User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Raising my glass for long live Duchess Day Radley, my one of all time favorite outlaw! She truly reminded me of Ozark’s Ruth Langmore’s younger version: taking no sh*t from anyone, taking care of her family even though she is only 13, a stunning badass character you never want to mess with!
I’m not gonna give away anything this time! I’m screaming at the top of my lungs: GO, BUY THIS BOOK ASAP! This is not only the best story with its best developed, freaking fantastic characters! Or it is not only the best thing I’ve read lately. It’s the best I’ve read for years!
What are you waiting for? Just READ IT! READ IT! READ IT!
Read for those broken characters. Read for loyal Walk, long time suffering Vincent King, resented Star, fiery Martha, angry Hal who procrastinated living their lives for 30 years!
Read for little, traumatized Robin, best loyal friend Thomas Noble, Dolly with flat chest!
You may even read for villains: Darke, Milton, Brandon!
Poetic, heart wrenching, mind blowing writing style with jaw dropping, heartfelt conclusion shaking you to the core!
THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
I already declare : I will vote for this book at Goodreads Choice Awards 2021 from best fiction section and I’m so sure I never gonna chance my mind!
Giving my ten gazillion stars as I’m telling you one more time: don’t you ever dare to skip this book!!!!!
Rating: really liked it
The award winning Chris Whitaker's latest novel is a stellar, intense and beautifully written novel, a study of small town America, set in Cape Haven, California and Copper Falls, Montana. This character driven book gives us the unforgettable, fierce and mesmerising 13 year old Duchess Day Radley, a girl that life has dealt the lousiest of hands, living hand to mouth, surviving by her wits, denied a childhood, all responsibilities and consequences, no friends, doing her best to look after her troubled single mother, Star, to all intents and purposes the sole carer for her beloved 6 year old brother, Robin, there is nothing she will not do to protect him. Often her own worst enemy, she copes with the adversity and trauma that comes their way by imagining and living with the persona of a Wild West outlaw, an enduring part of American history, an unassailable national myth and legend. This ensures, more often than not, that others fear and avoid her, and triggering from the best of intentions, a set of actions and decisions which bring with them the deadliest of repercussions.
30 years ago, as a 15 year old, Thomas King was responsible for the death of 7 year old Sissy, the sister of Star, this resulted in his incarceration in prison for all those years. He is now being released, and he is returning to Cape Haven, and his home, now a prime target for developers, particularly the sinister giant of a man, Dickie Darke. Chief of Police Walk was the closest childhood friend of King, he loves King unconditionally, he is a man of integrity believing in King's essential goodness. Popping pills to get through the day, his ill health is threatening his ability to do his job. Through the years Walk has done all that he can do to keep an eye on Star and Duchess, so when tragedy strikes, he goes out of his way to drive Duchess and Robin to their estranged grandfather, Hal, in Montana, only for the horrors of Cape Haven and Duchess's actions to follow them.
Whitaker's hard hitting storytelling will leave an indelible mark on the reader, emotionally heartbreaking, of broken people, of history repeating itself, of love, loss, sacrifice, secrets, family, compassion, murder, revenge and retribution. It speaks of the search for absolution and redemption, and the impossibility of trying to saving someone who doesn't want to be saved. It illustrates how far people will go to protect those they love, with a willingness to compromise their integrity. The undoubted highlight of the novel is the creation and development of the indomitable Duchess, emotionally damaged, vulnerable, delving into the long empty branches of her family tree, willing to put Robin best interests above her own needs and desires. There are elements of small town America here that have echoes that remind me of the wonderful Michael Farris Smith. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bonnier Books for an ARC.
Rating: really liked it
***MY #ONE BOOK OF 2021 -- DON'T MISS THIS ONE***
This book tore me apart, made me laugh and made me cry, often !! I had been waiting for that first 5* book of 2021 that would blow me away, THIS IS DEFINITELY THAT BOOK!!
This novel has an amazingly intricate plot, perfectly paced, turns that you don’t expect, with characters that will be with me for a very long time.
We begin at the scene of a tragedy, a young girl is dead, and this small California coastal town will never be the same again.
