Book description
Mark Helprin, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Winter’s Tale and A Soldier of the Great War, presents a fast-paced, beautifully written novel about the majesty of the sea; a life dedicated to duty, honor, and country; and the gift of falling in love. A Navy captain near the end of a decorated career, Stephen Rensselaer is disciplined, intelligent, and determined to always do what’s right. In defending the development of a new variant of warship, he makes an enemy of the president of the United States, who assigns him to command the doomed line’s only prototype––Athena, Patrol Coastal 15––with the intent to humiliate a man who should have been an admiral. Rather than resign, Rensselaer takes the new assignment in stride, and while supervising Athena’s fitting out in New Orleans, encounters a brilliant lawyer, Katy Farrar, with whom he falls in last-chance love. Soon thereafter, he is deployed on a mission that subjects his integrity, morality, and skill to the ultimate test, and ensures that Athena will live forever in the annals of the Navy. As in the Odyssey, Katy is the force that keeps him alive and the beacon that lights the way home through seven battles, mutiny, and court martial. In classic literary form, an enthralling new novel that extolls the virtues of living by the laws of conscience, decency, and sacrifice, The Oceans and the Stars is nothing short of a masterpiece. Review“Helprin’s love letter to the old Navy and all the old virtues that it relied upon to protect our great country and give us peace and the opportunity for a good life . . . Throughout the novel, we learn that seemingly impossible acts of bravery and courage are possible and are remembered in the annals of eternity.” -National Review “A grand epic . . . every situation is thoroughly set up, providing technical how and emotional why, intellectual why, political why. No blind corners here, no unreliable narrators . . . Inspirational.” -New York Journal of Books “War, love, and the sea intermix in this novel of bravery and conscience . . . the action is terrific . . . Fans of war stories and nautical tales will enjoy this one.” -KirkusAbout the AuthorMark Helprin is the internationally acclaimed, bestselling author of Paris in the Present Tense, Winter’s Tale, In Sunlight and in Shadow, A Soldier of the Great War, Freddy and Fredericka, The Pacific, Swan Lake, Ellis Island, Memoir from Antproof Case, and numerous other works.
Potato Sub
ListenBook's audio filters and controls have turned my listening sessions into immersive experiences. I'm blown away by the powerful audio downloading options. So versatile!
Don Stab
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Greek Rifle
I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. 💡 This app truly understands the needs of audiobook enthusiasts – it delivers an effortless and enjoyable listening experience. 📚🎧 ListenBook’s interface is sleek and user-friendly. Finding and playing my audiobooks has never been easier. 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 feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Bleach
I'm amazed at how this app's narrators bring characters and stories to life. Noise reduction and tone changing are awesome features. 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! Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
Bootleg Taximan
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Jo Jo Spooky
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360
ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily life, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and relaxation periods. It's an indispensable part of my routine. Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
Rosie Bird
Integration with Apple CarPlay has made long road trips so much more enjoyable. The extensive statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption habits – so cool! The variety of supported formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from different sources hassle-free.
SneakerKid
ListenBook has brought the joy of audiobooks back into my life in a whole new way. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. 📚 The simplicity and functionality of this app are top-notch. I can start a book with just a tap and immerse myself in the story instantly. 📱📖 Looping playback has revolutionized my study sessions. I'm learning faster than ever.
Blue Despair
ListenBook's library organization and book groups help me keep my content neatly sorted. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks is a hassle-free process, regardless of the source. This served its purpose as background listening while I worked. I probably missed some details but the narrator's voice was pleasant enough.
Backstreet
The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Scooby Did
I can't get enough of the binaural audio processing. It's like a breath of fresh air for my ears. ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional.
General Broomdog
Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. 💪 Boosting my productivity with this app's efficient multitasking features – audiobook enjoyment while I conquer my to-do list! 💼🎧
Alberta
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks with enhanced sound quality and personalized settings. Audiobooks have turned my quiet moments into imaginative journeys – thank you, app!
Old Felix
I've become a more attentive listener thanks to the engaging audiobooks. This app has turned even the most ordinary moments into reading sessions. ListenBook's compatibility with a wide array of audio formats makes it my ultimate audiobook companion. ListenBook makes my commute enjoyable. The audio filters really enhance the listening experience. The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Crash Override
Finally, an app that turns my daily commute into an adventure through literature. I'm in awe of how this app has made reading a part of my busy life. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and quick access to chapters enhance my overall listening experience. The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion.
Electric Saturn
I've rediscovered the joy of reading through the convenience of audiobooks. This app has brought back the joy of reading, even when I'm on the move. 🚶♀️📖 Walking my way through exciting narratives – this app makes exercise more fun! 🏞️🎧
Dakota Bliss
The variety of narrators adds a unique touch to each book, making every experience special. ListenBook's drag and drop downloads from web browsers are a time-saving feature I can't live without. ⏰ Starting my mornings with inspiration – audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! ☀️🎧 ListenBook Pro has taken my audiobook experience to the next level. No regrets! This audiobook made my workouts fly by! The engaging narration kept me motivated to keep listening, which meant longer gym sessions. The narrator's energy matched the material perfectly - upbeat when needed, somber when appropriate. A great example of how narration can enhance text.
Biscuit Meg
ListenBook's support for network device downloads and drag-and-drop is a time-saving delight. 🏡 Making house chores more enjoyable – audiobooks help me stay engaged while tidying up the living space. 🏠📚 Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is a true gem. The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
VisionVortex
My child has also fallen in love with audiobooks, all thanks to the app's kid-friendly collection. 📱 An app that truly understands audiobook enthusiasts – it's all about functionality, and this app nails it! 📚💡 User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive.
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