Book description
Translated by Noel Hernández González and Daniel HahnRodrigo Blanco Calderón has established himself as one of the great voices of Latin American literature with his debut novel The Night, and his short story collection Sacrifices.Simpatía is a suspenseful novel with unexpected twists and turns about the agony of Venezuela and the collapse of Chavismo.Simpatía is set in the Venezuela of Nicolas Maduro amid a mass exodus of the intellectual class who have been leaving their pets behind. Ulises Kan, the protagonist and a movie buff, receives a text message from his wife, Paulina, saying she is leaving the country (and him). Ulises is not heartbroken but liberated by Paulina's departure. Two other events end up disrupting his life even further: the return of Nadine, an unrequited love from the past, and the death of his father-in-law, General Martín Ayala. Thanks to Ayala's will, Ulises discovers that he has been entrusted with a mission-to transform Los Argonautas, the great family home, into a shelter for abandoned dogs. If he manages to do it in time, he will inherit the luxurious apartment that he had shared with Paulina.This novel centers on themes of family and orphan-hood in order to address the abuse of power by a patrilineage of political figures in Latin America, from Simón Bolívar to Hugo Chávez. The untranslatable title, Simpatía, which means both sympathy and charm, ironically references the qualities these political figures share. In a morally bankrupt society, where all human ties seem to have dissolved, Ulises is like a stray dog picking up scraps of sympathy. Can you really know who you love? What is, in essence, a family? Are abandoned dogs proof of the existence or non-existence of God? Ulises unknowingly embodies these questions, as a pilgrim of affection in a post-love era.
Ex0tic
ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is fascinating. I can alter the reader's voice to match my mood—what a creative addition! A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
NecroBull
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EchoEmissary
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Sofa King
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Shamrock
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Low Menace
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Dallas Foxface
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Killer Merlot
I'm amazed at how effortlessly this app has made reading a constant in my life. A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didn’t dislike it, but I also didn’t feel strongly about it one way or another. Incredible character voices! Each person felt distinct without being over-the-top. The emotional scenes gave me chills with how well they were delivered.
Delicious Wing
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Venom Petunia
The sleek design and easy navigation are visually pleasing and user-friendly. I'm addicted to this app's seamless integration with my daily routines and activities. This app has made reading a part of my lifestyle, no matter where I am. An audiobook lover's dream come true! This app's seamless functionality and diverse format support make it my go-to choice for immersive storytelling. 📚🎧 This was an adequate audiobook for casual listening. The narrator maintained a consistent pace and clear diction throughout, though their performance lacked some emotional range. The audio quality was fine with no significant technical distractions.
Cujo
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Kitchen
Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats! Flawless playback. Controls are intuitive and user-friendly, making my audiobook experience seamless.
Skylark
I'm finally making progress on my reading goals, thanks to this app's convenience. ListenBook's sleek layout and quick chapter access have made my audiobook journey incredibly enjoyable. Has every feature I need. My top choice for audiobooks!
Canine Hannibal
I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch.
Heavenly Connection
I can't get enough of this app's convenience and the endless possibilities it offers. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch enhances my audiobook experience during daily activities.
Venom Petunia
The ability to download audio directly within the app is a lifesaver. ListenBook is incredibly convenient. 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! Highly engaging! The combination of a well-written story and skilled narration made this audiobook hard to pause. I finished it much faster than I expected because I just couldn’t stop listening.
Electric Player
The narrators on this app are truly talented – they bring characters to life. This app's support for various formats and genres ensures that there's always something new to explore. This app's convenience has made my audiobook addiction thrive! With ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become hassle-free, thanks to the various download options.
Tall Honey
The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app. 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.
MysticMingle
ListenBook has brought a whole new level of convenience and enjoyment to my audiobook experience. This app's versatility and convenience have transformed my screen time into a productive reading journey. With this app, reading has become an integral part of my daily routine. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and powerful features have rekindled my love for audiobooks. The audio filters and precise controls are fantastic! Perfect for my daily walks. The story was engaging enough to keep me motivated to exercise but not so complex that I got lost in thought. Great production quality too.
Shadow Gal
📚 Turning my phone into a portal of stories – this app's ease of use is remarkable! 📱💫 Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's design is a true winner. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce listening fatigue. Great feature!
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