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How did you discover Katherine Neville?
From Robyn Murphy (r.murphy@bhtafe.edu.au): Just came across her in a bookshop one day.
From velis8@aol.com: my fiance gave me THE EIGHT, saying i would love it.
From Judith (judith@itookmyprozac.com): I read A Calculated Risk at a really boring holiday with some family friends - they owned the book
From Jamie (stutz002@tc.umn.edu): A girlfriend in high school told me I needed to read her at the time first and only work.
From Melanie (mcasparian@brcweb.com): Mom had The Eight laying around, I picked it up and read it - fell in love!
From Amber (ImWorthey@yahoo.com): I think we got The Eight in a Book of the Month Club (or something similar)it was on my mom's bookshelf when I was looking for something to read.
I read The Eight and really liked it, but a couple of years later when I was looking for it again (on mom's bookshelf) I couldn't find it, couldn't remember the author's name only the title. Eventually, I found it in a bookstore (and mom's house) and saw Calculated Risk at the same time.
From Christine Persons (purplegirl1247@hotmail.com): Friend recommended the Eight six years ago....since then I have recommended it to everyone I know!
From Shaianne PeriHawk (perihawk@hotmail.com): I found "The Eight" in my parents' collection and read it. And read it again and again and again. I loved it. I loved the quotes, I loved the concepts. I loved the scenery and the people, though Valentine makes me queasy.
From Stephanie (sfarrie@comp.uark.edu): I was given The Eight by someone who had received it from someone else. I was then to give it to someone else. I later bought the book and also The Magic Circle which I will be reading soon.
From smk21hi@yahoo.com: Someone recommended the book to me.
From suprsai@aol.com: had to read the eight for school
From Nadia (bsbadorer@hotmail.com): My Mom had the book The Eight, I read it and loved it.
From Lanna Lee Maheux (l.maheux@att.net): I picked up "The Magic Circle" in the grocery store (of all places). It passed my test (reading the back flap, and the first page) to see if the book was interesting. I liked it so much, I went out and bought "The Eight". Haven't looked for "A Calculated Risk" yet. (I called in sick this last Thursday to finish "The Eight"=0)
From Amanda (amandalouise_au@hotmail.com): Bought 'The Eight' on the spur of the monet - never had heard of it before. Now I can't wait to read everything else she has written!
From Robert (Janxton@webtv.net): A friend recommended The Eight to me
From peytonc@hotmail.com: My P.E. teacher recommended her to me.
From Eric Winebarger (walterw@olg.com): The Magic Circle paperback was in my grocery store's book section. I usually look through that section because I sometimes see books that aren't in the sections I frequent in bookstores, and I occasionally find something new and interesting. I picked up the book to see what it was about, since the cover gave no obvious clue. After reading the back, I decided to buy the book. This was three months ago, and I've already read it a second time. i'll have to look for the others next time I'm in Borders.
From Lois (freemanl@mcmaster.ca): A friend lent me The Eight. I read in the day after I finished what I thought would be the last draft of my Master's thesis. It was a wonderful break from policy analysis. Do you have any idea when Katherine Neville's next book will be out?
From Jelena (jbistrica@yahoo.com): My mother bought a book.
From Cara (fabrisse@hotmail.com): Thought the cover looked interesting when the paperback first came out. Loved the book. Read Calculated Risk as soon as it came out, but it was too conventional and I've never re-read it. Just read Magic Circle. Some bits (especially the history) are quite good, but I felt that it could have been more fleshed out. Having just read CRYPTONOMICON which is twice as long, I really don't think it would have detracted.
From Maya (mayaganguly@hotmail.com): A friend of mine had "The Eight" and it looked really good, so I read it. Ever since I've been a huge fan.
From Jaclyn (Rothfels@ttns.net): My mother read THe Eight and highly recommended it. I read it and loved it instantly. I awaited her next novel and picked it up as soon as it was released! From then on i was hooked!
From Kate Vinson (the_datasmith@email.msn.com): I was waiting 6 hours to get onto a plane at heathrow (it was the one year anniversary of Lockerbie). I wandered over to a kiosk and saw a book (the Eight) with an interesting cover (much cooler than the american cover--wish I hadn't loaned it out-- never got it back). I read it in those 6 hours and the 8 hours on the plane. Then I started over.....
