Book description
A LIBRARYREADS PICK AND BEST BOOK CLUB PICK OF 2023. The beloved bestselling author of The Color of Air, Women of the Silk, and The Samurai's Garden returns with this magnificent historical novel based on the life of the luminous, groundbreaking actress Anna May Wong--the first and only Asian American woman to gain movie stardom in the early days of Hollywood.At the dawn of a new century, America is falling in love with silent movies, including young Wong Liu Tsong. The daughter of Chinese immigrants who own a laundry, Wong Liu and her older sister Lew Ying (Lulu) are taunted and bullied for their Chinese heritage. But while Lulu diligently obeys her parents and learns to speak Chinese, Wong Liu sneaks away to the local nickelodeons, buying a ticket with her lunch money and tips saved from laundry deliveries. By eleven Wong Liu is determined to become an actress and has already chosen a stage name: Anna May Wong. At sixteen, Anna May leaves high school to pursue her Hollywood dreams, defying her disapproving father and her Chinese traditional upbringing--a choice that will hold emotional and physical consequences.After a series of nothing parts, nineteen-year-old Anna May gets her big break--and her first taste of Hollywood fame--starring opposite Douglas Fairbanks in The Thief of Bagdad. Yet her beauty and talent isn't enough to overcome the racism that relegates her to supporting roles as a helpless, exotic butterfly or a vicious, murderous dragon lady while Caucasian actresses in yellowface" are given starring roles portraying Asian women. Though she suffers professionally and personally, Anna May fights to win lead roles, accept risqué parts, financially support her family, and keep her illicit love affairs hidden--even as she finds freedom and glittering stardom abroad, and receives glowing reviews across the globe.Powerful, poignant, and imbued with Gail Tsukiyama's warmth and empathy, The Brightest Star reimagines the life of the first Asian American screen star whose legacy endures--a remarkable and inspiring woman who broke barriers and became a shining light in Hollywood history.
Sun Lemon
With a vast genre selection, I've broadened my horizons and explored new topics. No more hassle with formats – this app ensures my audiobook adventures are smooth, and my favorite tales are just a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 ListenBook is my trusted partner for all things audiobooks. It's reliable, intuitive, and user-friendly.
Austin Shamrock
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Nueva Nova
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PepperBurst
Audiobooks made delightful – this app's usability is a breath of fresh air. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading.
Cereal Killer
ListenBook's commitment to providing a high-quality audiobook experience is truly commendable. ListenBook has taken my audio content to new heights, making every moment more meaningful. 🌌 Adding an extra layer of delight to cooking – this app turns meal prep into a culinary adventure with its audiobooks! 🍲📖 ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a huge plus during long drives. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are simply amazing.
Master Jetson
ListenBook has completely elevated my audiobook experience. It's an integral part of my daily routine. I'm amazed by the app's compatibility with different audio formats. It's truly versatile. The chapter navigation is a lifesaver. It makes finding my place so easy. Perfect narration for this genre! The voice actor’s tone matched the atmosphere of the book, enhancing the overall experience. No complaints—just a smooth, enjoyable listen from beginning to end. This served its purpose as background listening while I worked. I probably missed some details but the narrator's voice was pleasant enough.
ShadowFax
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Ladysmith
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Sherm
The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Video Game Heroine
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. The vast selection of titles on this app is a book lover's dream come true. One of the best audiobooks I’ve heard! The story was compelling, and the narrator’s delivery added depth to every scene. I found myself looking for excuses to listen just a little longer. Will definitely revisit this one!
Commando
ListenBook's intuitive design and thoughtful features have made my audiobook experience delightful. I'm amazed at how effortlessly this app has made reading a constant in my life. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
RiddleRover
I'm impressed by ListenBook's dedication to providing a comfortable listening experience. The layout of ListenBook is so beautiful and user-friendly, making it a pleasure to use. ListenBook has made audiobook listening a personalized and enriching journey.
Scrapper
The extensive audiobook collection for children is a blessing for my little ones. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is truly impressive.
Sw33per
The captivating narrators make each story come alive in a unique way. ListenBook's versatile player features are like having a personal audio assistant – it's that good! I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks and this narrator is now in my top 5. Their timing and inflection were masterful. Never a dull moment in the entire performance.
Sand Whiskers
I'm amazed at how immersive the experience is – it's like being inside the story. 🌌 Adding an extra layer of delight to cooking – this app turns meal prep into a culinary adventure with its audiobooks! 🍲📖 Tone adjustment is an innovative touch that adds a personal connection to the audiobook narration. It's like having a custom reading experience.
Old Orange Eyes
ListenBook has brought stories back into my life, making every moment a new adventure. The sleep timer is a lifesaver. I fall asleep listening to my books every night.
New Cycle
The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that my audiobook collection is always accessible. I can't believe how seamless the integration with Apple Watch is. My workouts just got better. ListenBook has completely transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The chapter navigation is seamless, and the statistics feature is a fun way to track my listening progress. The app is stable, fast, and incredibly user-friendly. Five stars!
Lady Pomegranate
ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. ListenBook is my trusted partner for all things audiobooks. It's reliable, intuitive, and user-friendly. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends and family. It fosters connections and conversations. Auto-rewind is a very handy feature. Excellent app. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve 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!
Morbid Sugar
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. Thanks to ListenBook, I've rediscovered the joy of exploring my favorite content on multiple devices. This app has enriched my daily routine and added a touch of intellectual stimulation. The attention to detail is commendable. Artwork and metadata are sorted automatically. ListenBook has become my workout companion of choice. It keeps me motivated and entertained during exercise.
Noisy Girl
The app's design is sleek and modern – it's a pleasure to navigate. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of literature during my daily walks – it's truly invigorating. This app has become my go-to for audiobooks, adding a layer of convenience and enjoyment to my days. Great for listening to a variety of content. Highly recommend! I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
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