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When you, the reader, sit down to analyze a book, you must remember that whatever you choose to say is subjective. It's your opinion and you're entitled to it. Even if it means trashing a widely acknowledged author.

To give everyone the courage to speak their mind, the Facebook page Haters of Goodreads are sharing some of the funniest reviews that have appeared on the literary website.

Calling The Catcher in the Rye "the most overrated 'classic' of all time", refusing to finish Swann's Way due to Proust "discussing the smell of his chamber pot after having eaten asparagus"... It's all there!

#1

The Bible

The Bible

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Ileana Sky Aviles
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's quite shocking. First few chapters alone it talks about brother murdering brother, sodomy, angels almost getting raped by all the men in the village, two daughters trying to get their father drunk to rape him....wars, incredible power of a God. I've been reading 3 chapters a day for over a year. I'm in Jeremiah. It's been epic. It actually changed my life

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wawiw66250
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2 years ago

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I just got paid $15k working off my laptop this month. And if you think that’s cool, my divorced friend has twin toddlers and made over $20k her first month.details on this website...........Www.Netpay8.com

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Terd Fergison
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let’s look at the bible logically. The bible claims god is a perfect being who is all-knowing, all-powerful, all good, is eternal (always existed) and has a divine plan. If god is a perfect being and is eternal (always existed), then he was perfectly happy & perfectly content for an infinite amount of time in the past. From there why create anything? Not logical. Doesn’t make sense. A perfect being becomes discontent & needs to create something, so he creates the cosmos & he creates angels. At least one of those angels betrays him. If he’s all knowing with a divine plan, how did he not see this coming an infinity away? Then he creates Eve & Eve betrays him. How did he not see this coming an infinity away? Then sin and evil take over the world. Why not stop evil? He’s all-powerful. He floods a world, saying that it will stop evil. But, it doesn’t. Buffoonish. Laughably incompetent. It’s a comedy of errors. Then we’re to think he gets things right with jesus? Evil still exists.

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righttoopinion
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Evil exists but it will never win. The truth will always be revealed. That's God. He's so beyond our understanding yet we're created in His image.

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Dash Blue
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The antisemitism is off the charts, too. Misogyny? Hoo-wee!

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Aunt Messy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus was a nice Jewish boy with a profession and broke his mother's heart by running off into the desert with twelve men instead of marrying the girl next door and making fat grandchildren.

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Macaw
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew this thread would lead to a religious argument and I was not disappointed. Where's my popcorn?

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Pia Mogollon
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hah I second this too much uptight patriarchal nonsense as well.

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DC
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... and, somehow, it misses having something connecting the stories in it ... and, for a book claiming that it consists of reports of true events - the stuff described in it seems a little too off ... like, that weirdo who survives being eaten by a whale, or that nobody came and arrested the sociopath that attempted to kill his son because he had heard some voices ... also, the amount on incest, neglect and ignorance displayed there is disgusting - ever heard of Lot? Lot is the most reliable man in his town, yet he offers some strangers his daughter, whom they should rape as long as they want, to spare two strangers who made themselves at home at Lots place. Especially the fathers who appear in this book are totally nuts - all of them. Jail or nuthouse, they'd be in today. Rightfully so.

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Vicki Breakey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the story of Job. Satan bets god that he can get a good guy to turn from god and god says sure try it? And the only rule is Job can't be killed. He lets satan kill off his wife and kids but it's ok because god gives him new ones after?? And I still don't know what moral this was trying to teach me.

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jk nbt
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

thanks once again, Panda editors, for letting this blog chain run its course... nobody is commenting anymore, so I am signing off. thanks!

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Axolotl King
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me: I saw a tiktok once and it was a guy explaining how he got kicked out of a Barnes & Noble for moving all the Bibles to the fiction section

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Lovin' Life
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is my favorite book. It answers all my questions. So before a tone else says it, I'll as it proudly... I AM A JESUS FREAK!!!!

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Terd Fergison
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus supposedly healed some lepers, but he didn't cure the disease leprosy. Why not? Did he not have the power? Is he evil? Playing favorites? Science has largely cured the disease leprosy. Thank scientists and good humans that commit good human actions. Jesus came upon a barren fig tree and he got mad at it and smited it. Is that something a sane person would do? A good person? Jesus said, I come not to bring peace, but a sword. Jesus came to separate families. He said if you love anyone more than you love god, even a mother loving her own baby, or a baby loving their own mother, it is horrible and you will punished. That's emotional blackmail and emotional abuse.

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Zoey Fitzgerald
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The jewish traditions has written down their oral traditions in Talmud, which holds commentary on the meaning of jewish law, traditions, and explanations on the meaning of the Bible’s stories. In the Christian tradition they have commentaries on the Bible from the Early Church fathers in the Orthodox and Catholic Traditions. The Protestant idea of Sola Scriptura and reading the Bible and interpreting it on your own, divorces it from its historical and cultural framework from which the Bible should be interpreted and understood. The ultimate end goal for both Judaism and Christianity is waiting for the Messiah to come and bring forth a better world, a world which we can all agree needs fixing. It is humanity’s job in the mean time play a part in the world’s redemption. Wether religious or not l think we can all participate in making the world a better place before we leave it.

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jk nbt
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you would be surprised at how much of the tradition gets into the preaching of pastors in the "sola scriptura" type churches if the preacher has been to seminary... for example, Wesley's standard sermons are still taught and used in Methodist churches after a little revision and updating for the needs of the modern day... Wesley was anglican, but studied the works of the eastern fathers. Modern charismatic and pentecostal churches ultimately draw on that tradition.

