Zorba the Greek

Customer Reviews:

Bacchus vs. Nietsche: The story of a sensualist rebel.......2007-08-13

Other than his ponderous and perhaps party fictionalized actual autobiography ("Report to Greco"), this is Kazantzakis' most autobiographical novel, with an intellectual narrator modeled after himself. The real title can be translated as "The Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas", and the standard English title is a nod to the successful film by Michalis Cacoyannis. Anthony Quinn's portrayal of the book's eponymous main character, though good for an Irish-Mexican-American, has warped the whole world's understanding of Greece and "Greek dancing" (there were times when I was almost driven to violence against drunken British idiots stumbling about with arms in the air doing the "Zorba"), but that's for another review.

A few sentences for context would not be amiss. Kazantzakis is constantly discovered by Greek teenagers, loved to distraction, then abandoned. Why? Because he himself discovered Buddha, Marx and Nietsche at a formative age, and his writings reflect an uneasy mix of different "struggles": to attain serenity and self-understanding, to be one with all of humanity, and to transced human limitations through heroic struggle aggainst impossible odds. Nietsche, however, usually wins out in the end. All Kazantzakis' heroes are rebels against conventional morality and worldly opinion, and set themselves the task of transcendence, often reluctantly. In "The Last Temptation of Christ" (a novel that caused a huge furore among conservative Christians when it was made into a film by Martin Scorcese), Jesus is a sinner that is driven against every fiber of his will, mind and body to be the Chosen one, until he undergoes the Last Temptation on the cross (read the book or see the movie if you want to know the outcome). In "God's Pauper," a novel about St Francis of Assisi, the superhuman struggle is one of renunciation of all that is worldly or easy, even the hope of heaven and fear of hell (that did not endear the author to conservative Christians either).

So what is Nietschean or superhuman about Zorbas? He is a laborer, folk musician, barely educated philosopher, bon vivant and womanizer, larger than life and totally indifferent to piety, organized religion, social convention or wealth. He is a rebel: not the ascetic kind but the kind that grabs the world with both hands, elbows, armpits, thighs and everything else. Of course, being a sensualist and scoffer at convention does not make Alexis Zorbas amoral, cruel or indifferent: on the contrary, his compassion and sense of justice for the downtrodden are proportionally magnified. As Kazantzakis' St Francis would say, Zorbas does the right thing without hope for or fear of the afterlife; instead he does it for pleasure, defiance and a sense of what's right.

I won't summarize the plot of the book; it's not particularly relevant. Neither are the comments by readers who were shocked by the story's occasional savagery and misogyny. Crete was a violent place, where sheep-stealing was a matter of pride, family honor was defended with murder and blood feuds lasted for generations; all this is still not unknown in some mountainous areas, and Cretans have a huge rate of (illegal) gun ownership. The position of women has definitely improved in 90 years; judging a dead author for setting down the (exaggerated) reality of another age is not fair. Let me just end by saying that most Greeks still have a soft spot in their hearts for Zorbas the character well after they have outgrown their teenage fascination with other, less fun-loving and life-affirming Nietschean rebel heroes created by Kazantzakis. And if you subscribe to the conservative Christian view that it's only the fear of hell and promise of heaven that keep us from savagery, than either stay away from Kazantzakis or prepare to have your faith tested. Kazantzakis' characters reflect the views of most Greeks on this matter, and last I checked the crime rate in Greece was minuscule.

Very Insightful.......2007-08-08

The narrator of this novel is a deep & philosophical thinker much drawn towards Buddhist teachings. He is cerebral and completely intellectual in contrast to his subordinate Zorba. Zorba is a man without much education but he is a man who has touched life in its raw form with an earthly outlook towards life. Zorba has seen wars, been in love with many women, married many times, plays the Santuri and loves to dance. Zorba goes through pain, suffering, hapiness and joy with a hedonistic attitude and exhibits a great love for life. His old age is no detterent to his enjoyment of life. Above all Zorba has an opinion of everything ranging from women, relationships, business, religion, nationalism and politics. All his views are from his own bitter and sweet experiences and some of his views on women & religion can put off many. Zorba does not give importance to morals but he exhibits his compassion in his relationship with the old whore, the widow and workers in the mine. His views on the dangers of nationalism, war and religion are intresting. Overall an excellent book with deep insights, reflection and loads of philosophical discourses. This book is a masterpiece. I wonder why Kazantzakis was never given the Noble Prize. When Albert Camus won the Noble prize by one vote more than Kazantzakis he mentioned that Kazantzakis deserved the honour 'a hundred times more' than himself.

