Neil Gaiman
[isbn]
This slim book holds heavy truths about the human heart, family, friendship, and sacrifice, all written in classic Gaiman style. Steeped in mythology and longing, it's a book I could not put down but nonetheless didn't want to finish.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Jhumpa Lahiri and Jeff Portnowitz
[isbn]
If you love Rome, either because you've visited this stunning city or because you long to visit it, these stories will sweep you into its contemporary, throbbing heart. The characters — friends and families, some deeply rooted in the city and some marginal — are authentic in the way that all Lahiri's characters are, and their circumstances are familiar despite their splendid setting. And then there's something extra and intimate, perhaps because... (read more)
Recommended by Marianne T
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Bill Watterson and John Kascht
[isbn]
The Mysteries is an unsettling and eerily familiar fable about a world that loses direction. The images are gorgeous, wonderfully evocative, and just a little disturbing. This is a book to reread many times and to put its message into your own frame of reference and keep it close to your heart.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Caroline Peckham
[isbn]
Twins Tory and Darcy learn that they’re Fae born, and royalty no less, and that they can harness the magic of all four elements — Fire, Water, Air, and Earth — but first, they have to graduate from Zodiac Academy, rife with bullies, jealousy, and treachery. The Awakening kicks off this compelling series!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Ross Gay
[isbn]
Ross Gay is a beautiful human, and reading this book makes you feel like he’s your good friend. These essays will restore your hope for humanity and remind you of the exquisite joy the natural world brings. This book makes a perfect gift.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Skye Alexander
[isbn]
This is a “one and done” book on reading the tarot — a comprehensive guide for those new to the cards. But it also provides insight and suggestions that long-time readers will appreciate. I bought one for myself and one for a friend!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Barbara Kingsolver
[isbn]
This is a beautiful, timely, and compelling book that does NOT require you to reread David Copperfield to appreciate it. Just know that Kingsolver is at her best, showing us the downside of the foster care system and the destruction to young lives and communities wrought by easy access to opioids. Always a superb storyteller, Kingsolver manages to break hearts while still offering glimmers of hope.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Heather Fawcett
[isbn]
Besides a grumpy, young professor, this book has FAIRIES and adventure, romance, mystery… and did I say FAIRIES? This is a highly entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed. (And even the professor isn’t so grumpy in the end!)
Recommended by Marianne T
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Alice Notley
[isbn]
This is a strange and beautiful epic poem that takes us on a journey to an underworld that’s more authentic than those of old. We feel the brush of bats' wings as we enter caves, caverns, corridors, all on a quest to heal the world. This is at once gorgeous and essentially creepy. So right for now.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Liz Marsham, CRITICAL ROLE , Jesse Szewczyk
[isbn]
Stories and food are inseparable, and the food of Exandria is just as good as its stories — truly “exquisite” actually! Just look at the gorgeous pictures, from “Slayer’s Cake” to “Jester’s Sweet Feast,” and your mouth will water. I’m going to start with the chickpea version of “Yasha’s Bug Bites,” washed down with a “Ruby of the Sea” cocktail, while I plan fun dinners for my RPG friends.
Recommended by Marianne T
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David Lehman, Elaine Equi
[isbn]
If you’re like me, and you didn’t get around to reading all those journals and new books of poetry that you meant to last year, then you’ll appreciate this slim book of stunningly good poems. You’ll find familiar names, ranging from Armentrout to Zapruder, but a lot of talented new voices as well. I look forward to this book each year, and 2023 is truly stellar!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Matthew Zapruder
[isbn]
This is a beautiful book that talks about the making of a poem while sharing a very intimate portrait of the author as he struggles with the weight of a child diagnosed with autism and a planet that’s fragile and failing. He responds by putting word after word on the page, and we get to read it all.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Stephanie Burt
[isbn]
Stephanie Burt is a talented poet who is really, really good at talking about poems, as she does in this friendly, informative guide to the pleasure of reading and interacting with individual poems, and by extension with “poetry.” With chapters like “Feelings,” “Wisdom,” and “Community,” this book provides a fresh approach that will inform those newer to poetry and will delight everyone.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Ann Patchett
[isbn]
You're in the thrall of a fine storyteller when a book that's essentially a family conversation becomes impossible to put down. This is a love story and a timely family tale that calls out memory and the ways we edit it (or does it edit us?).
