, as it allows me to keep up with my reading even while multitasking. ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch has streamlined my multitasking. Elegant design and user-friendly interface. Love it!
Impulsive Flower
Listening to audiobooks has made my daily commute more enjoyable and productive. I never thought I'd find an app that supports such a wide range of audiobook formats. ListenBook is a true gem! ListenBook's auto-rewind feature is a thoughtful addition that ensures I never miss a single word. 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.
DragonBlood
The minimalist interface and intuitive settings make for an amazing user experience. ListenBook's innovation, seamless playback, and versatile features make it a standout app. Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys β this app's ease of use is a winner. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very pleased.
Mad Viral
π‘ This app truly understands the needs of audiobook enthusiasts β it delivers an effortless and enjoyable listening experience. ππ§ Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark featureβit saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Ship Whip
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. π‘ Embracing audiobooks while tidying up the house β it's like having a helper! π π Looping playback is my favorite study tool. It's a game-changer for mastering challenging content. The user-friendly interface and smooth navigation make this app a pleasure to use daily.
SmartieQuest
This app is my travel companion β making long journeys enjoyable and insightful. ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. ListenBook's library organization and book groups make managing my collection effortless. π This app's functionality is a masterpiece β it seamlessly integrates audiobooks into my daily routine. ππ¨ Chapters make it so easy to pick up where I left off. No more hunting around.
BloodEater
ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app. βοΈ Loving the fact that I can learn and listen at the same time β multitasking made easy! π§ π§ ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a fun way to experiment with the audiobook experience. Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a touch of elegance to my audiobook collection.
Redneck Giorgio
This app is a book lover's dream come true β a vast library right at your fingertips. Audiobook adventures simplified β this app's functionality is a revelation. is a time-saver. It's convenient for accessing my content. Drag and drop downloads directly from my web browser? That's a level of convenience I appreciate.
Sweet Manhattan
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for enjoying clear audio in any environment. I love how this app brings stories to life, even during my morning jogs. ListenBook has become my trusted companion, guiding me through the realms of imagination. I'm grateful for this app's ability to fit seamlessly into my lifestyle, making learning a part of my day. I'm in awe of how this app has made reading a part of my busy life.
Mad Rascal
I appreciate how ListenBook offers various methods for downloading audio β it caters to different preferences. Finally, an app that lets me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. The library organization and book groups feature make navigation a breeze. Audiobook enjoyment has become an integral part of my routine, thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. A must-have! ππ± Automatic artwork and metadata extraction keep my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch.
Grave Digger
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. I'm discovering books I wouldn't have considered before, and my reading horizons are expanding. The app is so reliable. Iβve never had any issues with it.
Bug Fire
This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. Audiobooks made simple β this app's functionality is a breath of fresh air. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends, sparking engaging conversations and connections that transcend boundaries. Binaural audio processing is amazing. Reduced my listening fatigue significantly. Playback speed and volume controls are fantastic.
Esquire
Discovering new literary worlds has never been this easy. This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audiobook library is at my fingertips. ππ ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent audiobook experience is evident in its smooth and silky playback. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like my personal audiobook oasis. Looping playback is a valuable study tool. It helps me grasp complex content and retain information. An absolutely stellar production from start to finish! The narrator's command of pacing and tone was masterful, knowing exactly when to speed up for excitement or slow down for dramatic effect. The audio quality was pristine with no distracting mouth sounds or uneven volume.
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