Fast forward 30 years, Vincent King is getting out of prison. His old best friend, Sheriff Walker, “Walk” is on his way to pick him up and take him back to town. He was serving time for a crime he committed when he was 15 years old. Walk was the one who turned him in.
Star is the town beauty who has now been reduced to an addict’s life, really dependent on 13 year old Duchess. Her sister Sissy was killed when she was young.
Duchess is a fiery, determined, intelligent and loving sister to her young brother Robin. She takes care of her mom and her brother, all the while being taunted at school because of her clothes and her mom’s reputation.
Robin has had an extremely traumatized childhood only made tolerable because of his sister. She LOVES HIM FIERCELY !! and will do anything to protect him.
Tragedy strikes again, Star is murdered and the children are homeless.
Hal, the children’s grandfather takes the children to his farm in Wyoming. It is such a different atmosphere that it takes a bit for Duchess to feel safe. Robin is in love with all of the animals. Hal is an amazing man, gentle and caring, just what Duchess and Robin need right now. Things are good, until they aren’t!!
The characters are incredibly well developed and I felt for Walk, for his strong and fierce determination to keep Star and the children safe. He’s had some bad medical news that he is also dealing with.
He hovers around Vincent, making sure he settles in alright. He has placed a lot of burden on himself. I will never forget our heroine, Duchess and her incredible determination.
This novel is a family drama, a mystery, a coming of age book and so much more. The descriptions of Cape Haven and the visions of the summers and winters in Wyoming took me there, right now! Chris Whittaker made me “feel” what it was like on the cliffs of Cape Haven and in Hal's barn with the smell of hay and the comfort of horses.
Just when things start to look up for Duchess, who calls herself an OUTLAW, another horrible turn of events lands them back to being ALONE !
Back and forth we go, along for an incredible ride. Don’t miss this book, it will take you away from wherever you are and deliver you into the hands of a master storyteller!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
Rating: really liked it
Destined To Be A ClassicWe are dropped into the town of Cape Haven and introduced to a variety of characters. Duchess Radley is a teenage girl from a broken home. She takes care of her brother Robin while her mother Star is lost in her own world. We also meet Police Officer Walk who feels guilty because as a boy he turned in his best friend Vincent.
This is one of the best books of 2021! It is the new To Kill A Mockingbird. The characters were phenomenally developed, and there was surprise after surprise. The hallmark of a good book involves 2 things: 1) imperfect characters and 2) good story telling. This book had that in spades. 5 Stars all the way.
The audiobook was a rare treat. It was simply perfect!
Trigger warning to anyone with a neuromuscular disorder. As someone who has a severe neuromuscular disorder that shares many of the same characteristics of the one mentioned in this book, I was appalled at how this was treated in this book. If you are diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder, your life is not over. It is not the worst thing possible in life, this cloud hanging over your shoulder. My life is definitely different than how I imagined it would turn out but this life isn't meaningless. Since I was diagnosed, instead of training for a 5K, I ended up doing what I could do - read books. In this short time, I have made a supportive bunch of friends, named as a Booktuber to Watch, and ranked among the top 5% of most helpful book reviewers. In essence, you could say that I began at the end.
See my video review here: https://youtu.be/QV_xNAmrNuA
*Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
2022 Reading Schedule
Jan Animal Farm
Feb Lord of the Flies
Mar The Da Vinci Code
Apr Of Mice and Men
May Memoirs of a Geisha
Jun Little Women
Jul The Lovely Bones
Aug Charlotte's Web
Sep Life of Pi
Oct Dracula
Nov Gone with the Wind
Dec The Secret Garden
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Rating: really liked it
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)
Thirteen year old Duchess Day Radley is the protector of her five year old brother, Robin. Their drug/drink addicted mother, Star, has never been able to take care of herself and never been able to take care of them. Duchess forgoes food so her brother can eat, she spends her school lunch period watching her brother, she arranges for him to sit with a teacher for three hours, in the afternoon, until she gets out of school and can take him home. Her mother doesn't even remember they exist most of the time. Kids make fun of them, towns folks talk of calling Social Services about them. Duchess doesn't help their reputation by stealing to provide food for Robin. Her life is misery, every single moment, but she's determined to give Robin the love and life he deserves. She's determined to hide how things really are from him. The only thing that keeps her from breaking more rules or laws is that she doesn't ever want to be separated from her brother.
Their guardian angel is Chief of Police Walk. Thirty years ago, when his best friend, Vincent, killed Star's sister, Walk's testimony is what sent fifteen year old Vincent to prison. Vincent and Star loved each other and neither one of them has gotten over the other. Walk, Vincent, and Star seemed to be stopped in time in some ways, never able to move on from that time in their lives. Walk's main goal in life is to protect Duchess (who will cuss out anyone who tries to help her or give her any sign of kindness or mercy) and Robin. Nothing else is important to him other than keeping Star from sinking even lower into the cesspool of her bad habits and getting Vincent out of prison and back to their hometown.
Now, thirty years after he went in, Vincent is out of prison and home. But there is trouble and Walk's protection isn't enough for Star, Duchess, and Robin. This story is heartbreaking, for Duchess and Robin, for Walk, whose body is failing him, for Star and Vincent, who are never going to crawl out of their depression and guilt. I listened to the narration of this story and it was wonderful, putting me right there in this hopeless and sad situation. Duchess could have been unlikeable because she wants to be unlikeable but my heart broke for her and her fragile brother, Robin. And Walk, always the good, honest, reliable person, never wanting to change, has a body that is changing too soon. Now, to save Duchess and Robin, he's going to have to go against everything he's ever believed.
Publication March 9th 2021
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
Rating: really liked it
Hang on to your Stetsons and hold on to your heart...this book will break it for sure...Wow! This book was absolutely brilliant. I had heard the rumors and I can confirm they are in fact true! You will want to read this book.
Why would a thirteen year old girl go around calling herself an outlaw? Self preservation that is why. Duchess has seen more heartache than most people do in a lifetime..by age thirteen....she is one tough cookie and she will do whatever it is takes to survive and protect her little brother Robin from the pure hell they have been through.
Small town U.S.A....right here...your police chief that you grew up with.. your neighbor still stuck in his glory of his high school days...mustang and all...the neighborhood butcher that everyone knew whether they wanted to or not...and Star..the shining star that lost her light..
The police chief is best friends with a murderer that has been in jail for 30 years...because he believes in him...is he being played the fool?
My emotions were all over the place with this book. It was a mixture of sometimes life just isn't fair...yet this is life.. the good, the bad and the ugly. This story was so well written and unraveled so perfectly. It was a mixture of family drama and mystery that will have you hoping against all odds this little family will make it.
Huge shoutout to Henry Holt and Company for my gorgeous gifted copy that I loved! This is a book that will stay in your mind for a long time.
Rating: really liked it
This is NOT one of those past/present dual narratives that are so often found in novels these days. It is a present moment story, but the past is as present as the now. When we learn of things that happened in the past, the relevancy is stunning and sometimes surprising. I’m not going to discuss the plot. There are other reviews that cover those details. Yet, I could describe this in so many ways - gut punching, heart breaking, gritty. It is all of those things, but it’s mostly a story about love and the sacrifices that people make for those they love as they make their way through lives filled with tough breaks, to say the least. It’s so beautifully written and I couldn’t have been more moved.
Duchess, angry, foul mouthed, and 13, says hurtful things to anyone in her path . She might even throw a punch, knock out one of your teeth. She’s a self professed “outlaw”. Under normal circumstances you’d probably say she’s a troubled teenager who needs to be set straight. However, the circumstances of her life are far from normal. We know why she has to be so defensive to protect herself and her little brother Robin. Seemingly filled with hate, masking a grief that is so deep, as deep as her love for her brother, is why I felt so much for her. She is indeed a troubled young girl and she needs help. I wished I could have climbed into those pages to give her a hug even though she would have fought me off.
As it turns out, there are others to give her that much needed hug and help. There’s Walk, a small town sheriff with a heart bigger than the town. He carries his own personal burdens of both the past and now, but also the burdens of those he cares about. Star, the children’s mother, Vincent, his life long best friend, these children are among them. There’s Hal, their grandfather, who fills the void of his own losses with love and care for Duchess and Robin. There’s Dolly, who could be called a real guardian angel, one of my favorite characters. Several of my Goodreads friends highly praised this book, but I have to give a special thanks to Susanne, whose review let me know for sure that this was one for me . Like Susanne, I highly recommend it.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Macmillan/Henry Holt through Edelweiss.
Rating: really liked it
I spent the first 40% of this book questioning why it was getting so many stellar reviews. I mean, I thought it was 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 but I wasn't super impressed.
Then at 44% there's a scene that was so beautifully written that I was 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘦 and the book quickly took off from there.
-I 𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙍𝙀 Duchess.
-All the characters are well defined.
-The plot is clever and I had nothing figured out until it was revealed.
-The unique writing style is gorgeous and hypnotic.
-The ending is heartbreakingly perfect.
My only dislike is just a small one but I felt the pattern of the story became predictable.
A sweet or touching scene would mean that the following scene was gonna be a punch in the gut. It's a very effective technique because I was moved to tears a few times but I would have preferred the flow to be a little less obvious.
Easy 4, maybe 4.5 ⭐
Rating: really liked it
this book reads like a nitty-gritty kristin hannah or fredrik backman story. and i loved every second of it.
i love the old time feel, small town atmosphere, raw emotion and harsh reality, and tragic mystery of it all. its a story that has so much depth to it, you hardly notice how deep you slip into it until youre fully immersed.
this definitely isnt your traditional mystery/thriller. its much more of a realistic fiction with a crime aspect. the focus is for sure on the characters, their lives, their struggles and their resilience in the face of those struggles.
really quite blown away by this. for sure the biggest surprise of my 2022 so far!
↠ 4.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
Duchess is a troubled young girl, marked by a life filled with tragedy and deprivation. Forced to grow up too soon In order to survive and take care of her 6-year-old brother, Robin, she’s hardened herself to protect herself from pain. Any softness in her is reserved for Robin, a sweet boy who wants nothing more than a family to call his own.
The bond between brother and sister was touching and their search for belonging is heart-wrenching. These children have known more pain and loss than any person should have to endure at such a young age. Yet, still more tragedy and loss is coming.
This is a murder/revenge tale that began 30 years ago, and continues to the present. It’s a book filled with pain and violence, but it’s the characters that wormed their way into my heart. All are vividly drawn and have a thread that connects them in one way or another to the tragedy that occurred 30 years ago. This event set a course that changes all of their lives. So much happens in this novel that to talk about the plot would involve spoilers.
But the characters!
- Walk, the small town sheriff, has struggles of his own but will stop at nothing to protect the children and seek justice for them. His best friend, Vincent, has just been released from prison after a 30 year sentence. Walk has never stopped believing in him, while Vincent has never forgiven himself.
- Hal, the grandfather, is a character that reminds me of the ones in Kent Haruf’s novels. He’s a man of few words but deep character.
- Dolly is a woman who knows pain but has a heart of gold. She can break through Duchess’s defenses when no one else can.
- And then there’s sweet Thomas Noble, a young boy who is also an outcast, and proves himself to be a great friend to Duchess.
This is an intricate tale with many surprises along the way that I didn’t see coming. This gripping emotional story took hold of my heart and wouldn’t let go, bringing me to tears more than once.
However, as much as I fell in love with Duchess, I do wish her tough exterior had been more nuanced. Her language and precociousness didn’t always ring true to me as the way a child (or even an adult) would talk.
It took a while for me to get into the story but my patience was rewarded. Once the setting moved to Montana, I couldn’t put it down. This is a book to savor, and one I won’t soon forget. The layers of this story are slowly peeled back with a final reveal that was shocking and heart breaking.
This was a buddy read with my friend Marilayce. It’s one we both highly recommend and will be in our top books of the year!
*I received a digital ARC of the book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
*Published March 2, 2021 by Henry Holt & Co
Rating: really liked it
“We Begin at the End" by Chris Whitaker is a novel by an up-and-coming author that's not to be missed. Call it a thriller, a mystery, a crime drama, or a coming-of-age tale, it's undeniably a slow burn story with more than its fair share of surprises.
The plot is intricate, with many connected characters essentially dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy that took place 30 years prior. At its heart is a vividly-drawn young girl named Duchess, a self-proclaimed "outlaw," who does whatever is necessary to raise and protect her younger brother. Their life circumstances are heartbreaking and somewhat of a mystery. Misfortune seems to follow them, and you can't help but hope they'll eventually end up on solid, supportive ground.
The novel is broken into four parts, and it wasn't until Part 2 when the setting and characters shift to small town Montana that I got sucked in. The other prominent setting is a small coastal California town. Both are equally atmospheric, but I sensed glimmers of hope in Montana compared to the dreary regret of the west.
The audiobook is confidently narrated by George Newbern (Scandal, Father of the Bride). His voice is familiar and comforting, but I can't help but think this is a book where you want to feel the weight of a hardback in your hands. For the audio format though, Newbern is always a reliable choice.
I would like to thank Macmillan Audio and the author for the opportunity to review an advanced copy via NetGalley.
Rating: really liked it
This is my first experience reading a book by Chris Whitaker. It’s a beautifully written book, but an incredibly sad one. Duchess is a thirteen year old who has had to grow up well before she should have. She cares for her little brother Robin, as her mother, Star, is usually too drunk to do so. But Whitaker manages to capture her innocence, too, her belief that she’s an outlaw just like in the Wild West.
Walker is a forty something chief of police who’s dealing with his own health problems while trying to watch over Star and her family. Add to this mix Vincent, who’s just been released after 30 years in prison for killing Star’s sister, Sissy.
What they all have in common is the knowledge that people are disappointing and life is going to screw you over given half a chance.
This is a book that just grabs you. At times, it felt almost emotionally draining. Duchess’s anger is palpable. I wanted so badly for things to finally go right for Duchess and Robin. This is a book that brought tears to my eyes.
Kudos to Whitaker for creating a wonderful set of characters. Not just the main trio, but Hal, Dolly and Martha as well.
I recommend this for fans of William Kent Krueger or Allen Eskins.
George Newbern is a great narrator. He captures the pathos of the story.
My thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.
Rating: really liked it
Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
My Cup Runneth Over and the Tears Spilled. While reading this book, I was overcome with intense emotion and extraordinary heartbreak.
This is character-driven literary crime fiction about family, friendship, loss, and mystery that includes all of my favorite elements. Dysfunction; grief, heartache; humanity; humor; love; loyalty, pain, regret, and unrelenting tragedy.
It’s a novel that is dripping with heart and that heart resides in the characters. Characters that I love with all of my heart and then some. Characters who I’ve thought about every darn day since I turned the last page.
It’s the characters of Duchess, Robin, Walk, Hal, Dolly, and Martha who bring this book to life and made my heartache.
Duchess Day Radley is a thirteen (13) year-old self-proclaimed “Outlaw.” Tough as nails, she’ll do whatever she has to do to take care of herself and her five (5) year old brother Robin, seeing as her mom has never been all that reliable, much to Duchess’ chagrin. Unfortunately for Duchess, after trying just a little too hard to take care of her family, she finds herself in a world of trouble, the likes of which I can’t imagine.
The bonds shared between brother and sister here are absolutely soul-wrenching. As if the characters of Duchess and Robin were real, I too found myself in great distress when tragedy befell these two time and again. If I could have scooped them up and taken them to safety, I would have.
“Walk” is Chief of Police. Though he checks in on the Radleys from time to time, he’s not a miracle worker and he has other fish to fry, including helping his former best friend, Vincent King rehabilitate after spending 30 years in prison. Walk, of course, has his own troubles, none of which he can run away from.
The mystery here is devastating, heart-wrenching, and gripping. Though there is tragedy here, there is also humor. Surprising, shocking, brilliant humor. The writing is beautiful and is full of grace and grit.
In truth: “We Begin At The End” by Chris Whittaker IS the BEST book I’ve read so far this year and I would be stunned if another book surpasses it. It will of course be at the top of my Goodreads best-of-list for 2021!
This is my first read by Chris Whittaker but it will most certainly not be my last. I will be searching for and reading his entire backlist shortly.
