Book description
Discover the dark side of Christmas in this fascinating exploration of the strange folk tales and arcane traditions still haunt winter and the festive season to this day.As winter comes and the hours of darkness overtake the light, we seek out warmth, good food, and good company. But beneath the jollity and bright enchantment of the festive season, there lurks a darker mood - one that has found expression over the centuries in a host of strange and unsettling traditions and lore. Here, Sarah Clegg takes us on a journey through midwinter to explore the lesser-known Christmas traditions, from English mummers plays and Austrian Krampus runs, to modern pagan rituals at Stonehenge and the night in Finland when a young girl is crowned with candles as St Lucy - a martyred Christian girl who also appears as a witch leading a procession of the dead. At wassails and hoodenings and winter gatherings, attended by ghastly, grinning horses, snatching monsters and mysterious visitors, we discover how these traditions originated and how they changed through the centuries, and we ask ourselves: if we can't keep the darkness entirely at bay, might it be fun to let a little in?
Scuffs
ListenBook's library organization and Book Groups feature make it easy to keep my audiobooks organized and accessible. ListenBook's versatile player features are like having a personal audio assistant โ it's that good! Audiobook lovers, meet your new best friend! This app's smooth playback and easy organization have transformed my reading experience. ๐๐ง
Star Sword
This app has transformed my screen time into valuable learning and entertainment. This audiobook app is an absolute lifesaver! It brings my favorite stories to life with unparalleled convenience. The app's compatibility with CarPlay adds an extra layer of convenience, especially during road trips. Decent narration, predictable story. The voice actor did a good job, but the plot followed a familiar formula. If youโre looking for something new and groundbreaking, this might not be it.
Knock Out Star
I'm in awe of this app's ability to make reading so accessible and convenient. ListenBook's customizable audio filters are a game-changer for tailoring my audiobook playback. Love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Dahlia
๐ฅ Spicing up my routine with this app โ it's like having a personal storyteller on hand at all times! โจ๐ ListenBook is a must-have for any audiobook enthusiast. It's reliable, efficient, and a pleasure to use.
Kevlar Wanted
With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. This app's support for various formats has made my audiobook collection even more diverse and exciting. With this app, audiobook listening has become a seamless and enjoyable part of my everyday life. Discovering new worlds through audiobooks has never been easier! This app's intuitive interface and seamless functionality make every listening session a delight. ๐๐ง Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique and fun feature. I can customize the narration to my liking.
Tan Stallion
I'm able to catch up on my reading list even during the busiest days. Audiobook pleasure simplified โ this app's functionality is a reader's delight. Audiobook enjoyment has become an integral part of my routine, thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. A must-have! ๐๐ฑ Library organization has never been this easy. My audiobook collection is finally tidy. 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!
Shamrock
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortless and enjoyable.
ManManMan
This app's simplicity has made me fall in love with books all over again. Effortlessly managing my audiobook library โ this app's design is commendable. ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically adds a visual touch to my audiobook collection. The noise reduction feature in ListenBook Pro is a game-changer for enjoying clear recordings. The audio quality is excellent, and the interface is intuitive. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Night Train
Automated artwork and metadata extraction keeps my audiobook library visually appealing. Supports artwork and metadata perfectly. My library looks great!
AxelRoad
I'm blown away by how this app has revolutionized my reading experience. ๐ฑ No more lugging around heavy books โ this app brings the library to my phone! ๐๐ฑ The appโs design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Marigold Loot
ListenBook has made my daily routines more vibrant and exciting with its immersive features. Navigating my audiobook library is a breeze โ thank you, app developers! I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itโs perfect for my needs.
Peanut Butter Woman
Listening to audiobooks has never been this convenient and enjoyable! Finally, an app that lets me enjoy my personal audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortlessly. With ListenBook, my daily commutes have become a cherished time for learning and enjoyment. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers is incredibly convenient. Downloading audiobooks has never been this easy. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly.
Uluru Walker
The app's support for different audio formats is like a dream come true for audiophiles. ListenBook is like a personal audiobook library in my pocket. Organized and easily accessible.
Shy Warrior
I love that I can switch between fiction and non-fiction effortlessly. ๐ก This app truly understands the needs of audiobook enthusiasts โ it delivers an effortless and enjoyable listening experience. ๐๐ง Audiobook pleasure simplified โ this app's functionality is a reader's delight. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options have made audiobook revisiting and studying a breeze.
Steel
I love how this app makes my daily commute a journey through literature. The intuitive interface and efficient navigation make this app a pleasure to use every day. Packed with useful features. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook app.
Canary Apple Red
๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ Exploring stories as I stroll โ audiobooks have turned my walks into inspiring journeys of imagination. ๐๏ธ๐ง This app is my audiobook haven. With a user-friendly interface and features like audio filters, I'm engrossed in stories like never before. ๐๐ Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need.
Old Man Winter
๐ก The future of audiobook listening is here โ this app's sleek functionality redefines how we enjoy our favorite stories. ๐ง๐ฎ Automatic artwork and metadata retrieval is a time-saver. My library looks fantastic. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. Excellent support for various audio formats. Very satisfied.
Yellow Menace
Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable. With this app, I can dive into captivating narratives while cooking, cleaning, or commuting โ pure magic! This app's convenience has revolutionized the way I experience books. Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library.
Dangle
Audiobooks have never been this engaging โ this app takes them to the next level. I'm blown away by the attention to detail in every aspect of this app. ListenBook has redefined my audiobook experience. It's a true companion for all my literary adventures.
ELLerG!c
I've fallen in love with literature all over again, thanks to this incredible app. I can't get enough of this app โ it's like having a personal library with me. ๐โโ๏ธ๐ Combining exercise and exploration โ audiobooks make my runs more exciting! ๐โโ๏ธ๐ง ๐๐ Rekindling my passion for books โ this app has sparked a reading revolution in my daily life! ๐ฅ๐ I love the ability to share my progress with friends. Itโs a fun 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