Recommended by Marianne T
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Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
[isbn]
Just imagine Baba Yaga as a youthful Slavic goddess, fighting for good and maybe falling in love, all during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. There's something here for anyone who enjoys history, mythology, even romance. I could not put this book down!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Susanna Clarke
[isbn]
This book is simple and stunning, elegant and totally engrossing. The author of the famous Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell has once again created something brilliant and memorable, and I was captivated with Piranesi from the start. A perfect read for any season!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Emily Dickinson
[isbn]
What I learned from Emily — is larger than this Store* / More vivid than the Sunset Sky — and whimsical galore!
Seriously, she gave me my poetic license (and no street is
since safe).
*Powell's City of Books on Burnside
Recommended by Marianne T
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Toni Morrison
[isbn]
This is the legendary Toni Morrison’s first novel, set in her own home town of Lorrain, Ohio, in 1941. It presents the pain and consequences of racism, but also of societal notions of beauty and ugliness. Written in a variety of voices, it tells a heartbreaking and unforgettable story. If you have already read this book, then share it with a friend, and if you haven’t, now you must.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Sharon Olds
[isbn]
Once I rode the bus with Sharon Olds, and she was as her poems are — friendly, conversational, painstakingly honest, and wisely humorous too. Her work gave me permission to tell whoever would listen that I had something to say, just an ordinary human on an ordinary day. And so I wrote and published poems and now I can say, thank you, Sharon. Read her poetry and you too will be changed.
Recommended by Marianne T
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McKayla Coyle
[isbn]
Goblin Mode is wonderfully weird and absolutely essential because, as Coyle explains, “The goblin lifestyle pushes back against the idea that we must be clean and smooth and poreless in order to exist in the world.” We ALL need some of this lifestyle, one in which we learn from mushrooms, snails, and the like to relax and be cozy. This is a perfect gift for your diverse and messy friends and for everyone seeking greater harmony!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Toni Morrison
[isbn]
This is the legendary Toni Morrison’s first novel, set in her own home town of Lorrain, Ohio, in 1941. It presents the pain and consequences of racism, but also of societal notions of beauty and ugliness. Written in a variety of voices, it tells a heartbreaking and unforgettable story. If you have already read this book, then share it with a friend, and if you haven’t, now you must.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Richard Tarnas
[isbn]
This book makes a clear and elegant argument for the correspondence between planetary alignments and patterns of human history. What do the French Revolution and the cultural revolution of the 1960s have in common? A Pluto-Uranus conjunction! This book is for historians, sociologists, et.al., and also for anyone interested in astrology’s big picture.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Matthew Dickman
[isbn]
These are simple poems, but they reach deep into our soft places and tug, reminding us that we are also a little scared and worried, childlike and vulnerable, fiercely hopeful and still in love with this world despite the bruises. Dickman’s diminutive couplets belie big feelings. I love this collection.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Marilyn Chin
[isbn]
Marilyn Chin is angry, and that means we all are lucky, for there is so much energy in these wonderfully diverse poems focused on social justice and the state of the world as we know it! She makes us laugh and cry, sometimes in the same poem. And this, too: "Don't say we are nothing / Year after year / The pear tree blossoms."
Recommended by Marianne T
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Susan Cain
[isbn]
I loved Cain's Quiet for showing us our cultural bias against introverts and helping us celebrate their value. In Bittersweet, she similarly liberates those of us who willingly feel sorrow and longing, and she celebrates their healing value. Truly the "bitter" makes the "sweet" sweeter.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Arthur C Brooks
[isbn]
Brooks has written a smart book about how to find greater meaning and joy in the second half of life, when striving becomes less valuable to well-being. Anyone in their middle years or beyond will appreciate the wisdom found here.
Recommended by Marianne T
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KC Davis
[isbn]
This little book is SO LIBERATING. If you're a perfect housekeeper, do not buy this book — but for the rest of us, it's a new BFF.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Sadhbh Moore, Abi Aspen Glencross
[isbn]
There are lovely recipes here (grouped into categories for “Plants,” “Vaguean,” and “Omnivore”) but also wonderful tips for shopping, re-using, planning, and cleaning. This is a smart and helpful book and would make a great gift for someone starting out (or needing to break from bad habits!).
Recommended by Marianne T
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Ada Limon
[isbn]
Honestly, in this not-yet-post-pandemic world of injustice and strife, can't we all identify as "the hurting kind" — "too sensitive, a weeper/ from a long line of weepers"?
