Book description
At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta's mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly--like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel's wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story--in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father's disappearance lie in the countess's tales? Book two in a trio of novellas bound by place and mood--with elegant line art by J lia Sard --The Hotel Balzaar masterfully juggles yearning and belief, shining light into every dark corner.SynopsisAn instant New York Times bestseller In a wise and magical follow-up to The Puppets of Spelhorst, Kate DiCamillo revisits the land of Norendy, where tales swirl within tales--and every moment is a story in the making. At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta's mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly--like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel's wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story--in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father's disappearance lie in the countess's tales? Book two in a trio of novellas bound by place and mood--with elegant line art by J lia Sard --The Hotel Balzaar masterfully juggles yearning and belief, shining light into every dark corner.
Mule Lock
Listening to audiobooks has never been this convenient and enjoyable! ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a unique tool that adds a touch of creativity to my listening experience. The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace. I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. Itβs perfect for my listening style.
Firedog
Absolutely in love with this audiobook app! The seamless functionality and easy navigation make my reading time pure bliss. ππ§ Automatic metadata retrieval is a neat touch. My library is well-organized. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library.
101
The ListenBook app is a must-have for anyone who loves to learn and be entertained through audiobooks. ListenBook is the perfect blend of technology and art, turning audio into an unforgettable experience. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. I can't believe how seamless the integration with Apple Watch is. My workouts just got better.
Miss Rum Punch
This app has turned audiobook listening into a daily ritual for me. Streamlining audiobook enjoyment β this app's functionality is truly impressive. The narrator's voice took some getting used to - a bit nasal at first - but I grew to like it after a few chapters. Their pacing was excellent throughout.
Nibbler
ListenBook's dedication to optimizing for iOS 16 ensures a seamless experience on the latest devices. I love how this app seamlessly integrates into my busy schedule, making multitasking a breeze. ListenBook's compatibility with a wide range of audio formats ensures that no audiobook is off-limits. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a creative feature. It allows for a unique and personalized experience. I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings.
Acid Queen
This app has turned audiobook listening into a daily ritual for me. This app's convenience has made reading a consistent part of my life. π Who needs TV when you have this app? Every moment is a storytelling session! πΊπ§
QuantumQuill
Being able to customize the listening duration is perfect for quick breaks. Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks.
Pistol Hydro
This app is not just about convenience β it's a gateway to new horizons of knowledge. Looping playback is my favorite feature. It's perfect for revisiting complex content. The app is so intuitive. I didnβt even need to read the instructions.
SprkR
With this app, I'm rediscovering the joy of reading in the most convenient way. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Preach Man
This app is a gift for book lovers who struggle to find reading time. The app's performance is exceptional, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted audiobook experience. It's clear that it's designed with audiobook enthusiasts in mind.
White Dragon
Finally, an app that turns my daily commute into an adventure through literature. π This app has ignited my passion for reading β I can't get enough of its convenience! ππ₯ πΆπ Replacing tunes with stories β my house is alive with the sound of narration! π§π 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.
Screwtape
Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has never been easier or more convenient. 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.
QuestWeaver
ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its powerful features and seamless performance. The audio filters to adjust playback speed and volume are a fantastic addition for customizing my experience.
Pearl Girl
ListenBookβs audio filters are great. The app provides a high-quality listening experience. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Bom Crossed
βοΈ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. ππ ListenBook has transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an indispensable part of my routine.
Con Mammoth
With ListenBook, I can now listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options.
NightDream
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. ListenBook's versatility and user-friendly interface make it a must-have for audiobook lovers. The tone adjustment feature in ListenBook Pro is a novel addition that allows me to personalize my audiobook experience. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience. 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!
DragonBlood
ListenBook's library organization and book groups help me keep my content neatly sorted. I love how this app allows me to enjoy books even when I'm on the move. I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. ππ Road trips have never been this entertaining β this app keeps me engaged on the highway! ππ Tone adjustment adds a new layer of personalization to my audiobook experience. It's like having the narrator tailor the voice to my preferences.
Marigold Loot
The ability to change playback speed and audio volume on ListenBook gives me full control over my listening experience. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a boon for those who enjoy deep dives into lengthy narratives.
Grinch Cheese
The ListenBook app is a fantastic companion for my long walks, helping me learn and explore at the same time. This app has made my workouts and chores so much more enjoyable.
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