Book description
My Real Children: A Delightful Confusion Worth Every Moment
Let's be honest - listening to Jo Walton's "My Real Children" feels like having a fascinating conversation with your slightly eccentric grandmother who's forgotten whether she told you about her trip to Italy or that time she almost married the man who became your uncle. Except this grandmother also casually mentions JFK dying in 1963 and somehow remembers a world where Miami got nuked.
The audiobook version of this gem captures Patricia Cowan's delightful mental meandering perfectly. Our elderly protagonist can't quite remember if she's Trish or Pat, whether she married Mark or lived happily ever after with Bee, or if the moon is a peaceful research station or a nuclear threat. Honestly, at her age, does it really matter? The narration embraces this beautiful confusion without ever letting it become frustrating.
What makes this story particularly charming is how Walton treats both versions of Patricia's life as equally real and meaningful. One life features four children and a marriage that soured; the other brings three children and a partnership that flourished. Both paths brim with love, loss, and those perfectly ordinary extraordinary moments that make up a lifetime.
The historical what-ifs sprinkled throughout create a delightful game of "spot the difference." Kennedy's death versus Miami's destruction? Check. Different career paths, different friendships, different everything? Absolutely. Yet somehow Patricia's essential self remains constant across both timelines - which makes you wonder if we're all just multiple versions of ourselves anyway.
This audiobook succeeds beautifully because it doesn't try to solve the puzzle of which life is "real." Instead, it celebrates how every choice creates its own complete universe of meaning. It's like getting to live two fascinating lives in one very satisfying listen.
Cool Whip
From MP3 to FLAC, this app plays them all flawlessly. Say goodbye to compatibility issues! I'm impressed by the app's compatibility with CarPlay. It keeps me entertained on long drives. The chapter navigation is a lifesaver. It makes finding my place so easy.
Skirble
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Miss Mustard
It's impressive how the app caters to both seasoned readers and newcomers. ListenBook's intuitive layout and quick access to chapters make audiobook navigation a breeze.
Wheels
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Hemlock
π Making every moment count β this app turns everyday activities into a reading adventure! ππ« Automatic metadata extraction is a time-saver. My library is finally well-organized.
Night Magnet
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Show Off
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Hex Panther
π This app's functionality is a masterpiece β it seamlessly integrates audiobooks into my daily routine. ππ¨ Tone adjustment is an innovative touch that adds a personal connection to the audiobook narration. It's like having a custom reading experience. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night.
Kickstart
This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. With this app, I can read anytime, anywhere β it's a reader's dream come true. Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments. The app's compatibility with various sources for audio download is a true time-saver. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Mud Pie Man
The 'Continue Listening' feature ensures I never lose my place, no matter where I am. This app has made multitasking a breeze β I can listen while I work, cook, or exercise. ListenBook's support for looping and shuffling playback adds versatility to my audiobook enjoyment. Supports extensive playlists and bookmarks. Very user-friendly. As someone who listens to audiobooks daily, I can confidently say ListenBook is the best player out there. The sleep timer and auto-rewind features are lifesavers, and the sound quality is exceptional. Thank you for such a great app!
Subzero Taffy
This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. Itβs a fun feature.
Friday Ferrari
Listening to audiobooks has become my guilt-free indulgence, and I love it. The statistics feature in ListenBook adds an element of self-awareness to my audiobook consumption. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a thoughtful gesture that ListenBook makes seamless. Listening statistics are a great motivator. Love this feature! Incredible character voices! Each person felt distinct without being over-the-top. The emotional scenes gave me chills with how well they were delivered.
Foot-long Fry
The ability to adjust playback speed is a game-changer for faster or more immersive listening. I'm addicted to this app β it's like having a library in my pocket. Looping playback is an invaluable study tool. It helps me absorb complex information effortlessly.
Sir Shark
Adjusting the tone of the voice is genius. It's like having a customizable audiobook narrator. No more converting files β this app effortlessly handles various formats, saving me time and effort. Controls are intuitive and user-friendly, making my audiobook experience seamless. Supports a wide range of formats flawlessly. Very happy with it. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Barbwire
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itβs perfect for my needs.
Mr. Lucky
ListenBook's innovation, seamless playback, and versatile features make it a standout app. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of literature during my daily walks β it's truly invigorating. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to connect.
Mr. Spy
This app has turned my daily routine into a source of excitement and joy. I'm amazed at how this app's narrators bring characters and stories to life. I'm blown away by how this app has made my workouts more enjoyable and my mind more active. ListenBook's compatibility with a wide range of audio formats ensures that no audiobook is off-limits.
InsightfulInk
This app has made literature accessible and engaging for all ages. Audiobook excellence β this app's design enhances my reading experience. The app is super intuitive. I was up and running in minutes. 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!
Dark Burn
ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like my personal audiobook oasis.
Prof. Screw
This app is a must-have for any book lover on the go β it's my daily companion. β° Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks β energizing! π π§ ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It keeps me entertained and motivated during exercise. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
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