Book description
WINNER OF THE 2020 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN TRANSLATED LITERATURE A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR A surreal, devastating story of a homeless ghost who haunts one of Tokyo's busiest train stations. Kazu is dead. Born in Fukushima in 1933, the same year as the Japanese Emperor, his life is tied by a series of coincidences to the Imperial family and has been shaped at every turn by modern Japanese history. But his life story is also marked by bad luck, and now, in death, he is unable to rest, doomed to haunt the park near Ueno Station in Tokyo. Kazu's life in the city began and ended in that park; he arrived there to work as a laborer in the preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and ended his days living in the vast homeless village in the park, traumatized by the destruction of the 2011 tsunami and shattered by the announcement of the 2020 Olympics. Through Kazu's eyes, we see daily life in Tokyo buzz around him and learn the intimate details of his personal story, how loss and society's inequalities and constrictions spiraled towards this ghostly fate, with moments of beauty and grace just out of reach. A powerful masterwork from one of Japan's most brilliant outsider writers, Tokyo Ueno Station is a book for our times and a look into a marginalized existence in a shiny global megapolis.
Moon Orchid
ListenBook's sleek interface and precise controls make it a joy to use during my daily listening sessions. π The ease and functionality of this app make it my go-to choice for immersive audiobook experiences. π±π§
Poppin Loot
The captivating narrators make each story come alive in a unique way. ListenBook has made listening to audiobooks, lectures, and speeches an absolute pleasure. ππ Falling asleep to audiobooks has never been easier β this app's soothing voices π΄π§ Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fantastic way to introduce them to captivating stories.
Kazmii
Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! ππ§ Looping playback has taken my language learning to new heights. Highly recommended! Downloading audio from network devices is a brilliant feature. It's incredibly convenient. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising. 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.
Dancing Madman
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a brilliant way to connect. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app is your new best friend. πΆπ Enriching my environment with the power of storytelling β audiobooks infuse my home with literary magic. π§π
Riff Raff
Audiobooks have made my long drives enjoyable, and this app is my co-pilot. Audiobooks made delightful β this app's usability is a breath of fresh air. Audiobook enthusiasts, gather round! This app's remarkable features, including audio filters and compatibility, have transformed my commutes into captivating journeys. ππ§ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature elevates my listening experience, allowing me to focus on the content. Tone adjustment adds a personalized touch to the narration, making the audiobook experience even more immersive.
Sapiens
Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze β a true travel essential. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made multitasking with audio content a breeze. π Long road trips? No problem β this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! ππ The app's ability to handle various audio formats is impressive. No more file conversions! As someone who listens to audiobooks daily, I can confidently say ListenBook is the best player out there. The sleep timer and auto-rewind features are lifesavers, and the sound quality is exceptional. Thank you for such a great app!
Energy
It's like having a personal library that fits in my pocket β truly amazing! ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. Efficiency meets audiobooks β this app's functionality is a true standout. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true for those epic tales. It's like having a personal audiobook library in your pocket.
Chlorine
Audiobooks have become my escape from reality β a journey into captivating worlds. ListenBook's intuitive controls and beautiful layout make my audiobook experience a delightful one. The auto-rewind feature after interruptions is a small thing that makes a big difference. ListenBookβs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Nutmeg Riot
The app's customization options allow me to tailor the listening experience to my liking. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night.
Scratch
This app's sleek design and intuitive features make it my trusted partner in exploring new narratives. This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading. I can't get enough of this app β it's like having a personal storyteller in my pocket. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are simply amazing.
Troubled Pie
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. This app has reignited my love for literature in the most delightful way. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a huge plus during long drives. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch β it's like having a personalized reading. Downloading audio from network devices is a brilliant feature. It's incredibly convenient.
Pistol Hydro
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's seamless audio player. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking. A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didnβt dislike it, but I also didnβt feel strongly about it one way or another. 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.
Bitmap
I'm hooked on this app β it's like Netflix for book lovers! ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its powerful features and seamless performance. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature. I'm loving it! ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. It's like having a personal assistant for my literary adventures. With support for various audio formats, ListenBook ensures I can enjoy my favorite audiobooks without worries.
Drift
I'm enjoying books I never thought I'd be interested in β all thanks to this app. ListenBook's basic audio filters allow me to fine-tune the audio playback to suit my preferences. I'm in awe of how this app has brought new dimensions to my reading experience. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app β it's my go-to for staying informed and entertained. π§ Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app β pure listening pleasure! ππ₯
Instant Star
I love how this app seamlessly integrates into my busy schedule, making multitasking a breeze. This app's compatibility with various devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go.
Hightower
The ability to switch between devices seamlessly is a game-changer for busy readers. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Lime
The ListenBook app has made my daily routines more enriching, allowing me to learn while on the go. Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. πͺ Achieving double wins β workouts become invigorating with stories to fuel my motivation! πͺπ§ Supports extensive playlists and bookmarks. Very user-friendly. ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
Feral Filly
This app has turned even my mundane tasks into exciting learning opportunities. ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically adds a visual touch to my audiobook collection. Book groups keep my related titles together for a cohesive listening experience. A thoughtful feature! An absolutely stellar production from start to finish! The narrator's command of pacing and tone was masterful, knowing exactly when to speed up for excitement or slow down for dramatic effect. The audio quality was pristine with no distracting mouth sounds or uneven volume.
Blistered Outlaw
Who knew that commuting could become such an enjoyable reading session? ListenBook Pro is worth every penny. The unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true.
Flakes
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. With ListenBook, every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories and gain knowledge. Savoring stories has never been this smooth β this app's functionality is genius. ListenBook's player features, like chapters and bookmarks, make it a versatile tool for any listener. I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. Itβs perfect for my listening style.
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