Book description
Imagine hearing a secret whispered across decades, raw and trembling with truth. That's what Xinran Xue's The Book of Secrets delivers in its stunning audiobook format. Based on the heartbreaking diaries and letters of Jie, a former security chief who witnessed the Party's brutality firsthand, this isn't just history-it's a soul laid bare.
Xinran's voice, warm yet precise, guides you through Jie's journey: from idealistic youth joining the Communist cause to his devastating role in the security forces, and finally to his quiet rebellion. You'll hear the crack in his voice as he writes to his wife Moon during the chaos, the love in his early letters to her at Tsinghua University, and the crushing weight of betrayal later. The Spectator called it "spellbinding," and it's impossible not to feel it-this is a family torn apart by the very system they served, a system that demanded they become ghosts to their own children.
What makes the audiobook extraordinary is how Xinran doesn't just narrate history; she listens. You hear the urgency in Jie's words from 1951, the confusion of the 50s, the slow unraveling of the 60s, and the quiet, desperate hope for change in his later years. The diaries aren't just documents-they're gasps, tears, and a man slowly learning to speak truth to power. As the Sunday Telegraph noted, it's "an extraordinary firsthand account of Communist Party machinery at its most brutal and paranoid," but what lingers is the human cost: the way Moon's letters, written while Jie was away, became lifelines, then silent accusations.
This isn't a dry political exposΓ©. It's the intimate story of a man who loved his country and then saw its heart break. You'll feel the tension in the letters from the 1976-2009 section, the "resurrection and death" of his spirit. Xinran's narration makes you lean in, as if the diaries are being read aloud in a quiet room, revealing secrets you weren't meant to hear. The audiobook transforms historical archives into a living, breathing conversation between past and present.
For anyone who's ever wondered about the hidden lives behind history's headlines, this is essential listening. It's a testament to how love and truth persist, even in the darkest corners of the system we think we understand. The Book of Secrets doesn't just tell you what happened-it makes you feel the weight of a thousand unspoken words, and the courage it took to finally say them. A profoundly moving, unforgettable journey.
Bad Beret
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Thunder Nut
The diverse range of narrators adds a new layer of depth to each story. Say goodbye to cumbersome interfaces β this app's intuitive controls and user-friendly design have elevated my audiobook experience to new heights. π±π The app's performance is unparalleled. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. Smooth playback and great sound quality. ListenBook is my new favorite app!
Miss Twilight
The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. Looping playback is my favorite study tool. It's a game-changer for mastering challenging content. I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. Itβs perfect for my listening style.
Centurion Sherman
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Miss Murder
Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made multitasking with audio content a breeze. This app's sleek design and effortless navigation have made my audiobook journey a true delight. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to connect over shared interests. 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.
BlackExcalibur
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Clang Glyph
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101
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Bazooka Har-de-har
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CuriousCraft
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Rummy Stickers
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Little Cobra
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Twinkle Cutlass
ListenBook's versatile features have made my audiobook experience more enjoyable than ever. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature elevates my listening experience, allowing me to focus on the content. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Easy Mac
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Blink
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Dakota Bliss
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High Woo
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Guillotine Trigger
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Zesty Dragon
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Moon Radar
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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