A Classic Work Still Relevant Today.......2007-06-22

Zorba the Greek is Nikos Kazantzakis' most successful novel. Despite being an older novel, it remains a classic for the very reason that it's entertaining, engaging, and has a theme and philosophy still relevant to new and old readers alike.

The book is read from the view of the main character, whose name is never revealed and his experiences on Crete with his hired hand, Alexis Zorba. From the beginning to the end of the novel, the narrator learns from and about Zorba's paradigm of life. Zorba is a Nietzschian-like character who is spontaneous and wills to experience life with absolute enthusiasm. He teaches the narrator how to value aspects of life that are usually taken for granite, like food, women, the ocean, stories, music, etc. He is the adult with the child-like appreciation for life and all that it provides for the human experience. The young narrator is commonly regarded as a bookworm and an academic. He represents order and rationality, but immediately appreciates Zorba perspective on life. The discussion and life between the two characters produces a story where the reader can learn and appreciate how each character develops.

It's a solid and heartwarming book that represents a discussion and exploration of the excitements of life; a definite recommendation.

Great Place to Start.......2007-06-09

This book is a great introduction to a fantastic author that is often overlooked by American readers. "Zorba" is fascinating, deep, and hilarious, all at once, and it's short and playful enough such that it won't turn off more casual readers. I recommend this title as a starting point for people who want to read Nikos Kazantzakis for his philosophical insights or for his moving stories.

An underrated classic!.......2007-03-31

"Zorba the Greek" is simply a great novel. Kazantzakis is brilliant in his dialogue, story-telling, and word pictures. I have read Zorba over and over again, particularly when I want to feel the vibrant life of Greek culture. Many find themselves in opposition to Kazantzakis' philosophies, but this book should be savored for its pure celebration of life, brilliantly embodied in Zorba and his intellectual friend, a young British Greek.

Sexist, yes. Anti-religious, yes. A great read, nonetheless!

Reviewed by David Lundberg, author of Olympic Wandering: Time Travel Through Greece

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The Life and Works of Nikos Kazantzakis
George I. Panagiotakis
Manufacturer: TYPOKRETA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 9608741602

Product Description

This is a chronicle of the life and works of the noted writer and poet Nikos Kazantzakis, 1883-1957.

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Zorba the Greek

Manufacturer: Ballantine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000I1N1MK

Zorba the Greek (Fiery Novel of a Modern Pagan)

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Zorba the Greek (Fiery Novel of a Modern Pagan)
Nikos Kazantzakis
Manufacturer: Ballentine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000JN7CHC

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Zorba the Greek

Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GS5XBW

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Zorba the Greek
Nikos Kazantzakis
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GOXAQQ

Theme From "Zorba the Greek" (Sheet Music)

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Theme From "Zorba the Greek" (Sheet Music)
Mike Theodorakis
Manufacturer: Twentieth Century Music Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Sheet music
ASIN: B000WFILP4

Product Description

# T7450TPS // Piano solo //

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ZORBA THE GREEK
Nikos Kazantzakis
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SUDT2I

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ZORBA THE GREEK
Nikos Kazantzakis
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SUEXKU

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ZORBA THE GREEK
NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000CPIJA6

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Book about Molestation & Rape of children

The shame of this book is that more people are not reading the series

CSI Post Apocolyptic

Author stumbles with second work, but picks up the pieces before a climatic ending.

Quite a page turner.
Threads of Malice
Tamara Siler Jones
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Ghosts in the Snow (Bantam Spectra Book)

Valley of the Soul

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 1)

Poison Study

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ASIN: 0553587102
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Book Description

In this relentlessly gripping thriller, Compton Crook Award winner Tamara Siler Jones weaves together her unique blend of fantasy, forensics, and suspense to create a world terrorized by a killer out of our darkest nightmares. Now one man must follow a trail of savaged victims to save an innocent life hanging by the slimmest of hopes.…

One by one, young men in the kingdom’s outer reaches are vanishing into the dark. So far, two bodies have washed up on the local riverbank. But Dubric Byerly, head of security at Castle Faldorrah, soon realizes there are countless more victims…for it’s his curse to be forever haunted by the ghosts of those whose deaths demand justice.