These beautifully crafted poems speak to the pandemic experience with its loss of loved ones, but also to the deep joy we encounter in observing animals and the natural world. Even a garden-thieving groundhog is regarded with love in this tender collection that speaks to the... (read more)
Recommended by Marianne T
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Nik Sharma
[isbn]
Nik Sharma is the developer of the award-winning blog, "A Brown Table," and he also the weekly column "A Brown Kitchen." In this gorgeous book, he presents global eating, the foods and the techniques, that we can enjoy through his guidance. Think “Toasted Cumin Lemonade,” “Turkey with Cherry-Fennel Barbecue Sauce,” “Cocoa-Spiced Bean and Lentil Soup,” and “Elderflower and Ghee Cake.” This is the kind of cookbook I love because it celebrates... (read more)
Recommended by Marianne T
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Syan Rose
[isbn]
Open this book to any page and you’re immediately immersed in drawings and conversations that are personal and captivating. From Nube F. Cruz mourning the passing of their Ama, to Kid Cudi sharing people who’ve inspired them, you’ll be touched by their heartfelt words and Syan Rose’s gorgeous art.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Kate Weiss
[isbn]
Whether you know just enough to be dangerous (like me), have made your own clothing for years, or simply want to consider the possibilities, this book will be a good friend. You’ll save money and strut your own style with confidence and pride. Kate Weiss offers really sound advice that’s serious but not too complicated. And you don’t have to make “outfits.” There’s plenty of mending, etc., that we should all be doing, and her instructions are... (read more)
Recommended by Marianne T
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Monte Burch, Joan Burch
[isbn]
This is the real deal, from making soap and sharpening knives to foraging and butchering. All the skills our great-grandparents had and we can use.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Anna Jones
[isbn]
My favorite feature of this cookbook is the “Ten Simple (name that vegetable) Ideas” that offer immediate gratification and are like brainstorming with a friend. The full recipes are wonderful too, and most are quick and easy to prepare. Check out Gobi Manchurian or Lemongrass and Tofu Larb. My partner doesn't even like tofu, but this one made the difference!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Evelyn C Rysdyk
[isbn]
This is a book about wholeness, about tapping into the creative energy within and around us in very practical ways through easy and empowering journey exercises. Rysdyk is like a smart, older sibling who writes in a straightforward and encouraging style. From connecting with power animals and ancestors, to freeing up time to grow our creativity, there's so much wisdom and love in this book. I treasure it!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Leeza Robertson
[isbn]
This much-loved author and creator of tarot decks has designed a system in which the cards supplement energy healing in the chakras. It's brilliant. And it really works! If you love tarot and are seeking more balance and exuberance in your life, give it a try.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Louise L Hay
[isbn]
A best-selling classic, this book changes lives. I read it years ago and have used affirmations ever since. Especially these days, we could all use a little improvement in our lives, so why not utilize the power of daily affirmations, as millions do!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Sheila Darcey, Rachel Smith
[isbn]
We can all do this: pick up a pencil and learn to sketch through the tension and trauma we may not even even be aware of. If you've ever doodled, if you've enjoyed coloring books, if you barely passed your high school art class or sailed through many, you'll find peace and delight in these simple prompts that connect you to parts of yourself pushed away in the ordinary, everyday world. I've been intending to start a daily drawing practice for... (read more)
Recommended by Marianne T
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Eric Zielinski, Sabrina Ann Zielinski
[isbn]
This book will get you started safely using essential oils to improve overall well-being and to treat specific health challenges from the minor to the major, such as Alzheimer's, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, Parkinson's, and more. I've been working with essential oils for a decade, and I highly recommend this accessible guide.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Constance Stellas
[isbn]
What works for the fire sign of Aries falls flat for the water sign of Pisces. Customize your care routines and learn about astrology too! This is a big and beautiful book that will become a dear friend who knows just what you (and your friends and family members) need.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Jenelle Kim
[isbn]
“Key 8" in this beautiful book tells us to "Be Like Bamboo.” Myung Sung living meditation is a centuries old Korean wellness tradition rooted in Tao teachings yet thoroughly relevant today. This lovely book brings us this tradition in a contemporary and practical way. It's a practice I'll definitely be keeping.
Recommended by Marianne T
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M Amos Clifford
[isbn]
John Muir once said, “Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.” This book explains the “why” and “how” of experiencing the healing power of the forest and thereby discovering that "new way of life." It's amazing!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Erin Elizabeth Downing
[isbn]
Through simple breathing techniques, asanas (poses), meditations, and diet suggestions, this book shows us that Kundalini practice is attainable magic that can gently transform one's life.