From Summer (Summerwise@aol.com): My sister was an exchange student in Germany, When she came home she kept raving about this book she had read there. She made me promise that I would read it. However it took her over a year to find a copy. When she did, it was the best Christmas present I have ever received.
From Anthony (Tignyc@aol.com): A friend of mine told me about _The Eight_.
From Zorba (zorba@mbari.org): Found "The Eight" in a used bookstore
From Critic101@hotmail.com: Found the book @ the library
From Erin (EEcOkY@aol.com): My mother handed me the Eight one boring summer day and said, here read it. And I did. ;-)
From R.A. Francis (rafnraf@worldnet.att.net): Recommended by a well-read friend
From Ange (angec7@hotmail.com): Through my local library - The Eight right after it came out then all the rest in due time.
From Christie Garner (garner29@gateway.net): Someone recommended The Eight to me years ago. I have just purchased
my sixth or seventh copy for another re-read, since all of my other copies were loaned out, never to be seen again! I could read The Eight a thousand times and discover something new each time. It has inspired me to pursue all of my interests, and a burning need to learn to play chess, (although I still have
not found anyone to teach me, a major frustration). I love a story that forces a reader to think, while at the same time provides fantastic entertainment.
From Shanarra (aharriso@sd370.k12.id.us): wicked step-grandmother
From Janice (janicegailcrocker@hotmail.com): A friend of mine has been telling me for YEARS to read THE EIGHT. She claimed it was the most intense and wonderful book she'd ever read. so, I
got it, and loved it!
From Misty Moore (nbcdanny@mindspring.com): Some magazine I read advertised the novel
From Mandy (MnMs45@mailcity.com): My friend recommended her books to me.
From mgedj@gmx.de: The Eight was given me for my birthday
From Jen (celticmarr@hotmail.com): Was looking for something to read at the bookstore - found the Eight, thought it was fantastic (and have told many other people about it) and then
picked up Calculated risk (haven't read them for a while, I think its time to.) Was very excited to learn she has a new book out. Yeah! Just ordered it at AMAZON.com
From mciville@ajc.com: The Eight was a book club selection that I purchased four or five years after publication. The idea of parallel stories separated by centuries was appealing.
From HJM Baker (hjmbaker@mindspring.com): From my sister, who recommended "The Eight"
From Paty (tcuenca@sumi.es): Four years later I was in a shop lookinf for an entertaining book. Then I saw "The Eight". The title interested me, so I bought that book. When i red it, I thought it was so nice, that I go to the same shop to search for more books of K. Neville
From Morven Lister (mlister@stow.ac.uk): I just picked up The Eight in a bookshop in Glasgow one day and was hooked right away. I then lent it to my best pal who was in hospital at the time and she says it saved her sanity. She had to buy her own copy and I have lost count how many times we have both read it. I always scan the bookshelves and internet waiting for the next Katherine Neville release.
From Holly (Maureen1@netcom.ca): By accident...searching through book store shelves and "The Eight" caught my attention so I bought it and wasn't able to put it down. This lead to my returning to the store to purchase the rest of her books. ALL EXCELLENT!!
From Virpi Virtanen (afsana@nettilinja.fi): I was looking for a long book for my summer holidays and The Eight seemed to be interesting...it was. (BTW in Finland it is titled as "Black
Queen")
From kilborn@ausi.com: By accident
From Pilar (pilar_elocho@hotmail.com): I had heard about The Eight, read it, and continued searching for more
From Philip (bruno13069@hotmail.com): web search on chess authors gave me "The Eight"
From Jeana (SPUNDUKIE@MSN.COM): I AM A BOOKSELLER AT BARNES AND NOBLE AND A CUSTOMER RECOMMENDED THE EIGHT...I FELL IN LOVE..I TOOK THIS BOOK ON MY FREAKING HONEYMOON...I NOW RECOMMEND IT TO WHOMEVER WILL LISTEN!
From Catherine Chang (catherine@thehpn.com): I have an obsession with thick books, and I was first attracted by
the hard cover version of the magic circle. I quickly devoured the rest of her books, and the Eight is my favorite. I've read it over 30 times during the course of two years...
