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.
Kawaii Red
ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. ListenBook's library organization keeps my audiobooks neat and accessible. A true organizational lifesaver!
Hang 11
I love that I can switch between devices seamlessly and continue where I left off. Audiobooks have become a source of inspiration and motivation, thanks to this app. ListenBook has made my audiobook journey effortless, turning every moment into an escape. This app's ease of use has made my long drives educational and enjoyable.
New Magoo
This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. ListenBook's dedication to enhancing the audiobook experience has made it my preferred app for listening to content on the go. This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading. 🛌 Indulging in soothing bedtime stories – this app is my nightly retreat into imagination. 🌙📚 ListenBook has become my constant companion. It's like having a personal audiobook assistant.
Sir Squire
ListenBook has become my go-to app for all things audio – from lectures to speeches, it's got it all. ListenBook has completely elevated my audiobook experience. It's an integral part of my daily routine.
Danger Menace
This app is a time-saver – I can 'read' even when I'm on the move. Looping playback has made memorization so much easier. I'm acing my exams!
Uncle Psycho
🚗 Long road trips? No problem – this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! 🚙📚 The ability to download audio directly within the app is a lifesaver. ListenBook is incredibly convenient.
ThoughtTracer
My kids are hooked on the children's audiobook collection – it's a parenting win! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear and distraction-free listening. The app is super intuitive. I was up and running in minutes.
Jetta Talent
With ListenBook, I can effortlessly manage and organize my audiobook library. ListenBook has brought a whole new level of convenience and enjoyment to my audiobook experience. I've become an audiobook addict, all thanks to this amazing app. The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace. This was a competent audiobook production with no major flaws. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough and the audio quality was acceptable, though not exceptional. While the performance didn't particularly stand out, it served its purpose adequately for my daily commute.
NexusNinja
ListenBook's intuitive interface and quick controls make it a pleasure to navigate through audiobooks. Decent narration, predictable story. The voice actor did a good job, but the plot followed a familiar formula. If you’re looking for something new and groundbreaking, this might not be it.
Icy Avenger
Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is truly impressive. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a fun way to experiment with the audiobook experience. The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. Adjusting playback speed has transformed the way I consume audiobooks. I can tailor the pacing to match my learning style and preferences. Great for listening to a variety of content. Highly recommend!
Sleek Zelda
This app's convenience has revolutionized the way I experience books. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly.
Vicious Street
Savoring audiobooks without complications – this app's design is commendable. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a fun way to experiment with the audiobook experience. The app's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically is a huge time-saver. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
TrixiePhany
The selection of classics is a treasure trove for literature enthusiasts. 💪 Juggling tasks while enjoying stories has never been easier – this app's functionality is a multitasking marvel. 💼📖 The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a dream for road trips. It keeps me entertained. The app is lightweight and doesn’t drain my battery.
Chapstick
ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch has streamlined my multitasking. This app has made waiting in lines and queues an opportunity for exploration and enjoyment. I don't have strong feelings about this one either way. The narration was competent but forgettable. The story itself was more engaging than the performance.
Flyswat Briggs
I'm amazed at how this app's features cater to audiobook enthusiasts' every need. I love how this app makes my daily commute a journey through literature. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant companion for literary adventures. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Darling Peacock
Adjustable playback speed is a fantastic feature. It allows me to customize my listening experience. The app's versatility in audio downloading is unmatched. It's a comprehensive solution for my audiobook needs. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Mindless Bobcat
Listening to audiobooks while cooking has made meal prep much more enjoyable. I can't get enough of this app's convenience and the endless possibilities it offers. Who knew that commuting could become such an enjoyable reading session? This app has completely transformed my daily routine. I can't imagine my commute without it!
Sexual Chocolate
This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for learning. Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's design is user-centric. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique and fun feature. I can customize the narration to my liking. Auto-rewind is a very handy feature. Excellent app.
Electric Player
💡 This app's convenience is a blessing – I can squeeze in reading time between managing household tasks! 📱👩‍🍳 Audiobook immersion without complications – this app's ease of use is commendable.
Soda Delirium
I love how this app turns even the dullest tasks into exciting storytelling moments. ListenBook's innovation, seamless playback, and versatile features make it a standout app. Middle-of-the-road experience. The audiobook was fine—good narration, decent story—but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re looking for something low-commitment, this works.
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