Book description
Imagine sinking into your headphones for a novel that's supposedly about time travel, but feels like your therapist's overpriced meditation app. Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven, has done it again: crafted a book so quietly brilliant, it makes you question if your own life is just a poorly edited time-loop. The audiobook? A masterclass in deadpan delivery for a plot that's equal parts Doctor Who and The Office-but with more existential dread and fewer staplers.
You follow Edwin, a Victorian-era rebel exiled for ranting at a dinner party, who hears a violin in a forest (because obviously, that's the sound of cosmic chaos). Then there's Olive, a pandemic novelist stranded on a moon colony, whose book-in-a-book contains a passage about exactly the violin scene. And Gaspery, a detective in "Night City" (a place that sounds like a dystopian Airbnb), who's hired to solve... well, time travel, apparently. The whole thing unfurls like a mystery where the clues are just really polite metaphors for "we're all doomed."
Mandel's prose is so calm, you'll think you've been hit with a feather pillow. The New York Times calls it "intellectually playful," but let's be real: it's the literary equivalent of whispering "time is a flat circle" while ignoring the fact that your Wi-Fi's gone out again during the pandemic. The audiobook narrator leans into this perfectly-deadpan, almost bored, as if they're reading a grocery list that happens to involve quantum physics. You'll catch yourself nodding along to lines like, "The universe is a series of unfortunate coincidences," while simultaneously realizing you are the unfortunate coincidence.
And yes, the pandemic novel within the novel? Chef's kiss. It's like Mandel's saying, "Look, we're all stuck in this plague-era time loop, so let's make it about a violin player." The humor here isn't in the book-it's in how we've all been living this plot for the last five years. The moon colony's "artificial beauty"? A direct jab at how we're all trying to curate our perfect lives while chaos (and bad Wi-Fi) eats our reality for breakfast.
But here's the real kicker: Mandel makes you care about this mess. The violin isn't just a plot device-it's the sound of humanity trying to be human despite everything. The audiobook's pacing mirrors this: slow, deliberate, letting the weight of time (and your own existential panic) settle. You'll find yourself pausing it to stare at your ceiling, wondering if your life is just a "time anomaly" caused by a missed train.
So yeah, it's a "bestseller." It's "profound." And honestly? It's the perfect audiobook to listen to while you're also trying to figure out how to order groceries without crying. Because let's face it: if a 1912 violin player and a moon colony can handle time travel, so can you. Just maybe don't write a diatribe at your next dinner party. (Your future self will thank you.)
Scratch
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. Listening to audiobooks while cooking has made meal prep much more enjoyable. Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off โ no more searching for my spot! Audiobook multitasking simplified โ this app's functionality is a triumph. ListenBook's sleek layout and quick chapter access have made my audiobook journey incredibly enjoyable.
Unleashed
This app's convenience and ease of use have transformed my screen time into productive learning sessions. ๐ Dancing through chores with audiobooks โ this app turns cleaning into a lively and literary affair! ๐ถ๐ Quick access to chapters and controls ensures a seamless listening experience with ListenBook. It's effortless to use.
Guillotine Trigger
Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. Efficiency and ease combined โ this app is a must-have for book lovers. I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance! 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!
Trash Pocky
ListenBook has revolutionized how I consume content. It's like having a personal library in my pocket. Downloading books over WiFi is quick and hassle-free. Very convenient.
Risen
Seamless audiobook integration โ this app's functionality is truly remarkable. Love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. The app is so reliable. Iโve never had any issues with it.
Wooden Man
With this app, I've found a way to make my daily errands more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is impressive. My recordings sound crystal clear. The ability to download audio from various sources without syncing is fantastic. ListenBook makes it so easy. The app is very intuitive. ListenBook makes finding and playing audiobooks simple.
Toy Town
I'm addicted to this app's seamless integration with my daily routines and activities. ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. With this app, I've unlocked the secret to reading even on the busiest days. ListenBookโs playback is silky-smooth. The app is packed with useful features.
Delicious
ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! Audiobooks on this app have made studying and learning a more enjoyable process. ๐ฑ Turning my phone into a portal of endless stories โ this app is pure magic! ๐โจ ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features add versatility to my audiobook listening experience.
General Broomdog
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear dictaphone recordings. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting. Iโm so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
HolyCombo
Audiobooks have become my go-to gift for friends โ and they all love it! The range of supported formats is astounding. No more compatibility issues!
Lady Peach
I'm hooked on this app's intuitive features โ from chapters to playback controls. ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook lovers. The auto-rewind feature ensures I never miss a word. The ability to download audio from various sources without syncing is fantastic. ListenBook makes it so easy.
Teeder
Savoring stories has never been this smooth โ this app's functionality is genius. Easy chapter navigation and beautiful design make this app stand out. ListenBook has made listening to audiobooks a breeze. The smooth playback and intuitive interface are unmatched. I love the statistics feature. Itโs fun to see how much Iโve listened.
Muzish
I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. Streamlining my audiobook journey โ this app's design is top-notch. The attention to detail is commendable. Artwork and metadata are sorted automatically. Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device. What a delightful listening experience! The narrator's timing was impeccable, knowing exactly when to pause for effect or let the words flow. Their character voices were distinct yet natural - no over-the-top accents or distracting vocal tics. The audio quality was consistently excellent.
Pocket Muzzie
๐ Simplifying my reading routine โ this app's user-friendly design ensures I'm always in sync with my favorite stories. ๐โจ Navigating audiobooks with ease โ this app's design is user-centric.
Dance Cannon
This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers โ it's my go-to source for literary adventures! I love how this app seamlessly integrates into my busy schedule, making multitasking a breeze. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. What a fantastic listening experience! The narrator brought the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. The pacing was perfect - not too fast to lose details, not too slow to become boring. I particularly appreciated how well the narrator conveyed the atmosphere of key scenes.
Alpha
ListenBook has changed my audiobook game forever. No more format woes! is a breeze. It's incredibly convenient for building my collection. AirDrop sharing makes it easy to share audiobooks. Great feature! The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile. The import process is seamless. I had no trouble adding my audiobooks.
Tabasco Dracula
With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playbackโit's all up to me! A middle-of-the-road audiobook that neither impressed nor disappointed. The narrator's voice was agreeable enough for extended listening, though their character differentiation could have been stronger. The production met basic industry standards without any standout qualities.
The Shield Toronto
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Classy Dancer
With this app, I can read anytime, anywhere โ it's a reader's dream come true. ListenBook's detailed statistics feature helps me keep track of my listening habits. It's amazing to see how much I've learned from all those audiobooks! Automated artwork and metadata extraction keeps my audiobook library visually appealing. Drag and drop downloads are genius. It simplifies the entire process. The interface is sleek and modern. Itโs a joy to use.
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