From Magdalene (magdalenep@yahoo.com): I visited to Europe when I was 13. My mother bought me four books for the trip, one of which was The Eight. I loved it! I continued to read the book
until it fell to pieces, and I just bought a new copy. I'm 22 and loving The Eight just as much as I did when I was 13, and I'm grasping the more cerebral bits a little bit better.
From Etrusca (etrusca_74@yahoo.co.nz): I picked up a copy of The Eight in a book sale, and was hooked. I'm eagerly awaiting a fourth novel - hint, hint. The byzantine intricacy of her
novels is fascinating. When you finally see the connections, you feel like Einstein. Afterwards you realise SHE's the Einstein. You always finish her books both satisfied and craving more.
From ghiggins@ktis.net: An old boyfriend loaned me his copy of
The Eight
From Ivana Siprak (rsiprak@hotmail.com): i found "the eight" in a bookstore and loved it so much i looked for the other two.
From Huntress (cuifen@graffiti.net): A friend recommended The Eight, and I was hooked.
From Kathleen M. Laird (bribjr@netscape.net): The Eight was recommended to me by a family member.
From Juan Luis (juanluis_rp@hotmail.com): A friend lend me the eight
From ajcm@hotmail.com: A friend gave me The Eight as a gift.
From Catherine (anklescmh@aol.com): My high school history teacher recommended The Eight to me
From Linda (ysabelle@mail.com): My mom had read The Eight and handed it to me to read about 10 years ago.. fell in love with it, snatched up Calculated Risk as soon as I saw it. I've lost count of how many copies of The Eight have passed through my hands because I keep lending out copies and never getting them back.. :)
From Christa (christa62@hotmail.com): A roommate recommended "The Eight" to me in college.
From Tori (VCtiger2004@yahoo.com): MY English teacher (Mrs. Harrison)recommended "The Eight" to me.
From Lisa (teleute8@hotmail.com): word of mouth
From Alexandra (babygirl69de@yahoo.com): A good friend of mine told me about her favorite book, which was "The Eight". She said she absolutely loved it and had already read it several times and suggested I should read it too. what she told me about it was just enough to get me all curious without telling me anything, so I agreed.
From Lynne (skyhunt@skyhunter.com): Totally by accident! What a delight!
From Robyn Murphy (r.murphy@bhtafe.edu.au): Easy to read, fantastic research and the characters are so real. Reality and fiction is weaved together brilliantly.
From velis8@aol.com: adventure, relationships and excellent writing.
From Jamie (stutz002@tc.umn.edu): She is a true fiction writer dealing with (my opinion) the best kind of fiction-historical
From Melanie (mcasparian@brcweb.com): The sense of history as cyclic... time as non-linear, the intelligence, the metaphysical aspects and the incredibly strong and real women!
From TnStar365@mindspring.com: A friend loaned me a copy of The Eight, which I wore out and have replaced at least 3 times.
From Ana Olga (anaolgapalomino@yahoo.es): I discovered Katherine Neville´s books when I was buying in a shop. There had a lot of books with the tittle: "The eight". Then I thought that the book had to be good.
What do you like most about Katherine Neville's books?
From Amber (ImWorthey@yahoo.com): The intricacy of the stories and their plausibilty.
From Christine Persons (purplegirl1247@hotmail.com): historical fact woven with fiction
From Shaianne PeriHawk (perihawk@hotmail.com): The description and the concepts.
From Stephanie (sfarrie@comp.uark.edu): I love the mystery of it all. Also, with all of the historical facts cleverly put into the fiction, it makes me really think of what is true and what isn't.
From smk21hi@yahoo.com: The history, mythology, and characters are amazing. I can't believe she knows so much about pretty much any given subject!
From suprsai@aol.com: they are engrossing
From Nadia (bsbadorer@hotmail.com): Whenever I read them, I can't put them down.
From Lanna Lee Maheux (l.maheux@att.net): That she expects everyone to get it. (So even if you don't always get it, you are help up by the thought that she believes that you WILL "get it") The characters are very real, and all of them, even the "bad guys" are three-dimensional. You can care about everyone. I also enjoyed the "story telling" device, that was a wonderful way to handle flash backs, and great way for the reader to get a lot of different perspectives.
From Amanda (amandalouise_au@hotmail.com): The length, the depth of research and the historical aspects.
From Robert (Janxton@webtv.net): They are intriguing, mysterious, historical, and thrilling.