Recommended by Marianne T
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PhD Jain Shamini, PhD Turner Kelly A
[isbn]
It's time to change the way we think about healthcare and our own natural healing abilities. This book explains why and how biofield science will revolutionize our lives. It's timely and important.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Diane Stein
[isbn]
As a reiki master myself, I find this book to be a classic guide to this ancient healing art, one that makes the experience of reiki accessible to all in clear and straightforward terms. It's not a substitute for traditional classes and attunements, but it serves as both an introduction and a refresher to hands on healing. I have a copy and have just purchased one for a friend.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Daniel Foor
[isbn]
This is a special book that outlines exercises and rituals, stemming from ancient wisdom sources, that enable us to heal our ancestral lineage of trauma and abuse. It is possible and worthwhile to transform intergenerational pain into present-day healing.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Buzzfeed , Brianne Hogan
[isbn]
This fun book focuses on body, mind, and spirit wellness for all the sun signs. It’s a joy to read and the smaller format is easy to carry around! I really like being able to offer wellness advice to friends who haven't considered the role the stars actually play in our lives.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Brittany Ducham
[isbn]
This book offers a clear presentation and basic remedies to support digestion, mental clarity, sleep, emotions, and immunity, and to manage stress and pain. The "remedies" are widely accessible, sustainable, and really empowering. I'm learning so much!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Meera Lee Patel
[isbn]
This beautiful journal will help you move from anxiety to calm curiosity and from fear to courage and peace. Just pick up some pencils and markers and begin your journey.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Jodi Cohen, Terry Wahls
[isbn]
Our brains need to detoxify to stay healthy, and plant-based EOs can help that process. This well-researched book offers a clear, daily plan to ease issues such as poor digestion, anxiety, sleep problems, chronic inflammation, and more. Natural solutions are both effective and affordable!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Devon Young
[isbn]
Learn about the wonderful healing qualities of 50 easily accessible plants and herbs. Make treatments ranging from colicky baby massage to pit paste and menopause management. And gain a real appreciation for those plants around us that often go unnoticed.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Rose Cheung, Genevieve Wong
[isbn]
Mother and daughter present traditional Chinese Medicine herbal approaches to healing in this attractive book. Many recipes rely on familiar items, while others stretched my repertoire, but a local specialty store carries everything I need. Did I say this book is beautifully illustrated too?!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Luz Calvo, Catriona Rueda Esquibel
[isbn]
The subtitle says it all — ”Plant-Based Mexican-American Recipes for Health and Healing.” This beautiful book is all about authentic foods that nurture and heal. Complex flavors, some long-forgotten, but clear and easy instructions throughout. Enjoy and be well!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Jenny Sansouci, Frank Lipman
[isbn]
Whether it’s to enhance our general health or deal with a serious illness, The Rebel’s Apothecary wants to help. It clearly explains how we can utilize the benefits of cannabis and mushrooms and why we should. I've learned so much reading this smart and timely book, and I look forward to implementing some of its advice right away!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Sarah Farr
[isbn]
This wonderful book makes me feel like a master herbalist! Blending teas for daily well-being and specific concerns is easy and empowering. Release your inner tea diva!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Kami McBride, Rosemary Gladstar
[isbn]
I love this book. It explains the healing properties and traditional uses for 50 herbs and then provides wonderful recipes for their use. Everything from honeys and smoothies to cordials and entire meals, even foot soaks!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Jessica Dore
[isbn]
Whether you’re new to tarot or an experienced reader, this book provides rich psychological insight, stories, and ideas to enhance your practice. I have a lot of tarot books but added this to my collection because it gives me new ideas for work with clients during readings.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Havaz Habib
[isbn]
Do you know the role the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system play in chronic illness? Until this book came my way, I really didn't. But it clearly explains the importance of this giant nerve and provides supportive routines that are easy to follow and incorporate into your routine.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Paul Denniston
[isbn]
I think everyone needs this book even if not currently experiencing grief. We know now that our bodies store trauma and grief and that, over time, this leads to physical illness. These simple yoga "exercises" are a way to process real, immediate grief and even the pain you think you've dealt with long ago. Keep the tissues nearby and be prepared to really feel better.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Diana Beresford Kroeger
[isbn]
We heal ourselves by healing the trees.
“...the forest is far more than a source of timber. It is our collective medicine cabinet. It is our lungs. It is the regulatory system for our climate and our oceans. It is the mantle of our planet. It is the health and well-being of our children and grandchildren. It is our sacred home. It is our salvation.”
—from the Introduction, by the author
Recommended by Marianne T
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Rachel Patterson
[isbn]
In this book, well-loved kitchen witch Rachel Patterson is like a good friend who helps us heal issues of anxiety, stress, depression, sleep problems, etc., with MAGIC! She offers foods, colours, teas, crystals, spells, rituals, and much more to solve common problems. She also instructs in the basics of a sound magical practice. This is a friendly, fundamental book that I love!
Recommended by Marianne T
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