The latest to vanish is Braoin, a seventeen-year-old painter whose mother came to Dubric’s aid when he most needed it. All Dubric knows is that the boy is still alive. But time is running out, and it isn’t only Braoin’s life hanging in the balance. If Dubric can’t untangle the twisted web of clues and lies and find his way to the killer, one of his own pages will be the next to die.…

Download Description

Tamara Siler Jones lives in Iowa with her family. An avid mystery reader, this is her second novel, continuing the series that began with Ghost in the Snow, and its main sleuth Dubric Byerly.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Book about Molestation & Rape of children.......2007-05-17

Good writing, but does that justify itself? The subject matter is very disturbing, it is all about a serial rapist, who totures and molest young boys with horrifying objects and then kills them. Yes, I could not put it down, but in the end, I wished I could've taken a brillo pad to my brain. I regret reading it and hope to alert anyone who is sensitive to this kind of material.

The shame of this book is that more people are not reading the series.......2006-08-31

Threads of Malice, like its predecessor Ghosts in the Snow, is extremely compelling and engaging. I couldn't put either of them down and read each of them in one sitting. However, they are not for the squeamish. Both books are very graphic and rather violent.

Durbric Byerly is the equivalent of a detective or inspector. His particular quirk is that he sees ghosts. Now, these ghosts don't talk, but they communicate in other ways and, unfortunately, the ghosts are often ambiguous in their wants, needs, goals, stories, help etc... esp. when Durbric gets rash or impatient with them and reads them wrong. In a region near Castle Faldorrah, young men are disappearing and turning up murdered. Durbric and his small group of apprentices stay with friends in the region as they investigate the murders, which soon prove to be serial killings of the worst kind. The region being investigated holds the part of the tale of Durbric's personal history, beyond the death of his wife mentioned in the first book, and this history blends in with the current case. While all of the "good" characters are focused on solving the crimes, there are a few subplots to advance the series. One of the things I like about the books is that the answers to the puzzles and mystery do not come easy and the stumbling along the way seems honest, not contrived.

CSI Post Apocolyptic.......2006-04-01

Welcome to the world after, where the horror of bloody-handed mages is just barely in the past, and Dubric, among others, are committed to making the past stay there.

Tamara Siler Jones is committed to making the horrifying come to life with vivid, blunt, graphic language that puts a reader right there, just like the CSI shows do. She doesn't pull any punches. Heck, she throws plenty of extra weight behind each blow, and she doesn't hide any of the horror that comes with investigating each murder as they happen. She even lets us in on the other side of things, the villains.

If you don't like blood, gore, evil, and maliciousness, don't read this book. Honestly, you'll have nightmares. But the morality is clearly on the good guys' side.

She also does something in her books that I don't think could be done on film or any other medium: she uses children and young teenagers as part of the investigations, and she puts them in as much, if not more, risk than any horror movie. Bravo. She's my heroine.

Author stumbles with second work, but picks up the pieces before a climatic ending........2006-03-01

Lacking the slick and fast tempo of Jones fist novel "Ghost in the snow " Threads of malice gets off to a rough and uneven start. Relaying on the tried and true, in not original combination of a smart city detective lost in a land of dumb country folk.

The author has difficulty with the exchange of dialog between her lead characters and there local counterparts. A additional detraction is the authors attempted at delivering detailed descriptions of her anti-heroes gruesome crimes. Here, her prose has more in common with 1950's horror comic books and little that would shock a modern fiction reader.

However, Jones dose manage to do wonders with the age old ploy of using adolescent and child characters as a counter point for older and more experienced ones. Giving her youthful characters more depth than this reader expected. Time is also spent building this series' main character. Delivering just enough back ground and intrigue into Dudric's past, to make him a more potent proponent, while still leaving the character engrossed in mystery.

If T.S. Jones can manage to combine the speed and slick movement of her first novel with the believable character development of this work, she will be a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately Threads of Malice is not that book.

Quite a page turner........2006-02-05

Following Ghosts in the Snow, Threads takes the same investigative team and puts them in a wider, rural context where boys and young men are disappearing (and getting graphically tortured/raped as well). This is quite a page turner and hard to put down. Like the first book, anybody a tiny, tiny, bit squeamish should give it a wide pass.

However, if you like the combination of gory mystery and fantasy it is hard to beat. I especially like the fact that the crime aspect isn't overcome by the fantasy part, unlike the menagerie of beasties in your typical Anita Blake novel. Nor does it fall back to a caricature of hard boiled detective stories.

While the first book mostly only hinted at magic, it is much more present here, thru Dubric's recollections of the mage wars. The story is carefully crafted, with some hints, or rather logical clues, pointing at the guilty party. If you pay close attention you may very well guess who did it (I didn't, though I had the right idea). I did think that the end was a bit unsatisfying though, because it concludes quickly and it isn't made very clear who was doing what and why (sorry, can't say much more without entering spoilerzone).

One thing, which nagged me in Ghosts as well, is that you never quite get to reconcile Dubric's quiet competence and scientific approach with the stereotypical dumb and brutal medieval ruling class. In a medieval society made up of small towns and villages, where most of the population is engaged in substistence farming, where life is cheap and short, who has taught Dubric the values of investigative techniques? Isn't he overkill to solve the average police issues likely to be found in a smallish castle?

There are hints that the context is not quite medieval - children talk about learning geometry, more than a few can read, and the mages were preceded by a technical/scientific civilization. Hopefully, the next books in the series will take the time to explore the world a bit more as well. And bring back the Mages as well!

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Threads of Malice
Tamara Siler Jones
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000Q38OMW

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Book!.......2002-01-06

The world of Harry Potter is magical and enthralling in any language. Many reviewers have criticized the omissions in translation. It should be noted that an accurate and interesting book cannot be translated to another language verbatim. Many bits of humor would be lost in unnatural descriptions. Instead, the translator appended when needed to make a sound linguistic and cultural switch. Enjoyable for Francophones and native english-speakers with good french reading abilities.

Absolutely Fantastic!.......2001-04-19

This was almost a direct translation, word by word. It came out exactly like the English version, and nothing seems to be missing except for maybe two or three sentences (and believe, me, I know the book very well). I especially loved the names: Poufsouffle for Hufflepuff, Serpentard for Slytherin, etc. If you know enough French, then definitely read this!

Harry Potter in French.......2000-07-12

I am 21, and I read the three first Harry Potter's stories, they were amazing! the translation is great, the story is so refreshing! buying it to all the kids I know, a great story, simple and fun, scary and catchy! great hero, Harry Potter

A Very Good Book.......2000-07-01

Ce livre exceptionel doit etre lu! Ce petie garcon, Harry Potter, apprend qu'il est un grand sorcier est entre dans un monde de reves et de magie.

Not the best, but definatly worth buying........2000-06-30

I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan, and a beginning French student. Because of that I did not comprehend every word, but it was lots of fun to see how things were changed when put into French (Draco Malfoy became Drago Malefoy), and know exactly what is happening. I was dissapointed that many parts were unnecessarily cut out. Some I noted were the confronation when Harry, Ron and Hermione are under the invisiblity cloak while going to the trapdoor, and Mrs. Weasley first telling Harry how to get on to platforn nine and three-quarters. I recommend this book to all French students as a fun way to study French, and I learned a ton of new words.

Le Retour Du Roi III (Lord of the Rings (French))

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This is not Harry Potter, it is Lord Of The Rings
une fabuleuse histoire

Le Retour Du Roi III (Lord of the Rings (French))
J. R. R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Pocket (FR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

French | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Le Seigneur Des Anneaux: Volume 2 (Lord of the Rings (French))

ASIN: 2266118021

Customer Reviews:

This is not Harry Potter, it is Lord Of The Rings.......2002-10-27

There must be something wrong with Amazon or with the other reviewers (who are reviewing Harry Potter), because this page is for Tolkien's novel The Two Towers (see the book cover and information), which has nothing to do with the Harry Potter novel. They are very different. The Lord of the Rings is the best fantasy story ever written. Along with Isaac Asimov's Foundation sci-fi saga, TLOTR is one of the greatest epics.

une fabuleuse histoire.......2002-09-18

cest un livre qui ma profondement toucher. jai lu cette histoire il y a 20 ans jai lu le seigneur des anneaux avec un coeur adolescent et l,an dernier avec un coeur d,adulte il ma fait rire, pleurer et ma fait voyager aux travers des peuples, des villages, et d,une guerre. jai aimer le courage des hobits, de la sagesse de gandalf, et de la noblesse d,aragon et la beaute des elfes. cest un livre que jaime car l,ecriture de l,auteur j.r.r. tolkein nous possede tellement dans le moment que la terre est arreter a ce moment. cest un livre d,aventure qui vous apporte dans une autre époque je vous souhaite bonne lecture. kathymaheu-cpc

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Le Retour Du Roi III (Lord of the Rings (French))
J. R. R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Distribooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

French | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Children's Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 2266127918

Book Description

Even as healthcare technology makes great strides, studies show that the attitude of a person suffering from chronic illness may hold the most sway over the healing process. This book shows that the first step in adopting a positive attitude toward health lies in dismissing harmful myths. "I must forgive before I can heal." "I am sick because God is punishing me." "If it doesn't feel good, it must be an effective medicine." These are outdated concepts that can slow healing -- or make an illness worse. Donald Epstein divides these myths into four categories: social, biomedical, religious/spiritual, and New Age. He discusses each myth individually -- from "healing is expensive" to "every condition can be traced to a demonstrable physical cause" -- and offers replacement myths, or "Healing Magic," to be both meditated upon and declared out loud by the reader in order to create an opportunity for healing.

Customer Reviews:

Chiropractor cracks the New Age Blame Game.......2005-05-11

Alternative medicine hits the mainstream as more people integrate and use complementary methods to restore and replenish well-being. The challenge arises when someone uses the new age blame game to force some kind of healing. A common example is when a person diagnosed with cancer is told by some holistic practitioner that they caused it. Maybe yes, maybe no, and this book provides some grounded advice on the matter. Quacks abound in the realm of metaphysical healing and Dr. Epstein offers wisdom to tell genuine assistance from downright silliness. We are repsonsible only for our own behavior and not anyone else. If you are into the whole mind-body scene on well-being this is a great guide to separating myth from fact and staying grounded by keeping yout intellect in place. Many people throw their intellect out the door when entering an intutive phase ... and this is a costly mistake. Dr. Epstein gives a blend of intellect and intuition as he cracks the common myths around healing.

Provoking, Challenging, Yet Easy To Read!.......2002-02-10

I highly recommend Donald Epstein's most readable book, Healing Myths, Healing Magic.

Pick any chapter that appeals to you, read it, and it stands on its own.

Like most anything Donald does, it is absolutely profound and thought provoking; so for me reading a chapter or two and then digesting the information for awhile works best.

Inevitably, in this book, Donald will label a myth something that you have held as fact, and this is where you will need some time to digest, but don't discount what he is saying too readily: Having attended Donald's seminars for years, I can tell you that sometimes it takes me two years to really understand something he has told me.

Donald Epstein created the most profoundly elegant and amazing healing system on the planet, Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) about 20 years ago. I have been learning how to practice NSA for the last five years.

Every practitioner, whether MD, DC, DO, PhD, LMT, or any person interested in healing needs to read this book. I have a whole library of books related to healing, and this book is the star of the collection, you need this book.

God Bless,

Hans Conser

What an eye opener!.......2000-04-21

This is a book that will be useful to both health practitionners as well as patients.The book challenges us to look at our body, mind and spirit in a new way.I discovered that what I was thought in school and what I had learned in life through countless hours of studying and post doctoral work can be repositionned in a new way.This book is a shift of paradigm on many levels.

Important reading for students of alternative medicine........2000-04-06

In Healing Myths, Healing Magic, Donald Epstein examines the deeply ingrained stories and myths we commonly hold about how our bodies heal. Some these myths may actually inhibit healing. These myths have a powerful, magically suggestive effect on the way we interpret our symptoms, the way we heal, and the quality of life we experience. Epstein argues that our capacity to heal is more often affected by society's collective myths than by our personal circumstances, symptoms, or disease. Our myths can create the magic of healing in our lives, or they can stop the magic completely. Healing Myths, Healing Magic is a seminal, breakthrough treatise that divided healing myths into four categories: Social, Biomedical, Religious, and New Age. He then exposes each myth individually and suggests an alternative statement or "Healing Magic" to help the reader reclaim his or her own body's natural ability to heal. Healing Myths, Healing Magic is important, highly recommended reading for students of alternative medicine, traditional medicine, and mind/body metaphysics.

An important, fascinating, informative, analytic survey........2000-03-03

Myths and stories surround the healing process - myths which can inhibit healing. From circumstances where healing is difficult or impossible to choices not followed, Healing Myths Healing Magic examines healing myths and exposes and religious, social and medical frameworks for their origins. An important survey.

Healing Myths, Healing Magic - Breaking The Spell Of Old Illusions; Reclaiming Our Power To Heal

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Healing Myths, Healing Magic - Breaking The Spell Of Old Illusions; Reclaiming Our Power To Heal
Donald M. Epstein
Manufacturer: Amber-allen Publ.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JZHDVA

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