From peytonc@hotmail.com: The myth in them. I like how she connects different myths from different cultures together.
From Eric Winebarger (walterw@olg.com): I was a history major in college and I've always been interested in books about historical secrets and legends, and intrigued by the idea of the ancients having some special knowledge or wisdom that could affect the modern world.
From Lois (freemanl@mcmaster.ca): Intricate plotting, history, character development. Great stories
From Jelena (jbistrica@yahoo.com): She is using a true historical events and people
From Cara (fabrisse@hotmail.com): the interlinkages. The mythology. The levels of symbolism.
From Maya (mayaganguly@hotmail.com): I like the intricacy of her work, the little things she manages to incorporate stories/myths/ideas that are at once familiar, exotic, oridinary, and mystic.
From Jaclyn (Rothfels@ttns.net): The intriguing plot filled with suspense and romance. You never know what lies behind the next page. each fact is real, its not made it. The pot has obvoiusly been studied and critiqued over and over. The mystery is the best. I cant put the book down because i always want to know how it ends and what happens next.
From Kate Vinson (the_datasmith@email.msn.com): strong female characters and good sex that isn't a rape fantasy
From Summer (Summerwise@aol.com): Her originality. Too often nowadays you find morre and more of the same rehashed garbage. She has a fresh writing style that always kept me unable to put the book down.
From Anthony (Tignyc@aol.com): It's a toss-up between the adventures the characters have, and the humor in the stories.
From Zorba (zorba@mbari.org): Connections with ancient mysteries
From Critic101@hotmail.com: Complexities... subjects... mind teasing events and quests
From Erin (EEcOkY@aol.com): The seamless interweaving of historical details and the mysteries of the plot line.
From R.A. Francis (rafnraf@worldnet.att.net): The way she mixes history, historical speculation, and darned-good plots.
From Ange (angec7@hotmail.com): Her way of combining historical mysteries with modern characters - this means I didn't enjoy Calculated Risk as much so I've only read it the once!!
From Christie Garner (garner29@gateway.net): See above.
From Shanarra (aharriso@sd370.k12.id.us): great heroines. identify w/ them for sure. love the intelligence/genius of the characters. So many other authors have tedious, improbable or common characters. also enjoy the way Neville brings in the business/computer world while still retaining elements of the fantastic.
From Janice (janicegailcrocker@hotmail.com): The twists...the lead characters.
From Heather (einie3369@hotmail.com): wahad
From Misty Moore (nbcdanny@mindspring.com): The historical information in the novels, and the strong female characters.
From Mandy (MnMs45@mailcity.com): The intricate historical details combined with such an awesome story. The intelligence and accuracy of her books is remarkable.
From mgedj@gmx.de: The complexity, especially how she puts historical details, descriptions etc into the story. Her humour is great!
From Jen (celticmarr@hotmail.com): The rich tapestries of the backgrounds - full of interesting info
From mciville@ajc.com: Strong believable female characters; the men tend to be too mysterious to be real. I've recommended The Eight to two guys who are computer/chess lovers who have in
turn recommended it to others. One of them alerted me to this web site.
From HJM Baker (hjmbaker@mindspring.com): The real and imagined link to historic events or people.
From Paty (tcuenca@sumi.es): The stories and the characters: I can identify with the main characters bacause they are women.
From Morven Lister (mlister@stow.ac.uk): They feature strong, positive female characters who are doing well in what are normally seen as male careers. Oh and I really loved the swimming cat in The Magic Circle
From Holly (Maureen1@netcom.ca): The storylines are amazing mixing fiction and non-fiction together to make a fabulous page turner.
From Virpi Virtanen (afsana@nettilinja.fi): Combination of ancient mysteries and busy today - and beautiful language.
From kilborn@ausi.com: more challenging, making them more enjoyable; the quotes at the start of each chapter
From Pilar (pilar_elocho@hotmail.com): Her way of introducing fantasy in authentic historical facts, and how you try to know more about all that she has wroten
From Philip (bruno13069@hotmail.com): Woven myth and fact, history and legend.
From Jeana (SPUNDUKIE@MSN.COM): THE INTERPLAY OF HISTORY. THE WAY SHE WEAVES MANY DISCIPLINES AND FACTS TO SUPPORT FICTIONAL CHARACTERS AND STORY LINES...SHE ROCKS!