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jk nbt
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this little post encapsulates the gist of the culture war in the US of the Humanists vs the Christians. The younger generation does not buy in to conservative bible Christianity, which is the moral foundation of the country going back to the pilgrims. They want to do a cultural reset and start over with them in charge leading the whole humanist agenda to reshape & re-invent the whole country. The result is the moral chaos out there that rages every day with school shooting, drug wars, and a thousand other examples of people killing, looting, robbing, or ruining others. Is this really what you want in your cultural & moral reset agenda, humanists?

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Terd Fergison
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jk, you mother fu-cker, when the christians were in charge, we had the genocide of the Native American people in the USA. When the christians were in charge, we had slavery in the USA. We have christian terrorists to this day. And you seem like one of them with your lies and spin. The January 6th insurrection was perpetrated by a vast majority of christians. You are ignorant of history. You are ignorant on recent events. You are ignorant on morality. You are ignorant on what secular humanism even means. You would rather worship a fictional god than help people of color. You would rather prevent a woman's right to choose than possibly anger a god that has never shown his face to you. You would rather make up lies about your religion than face the fact that your god never showed up at the holocaust. You will continue to pray to your useless god to make the COVID pandemic end, instead of donating to science, the only thing helping the COVID pandemic. Pray to move a mountain, idiot.

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jk nbt
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

examples, please. Go online for apologetics pages that provide detailed answers to your "contradictions".

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cybermerlin2000
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Crappiest book of fairy stories ever. I'm going back to reading Grimms Fairy Tales

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Beatrice Multhaupt
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2 years ago

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And don,t forget the part where the Hebrews are horrified to realize that the Promised Land is already inhabited. They refuse to invade. God punishes Moses by killing him, justifies this act by stating that He demands ''Blind Obedience''.

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jk nbt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

chapter & verse please, don't recall seeing this version anywhere

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jk nbt
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2 years ago (edited)

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Chris, that's funny, that's what God says about you, and why you are not welcome in heaven

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#3

Of Mice And Men

Of Mice And Men

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Guido Diegoli
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As much as I love Mice and Men, this comment is hilarious. (Metallica in the background with 'Sad but true'. XD

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If you, however, want to do (and write!) more critical analysis of the books you read, the University Writing Center at Texas A&M University suggests to begin by summarizing the basic plot — this will help ground you in the story.

Then, research the author's background and other work. This can give insight into their perspective and bias, as well as reveal what they might be commenting on. As an example, the University Writing Center mentions Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It's about a group of friends who embark on an epic journey and fight a great war. But knowing Tolkien fought in the Battle of Somme during World War I and that his closest friends were killed helps explain his sentiments about war.

Other questions about context can stem from the story itself: think about the narrator's personality and their role in the story. Also, it can be a good idea to consider who the narrator is addressing.

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#6

Moby Dick

Moby Dick

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grey galah
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

or...MD is nature, Ahab is human hubris, Ishmael is, well, a prophet...I think the problem are school curriculum deciding the age of students who read these classics.

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Next, we have setting. When and where a story takes place can be of huge importance. Where the author's story is placed? Why the author made that decision?

Many stories would be irretrievably altered if their setting were different and setting is, therefore, vital for interpreting the story's meaning. To illustrate this point, the University Writing Center highlights the setting for Faulkner's work — the American South after the Civil War. It is essential to his overall message. Faulkner's characters are people who can't move on, and through them the author suggests that the South similarly can't get past the Civil War and the wrongs of slavery.

By the way, storylines usually evolve in patterns, so identifying essential plot points might help you to analyze, interpret, and explain the story as well.

#8

The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis

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JuJu
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But WTF is an excellent summary and would make a sufficient blurb.

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#9

Daniel C. Dennett, "Consciousness Explained"

Daniel C. Dennett, "Consciousness Explained"

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But characters are the driving force behind stories, both the major and the minor ones. Like the above-mentioned Faulkner example suggests, authors can use them to broadcast their most important messages. You won't be able to analyze every character in a book, but pick out several important ones to consider.

For this, you can use the following questions: What are the character's main personality traits and why did the author give him these traits? What is the character's role in the story? What are the character's morals or ethics? Why does the author give him those? Why does the character do what he does? Why did the author make him act that way? What is the character's relationship to other characters and why?

#10

Swann's Way

Swann's Way

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Nadia Montera
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Proust saved my life. He gave me the will to enjoy small things in life. To be happy with small delights and pleasures. To notice little things, to live consciously. I love Proust

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#11

Nietzsche, Beyond Good And Evil

Nietzsche, Beyond Good And Evil

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grey galah
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

reading these makes me realise what doesn't kill me makes me stronger...

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#12

Plato, Phaedrus

Plato, Phaedrus

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Also, various literary devices help convey meaning or create a mood. Look for allusions, irony, symbolism, and other "tools" in a story to identify key points and their contribution to the author's overall message.

After you've worked on the story for so long, you should start to get a sense of its major themes, the big ideas that authors comment on throughout the work. Common themes are good vs. evil, human nature, religion, social structure, authority, coming-of-age, human rights, and so on. Books typically deal with multiple themes, some more obvious than others.

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Once you complete the analysis, develop a thesis that makes an arguable claim about the text — like "wtf?" — and post it on Goodreads.

#13

The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher In The Rye

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Dash Blue
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love Catcher in the Rye! The only book that I have read at least five times. Heck, the only novel that i have read more than twice.

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#14

A Brief History Of Time, By Stephen Hawking

A Brief History Of Time, By Stephen Hawking

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Nadine Debard
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a non-physicist I actually enjoyed reading this book because Hawking managed to simplify the main theories and make them understandable. Of course if you don't care about time, space, quantum stuff and relativity theories, it must be a pain in the butt...

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#15

The Old Man And The Sea

The Old Man And The Sea

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Miss Cris
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another boring book responsible of all teenagers hating reading. