Book description
The Family of Jesus is an audiobook that turns a familiar scriptural narrative into a living, breathing experience. Karen Kingsbury-known for her warm storytelling in novels like Firefly and A Thousand Words-brings the same gift to this collection of six short stories, each centered on one of Jesus' closest family members: Mary, Joseph, James, John the Baptist, Zechariah, and Elizabeth.
From the first word, Kingsbury's narration feels like a conversation with an old friend. Her voice is gentle yet firm, guiding listeners through moments that are both historically grounded and deeply emotional. The audio format gives each character its own distinct timbre; you can hear Mary's quiet resilience, Joseph's quiet authority, James' restless curiosity, John's prophetic urgency, Zechariah's anxious faith, and Elizabeth's hopeful anticipation. This subtle vocal differentiation helps listeners feel as if they're right there in the ancient streets of Nazareth, hearing voices that have echoed for millennia.
What sets this audiobook apart is how it balances scriptural fidelity with imaginative detail. Kingsbury never strays from the biblical text; instead she fills in silences with plausible, human moments-Mary's sleepless nights, Joseph's quiet prayers before a decision, James' doubts as he watches his brother walk into danger. These details are not merely ornamental; they become catalysts for reflection. After each story, the narrator pauses to pose thoughtful questions that invite listeners to connect the narrative back to their own lives and faith journeys.
The pacing is perfect for an audio format. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction that outlines the historical context, followed by a compelling narrative arc, and ends with a devotional prompt. The result feels like a mini-study group led by a charismatic teacher-each story invites you to laugh, cry, and ultimately feel more deeply connected to Scripture. Listeners who have previously approached the Bible analytically will find themselves moved by the human stories that reveal the heart behind the text.
For anyone seeking an accessible entry point into biblical study or simply a heartfelt listening experience, The Family of Jesus offers both. It's not just about learning facts; it's about feeling the warmth and weight of faith in everyday moments. If you're looking for an audiobook that will transform your relationship with Scripture and leave you humming its verses long after the last word is spoken, this is a must-listen.
RZRWRE
Audiobooks on this app have expanded my horizons and introduced me to new ideas. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant companion for literary adventures.
Widow Curio
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Double Eerie
ListenBook's integration of artwork and metadata adds a visually appealing touch to my library. The narrators on this app are truly talented – they bring characters to life. The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
Zesty Dragon
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 – it shows their dedication to excellence. Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didn’t have any major complaints, but I also don’t see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
Twisty Freesia
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Kamikaze Granny
As a visually impaired person, this app has opened up a new world of stories for me. ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Valley Guardian
ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an indispensable tool for my audiobook enjoyment. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality, providing a clear and immersive listening experience that enhances my enjoyment. Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch. Unlimited audiobook length with ListenBook Pro is a game-changer. 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.
Fiend Oblivion
I'm blown away by the range of non-fiction audiobooks available – so much to learn! ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling. ListenBook’s audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
42nd Street
With ListenBook Pro, long audiobooks are no problem. I love it! Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Twisty Dew
ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. The app's compatibility with various sources for audio download is a true time-saver.
Sand Whiskers
Audiobooks have become my escape from reality – a journey into captivating worlds. This app's compatibility with different file types means that my entire audiobook collection is at my fingertips. Audiobook pleasure at its finest! This app's sleek design and efficient organization ensure that every story is accessible and delightful. 📚👌
Intimidating Presence
Being able to adjust playback speed suits everyone's preferences – a thoughtful feature. The narrator's voice in some audiobooks is so soothing, it's like a spa for the ears. Who needs traditional books when you have this app? It's a game-changer. Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature!
Burst Nibbler
🌟 Simplifying my reading routine – this app's user-friendly design ensures I'm always in sync with my favorite stories. 📚✨ Revolutionizing the way I enjoy stories – this app's seamless playback and intuitive controls make it a must-have for every book enthusiast. 📱🎧
Cool Iris
The selection of classics is a treasure trove for literature enthusiasts. This app has made my workouts and chores so much more enjoyable. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend! 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.
Shwatson
I've fallen in love with genres I never thought I'd explore, all thanks to this app. This app has made my road trips and flights infinitely more enjoyable. With ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become hassle-free, thanks to the various download options. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
King Bass
Audiobooks have become my escape from reality – a journey into captivating worlds. Audiobooks on this app have transformed my daily routines into engaging experiences. I love how this app's chapters, bookmarks, and controls give me full control over my audiobook journey. Looping playback is my favorite study tool. It's a game-changer for mastering challenging content. I appreciate the dark mode option. It’s easy on the eyes during nighttime listening.
Toe
I'm blown away by ListenBook's ability to maintain audio quality even for formats like FLAC and AWB. ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. The variety of supported formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from different sources hassle-free. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple. 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.
Po1son
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! This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing.
RiddleRover
I love that I can download content directly from the internet within the ListenBook app – so handy! Audiobooks have become my go-to entertainment, and this app is the reason. I'm addicted to this app's seamless integration with my daily activities. ListenBook's easy sharing options make it a breeze to introduce friends to my favorite audiobooks. Sharing is caring!
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ListenBook's audiobook player is a true workhorse – chapters, controls, and filters are all seamlessly integrated. 🏝️🎧 Packing for vacation just got better – this app is my getaway entertainment! 🌴📖 The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thanks to automatic artwork and metadata. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
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