From Catherine Chang (catherine@thehpn.com): The way history, math, science, music, fantasy, and fiction are flawlessly entwined together
From Magdalene (magdalenep@yahoo.com): You are awed by the amount of research Ms. Neville obviously had to do for her books.
From Etrusca (etrusca_74@yahoo.co.nz): I love that you can re-read them over and over again, and still be
surprised by what you find there. I'm still learning every time I pick up The Magic Circle, or The Eight. Her characters are so fresh and three-dimensional - don't we all know a Georgian, or have an Uncle Laf?
From ghiggins@ktis.net: The mysticism and the way history continually affects the present and the future
From Ivana Siprak (rsiprak@hotmail.com): the jump between past and present...also the strong woman character in each book
From Huntress (cuifen@graffiti.net): I like the way everything is seamlessly woven together.
From Kathleen M. Laird (bribjr@netscape.net): The story seems to envelope the reader; creating layer after layer, leading the reader in a downward spiral until they are immersed in the characters, the history, and the intrigue.
From ajcm@hotmail.com: The mixing stories, and the hiscorical characters.
From Catherine (anklescmh@aol.com): I like how she goes between the past and the present.
From Linda (ysabelle@mail.com): Incredible writing.. you really get into the stories.. everything is somewhat mild (as far as action etc) so it feels more realistic.. the love scenes don't seem like something out of a *gag* romance novel, they seem like something that could happen to yourself.
From Christa (christa62@hotmail.com): Fascinating blend of mystery, history, adventure and everything
From Tori (VCtiger2004@yahoo.com): It has everything. I can't put it down.
From Lisa (teleute8@hotmail.com): extremely detailed, obviously very well researched.
From Alexandra (babygirl69de@yahoo.com): What I liked about "The eight" so much was how she managed to combine historical facts wiht fiction. Especially when u already know a lot about the French Revoultion and see how close Neville stuck with the facts, it makes you wonder wheter there is some truth to it.
From Lynne (skyhunt@skyhunter.com): They have a great deal of history, something of metaphysics, and they make you questions your values, in general they make you think. I love them, and can't wait for the next.
From TnStar365@mindspring.com: the complicated plots/storyline(s)
From Ana Olga (anaolgapalomino@yahoo.es): Her heroines, they are wonderfuls
If there is anything you dislike about Katherine Neville's books, what is it?
From velis8@aol.com: there are only three of them!!!
From Judith (judith@itookmyprozac.com): Actually, it annoys me that she really has one template for a story and characters that she reuses again in different situations but they're still good books
From Jamie (stutz002@tc.umn.edu): If there is one thing a disliked it was the similarities I found in The 8 and ACR. I still bought it so I don't care
From Melanie (mcasparian@brcweb.com): The end of The Eight was a bit anti-climactic. A Calculated Risk disappointed me in that it didn't have the historically sweeping epic-ness about it that The Eight did. But I can't really fault her for that. The Eight was a once in a lifetime kind of book that one author in a generation is blessed to write, it would be virtually impossible to match it, much less surpass it.
From Amber (ImWorthey@yahoo.com): They end way to soon.
From Christine Persons (purplegirl1247@hotmail.com): Ariel Behn's family history was too confusing toward the end and at times Magic Circle seemed more hard research than plot.
From Shaianne PeriHawk (perihawk@hotmail.com): Valentine was too good to be true.
From Stephanie (sfarrie@comp.uark.edu): Nothing. Her books have gotten me very interested in History and have actually changed my direction at my university.
From smk21hi@yahoo.com: Maybe that her characters seem a little too smart/witty. They're not really human enough and fallible.
From suprsai@aol.com: sometimes it's hard to understand the connection between all that info.
From Nadia (bsbadorer@hotmail.com): Nope.
From Lanna Lee Maheux (l.maheux@att.net): My own proclivity to read too fast, and maybe miss something important.
From peytonc@hotmail.com: This isn't really her fault, but, I hated that there couldn't be a happy ending for Mirielle and Talleyrand, because Talleyrand is a historical character.
From Eric Winebarger (walterw@olg.com): I really can't think of anything...
From Lois (freemanl@mcmaster.ca): She doesn't write as fast as I can read. Get that woman a bionic arm and a free flow pen.
From Cara (fabrisse@hotmail.com): Her heroines rarely do anything for themselves. They are thrown into the midst with no preparation and end up with large groups of guides to take them on their journeys. In some ways this may mirror shamanic experience (you start on a path you weren't expecting and meet the guides along the way), but it is less satisfying. I think that related to this is the fact that everything is stated. Some parts of her books feel like they've cheated me of an "A-Ha" experience (this is particularly true of Magic Circle and one reason why I find Ariel Behn so annoying)
From Maya (mayaganguly@hotmail.com): They have to end, let me explain. With "The Eight" and "A Calculated Risk" (I haven't finished "The Magic Circle") the endings were too abrupt and unsatisfying, the climax of these amasing tales was hardly noticable. But more than that, I just hate finishing a good book because I know I'll never have to joy of reading it for the first time!
From Jaclyn (Rothfels@ttns.net): I did not like the ending of The Magic Circle at all. I loved the entire book, but the ending seemes very un-climactic. The whole book was interwoven, deep issues. The ending was very soft-spoken and slightly dull. Since i had read all the previous action, i was waiting for an immensely exciting ending, so i was slightly disappointed
From Kate Vinson (the_datasmith@email.msn.com): Trying to coherently explain the plots to other folks!
From Summer (Summerwise@aol.com): That they have to end.....
From Anthony (Tignyc@aol.com): That there aren't more of them to read (yet).
From Zorba (zorba@mbari.org): I *loved* "The Eight", but didn't care that much for "The Magic Circle". I'm waiting for a sequel to "The Eight"
From Critic101@hotmail.com: Too many characters
From R.A. Francis (rafnraf@worldnet.att.net): Re: Magic Circle, I was a bit distressed by the "but wait, there's more" continually cropping up in Ariel's family tree. I know it was very important to the plot, but at times it seemed strained.
From Ange (angec7@hotmail.com): Nothing I can think of except give me more books!!
From Christie Garner (garner29@gateway.net): They are too short. I am always left wanting more and more...
From Shanarra (aharriso@sd370.k12.id.us): not enough of them.
From Janice (janicegailcrocker@hotmail.com): Sometimes I get bogged down in the details....but it's nice to see a famous historical character have a cameo every once in a while.
From Heather (einie3369@hotmail.com): it jumping around
From Misty Moore (nbcdanny@mindspring.com): no
From Mandy (MnMs45@mailcity.com): Ill have to get back to you
From Jen (celticmarr@hotmail.com): nothing
From mciville@ajc.com: There aren't enough of them.
From HJM Baker (hjmbaker@mindspring.com): She builds relationships between characters well, however the minute
they fall into bed together, the quality of dialog suddenly deteriorates.
From Morven Lister (mlister@stow.ac.uk): Her heroines are a bit too easily swayed by a handsome face!
From Holly (Maureen1@netcom.ca): Not a thing
From Virpi Virtanen (afsana@nettilinja.fi): There are too few of them!
From Pilar (pilar_elocho@hotmail.com): They're only three
From Jeana (SPUNDUKIE@MSN.COM): THEY CAN BECOME A BIT CONVOLUTED WITH THE RANGE OF CHARACTERS. ALSO HER ENDINGS SEEM A BIT ABRUPT...THE LAST CHAPTERS SOMETIMES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE
HUNG ON RATHER THAN CRAFTED...BUT I AM A PLEBIAN...WHAT DO I KNOW! THANK YOU KATHERINE FOR THE HOURS OF JOY YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME...YOU ARE A BRILLIANT WOMAN!
From Catherine Chang (catherine@thehpn.com): The fact that it takes so long for the next one to be published.
From Etrusca (etrusca_74@yahoo.co.nz): That there aren't more of them!!
From Ivana Siprak (rsiprak@hotmail.com): nothing at all!
From Huntress (cuifen@graffiti.net): There aren't enough!
From Kathleen M. Laird (bribjr@netscape.net): I would have enjoyed an index of any sources Ms. Neville used as research for The Eight.
From ajcm@hotmail.com: The big number of pages.
From Linda (ysabelle@mail.com): NOTHING! :)
From Daniel (daniel_delaparra@yahoo.com.mx): She writes better than me.
From Ana Olga (anaolgapalomino@yahoo.es): Her books are very fantastic, and don´t have realism
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