If this is not on your tbr, search it out! I switched back and forth between the book and the audiobook and loved both. George Newbern narrated the audiobook and his narration is phenomenal.
Thank you to NetGalley, and Henry Holt and Company for arc, and MacMillan Audio for the alc.
Published on Goodreads. Twitter and Insta on 2.10.21
Rating: really liked it
I can’t see!Eek! I squint really hard, clean the wax out of my ears, but I still can’t imagine this 13-year-old character, Duchess. Every time I try to picture her, she opens her mouth and ruins it! She then becomes this entity that isn’t a character; it’s an idea that happens to talk. She has no age, she has no heart and no soul. She doesn’t exist—and there’s no way I can relate to this blank. I’m making this sound all weird—let me just say that Duchess’ voice is ALL WRONG. Her voice doesn’t match her age in any way. I’m trying to imagine a person, but I can’t, because the writer used the wrong puzzle pieces to create her. This book did a head trip on me. It jolted me, confused me, drove me nuts. I’ve never read a book where the main character was so unbelievable, seriously. Duchess kept her mouth shut more in the last part of the book, but it was too late. She basically remained a flashy neon blur.
Okay, I must must must give you some examples of Duchess’s utterances. Hold on, because you won’t believe them! And trust me, there are many more where these came from! Remember, she is 13!!!
“Then all that testosterone kicked in and shat on her dreams.”
“I think they’re too old to have kids naturally and now they want a second shot. Could be problems with his sperm, or maybe she’s barren as the Mojave.”
“Fuck, Walk. Stop saying that. Hand we get dealt, right. Fate, resignation. There’s no difference.”
“Free will is an illusion, sooner you accept the sooner you get on.”
“I told him you had a ten-inch cock.”
“What’s the attraction there, financial or fetishistic?”
“This better not be about your mother fucking the mailman.”
“Do I want to contract herpes, Hal?”
“If the good stand by idle, are they still good?”See? Impossible to believe her, impossible. Plus, she’s a stereotype: She rebels against everything, she gives lip non-stop. A sassy teen who is totally obnoxious, boring, and predictable. This got old pretty fast and it was overdone. Picture a two-year-old who says “No” to everything.
And there are problems buying her 5-year-old brother, too. One of my favorite lines of his:
“He’s an emotional pig!” Yep, a 5-year-old says this!
There are also a few logistic and point-of-view problems. I’ll spare you the details but I just want to say they bugged me a lot. An editor should have caught them.
I’m a bigtime outlier on this one. Blows my mind that people loved this book. Don’t throw tomatoes, please; I can’t help it that I didn’t like it!
Thanks to Edelweiss for the advance copy.
Rating: really liked it
Be sure to visit Bantering Books to read all my latest reviews.A month has passed since I turned the final page of Chris Whitaker’s glorious novel,
We Begin at the End, and I can’t shake the memory of it. It’s a monkey on my back, ever present in my mind, refusing to leave me be.
And I don’t
want it to leave me be.
Because the novel changed me. It reshaped me. Whitaker’s tragic story of thirteen-year-old Duchess and her five-year-old brother, Robin, caused me to reshuffle my priorities and be more present in my own life. And for this, I will be forever grateful.
I know the novel is not flawless. It certainly has its critics. Duchess is a bit overwritten, and the depiction of both children is not always age appropriate. The supporting characterization feels a bit flat. I also found it difficult to immerse myself in the California setting, and I would lose my sense of place when the story shifted back to the West Coast from Montana.
But my quibbles are insignificant in comparison to the novel’s beauty.
We Begin at the End is masterfully written with stunning, literary prose. The mystery at its core is complex and surprising, and the story, while emotionally devastating, has moments of warm humor and hope.
I sobbed. I laughed. I sobbed some more.
And then I hugged my two boys.
Tightly. (To their grumbling dismay.)
Because Duchess and Robin – these two kids broke my heart. Even now, my eyes burn for them as I write this.
For the unfairness of their lives. For their pain. For their resilience and strength of spirit.
For Robin’s undying optimism and willingness to try, try again. For Duchess’s selfless, protective love for her brother.
Mr. Whitaker, thank you. I have been touched, profoundly, by your words and your story.
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