Book description
PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST - NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST - From the bestselling author of Fruit of the Drunken Tree, comes a dazzling, kaleidoscopic memoir reclaiming her family's otherworldly legacy. A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, NPR, VULTURE, PEOPLE, BOSTON GLOBE, VANITY FAIR, ESQUIRE, & MORE "Rojas Contreras reacquaints herself with her family's past, weaving their stories with personal narrative, unraveling legacies of violence, machismo and colonialism... In the process, she has written a spellbinding and genre-defying ancestral history."--New York Times Book Review For Ingrid Rojas Contreras, magic runs in the family. Raised amid the political violence of 1980s and '90s Colombia, in a house bustling with her mother's fortune-telling clients, she was a hard child to surprise. Her maternal grandfather, Nono, was a renowned curandero, a community healer gifted with what the family called "the secrets" the power to talk to the dead, tell the future, treat the sick, and move the clouds. And as the first woman to inherit "the secrets," Rojas Contreras' mother was just as powerful. Mami delighted in her ability to appear in two places at once, and she could cast out even the most persistent spirits with nothing more than a glass of water. This legacy had always felt like it belonged to her mother and grandfather, until, while living in the U.S. in her twenties, Rojas Contreras suffered a head injury that left her with amnesia. As she regained partial memory, her family was excited to tell her that this had happened before: Decades ago Mami had taken a fall that left her with amnesia, too. And when she recovered, she had gained access to "the secrets." In 2012, spurred by a shared dream among Mami and her sisters, and her own powerful urge to relearn her family history in the aftermath of her memory loss, Rojas Contreras joins her mother on a journey to Colombia to disinter Nono's remains. With Mami as her unpredictable, stubborn, and often amusing guide, Rojas Contreras traces her lineage back to her Indigenous and Spanish roots, uncovering the violent and rigid colonial narrative that would eventually break her mestizo family into two camps: those who believe "the secrets" are a gift, and those who are convinced they are a curse. Interweaving family stories more enchanting than those in any novel, resurrected Colombian history, and her own deeply personal reckonings with the bounds of reality, Rojas Contreras writes her way through the incomprehensible and into her inheritance. The result is a luminous testament to the power of storytelling as a healing art and an invitation to embrace the extraordinary.
White Swan
Finally, an app that supports a wide range of audio formats! It's a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
Lime
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true blessing for enjoying clear audio even in noisy environments. High-quality playback even with complex formats like FLAC. Impressive! The app is perfect for multitaskers. I can listen while working out.
Sky Dahlia
Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. I used to struggle to find time for books โ now, I listen while doing chores! Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. ๐๐ง Automatic artwork and metadata retrieval is a time-saver. My library looks fantastic. ListenBook has completely elevated my audiobook experience. It's an integral part of my daily routine.
CZR
I'm hooked on this app's curated content โ it's like having a personal librarian. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with itโthe narration was fine, and the story was okayโbut nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Clang Glyph
With this app, I can enjoy my favorite stories while traveling, making my journeys more delightful. ๐ถ๐ The harmony between simplicity and functionality in this app is truly impressive. Audiobooks have never sounded this good! ๐ต๐ง The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile. Middle-of-the-road experience. The audiobook was fineโgood narration, decent storyโbut it didnโt leave a lasting impression. If youโre looking for something low-commitment, this works.
Red Delicious
ListenBook's basic audio filters allow me to fine-tune the audio playback to suit my preferences. With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. With this app, I'm rediscovering the joy of reading in the most convenient way. ๐ก Balancing learning and living effortlessly โ audiobooks on demand, thanks to this app! ๐ง๐ซ
Sienna Princess
Seamless integration of audiobooks โ this app's ease of use is impressive. The ability to adjust playback speed and volume is a game-changer for me.
Chlorine
This app has made reading a part of my lifestyle, no matter where I am. With this app, every moment becomes an opportunity to indulge in fantastic stories. The controls, layout, and seamless playback are a reader's dream. ๐๐ง Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks. Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Fantastic app! The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising.
Murder Matter
๐ Rekindling my love for reading โ this app makes each day a new adventure! ๐๐ Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of storytelling with friends. Downloading audiobooks over WiFi is super easy. Saves time. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like Iโm in the story. I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itโs perfect for my needs.
Romance Princess
This app has made audiobook listening an integral part of my daily routine โ it's a habit I cherish. The app is so well-designed. Itโs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Flakes
I'm hooked on this app โ it's my escape to different worlds and adventures. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive features, from statistics tracking to enhanced audio quality, enrich my reading. ๐โจ
Greek Rifle
I've been able to explore different cultures and perspectives through a diverse range of books. The ability to adjust playback speed is a game-changer for faster or more immersive listening. I love how this app turns even the dullest tasks into exciting storytelling moments. With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends and family. It fosters connections and conversations.
Danqqqqq
Tone adjustment is a thoughtful addition that adds a personal touch to the audiobook narration. It's like having a narrator tailor their voice to my preferences. ListenBookโs audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
Demo Tequila
This app is a boon for book lovers who are always on the go. ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can acquire new content in a way that suits me best. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play โ it's genius! Audiobook multitasking made easy โ this app's functionality is a marvel. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like my personal audiobook oasis.
Overrun
This app is a book lover's dream come true โ a vast library right at your fingertips. ๐๐ Falling asleep to audiobooks has never been easier โ this app's soothing voices ๐ด๐ง ๐ Elevating everyday moments โ this app adds an extra layer of magic to every aspect of my day. ๐โจ Effortless and enriching โ that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its functionality, from seamless downloads to binaural audio processing, has truly raised the bar. ๐ฑ๐ Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. It helps me absorb information more effectively.
Low Voltage
I used to struggle to find time for books โ now, I listen while doing chores! I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options have made audiobook revisiting and studying a breeze. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with itโthe narration was fine, and the story was okayโbut nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Arsenic Coo
The app's recommendations are surprisingly accurate โ it's like they know my taste perfectly! With this app, reading is no longer confined to a specific time or place. Bravo to the creators of this app โ they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design are a win. ๐๐ This audiobook performed its function without excelling. The narrator's delivery was straightforward and easy to follow, though lacking in dramatic flair. The recording quality was decent with only occasional minor inconsistencies in volume. An acceptable but forgettable listening experience.
Fuzzy Claws
I've been able to tackle my reading list like never before, thanks to this app. I can't imagine my life without this app โ it's my constant source of books. Iโm blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and Iโve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend! 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!
RealmRanger
Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device. No more hassle with file conversion. This app handles all formats effortlessly.
Juno Cream
The ListenBook app has transformed my device into a treasure trove of knowledge and entertainment. I'm blown away by ListenBook's ability to maintain audio quality even for formats like FLAC and AWB. Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable. The interface is clean and intuitive. I was up and running in seconds.
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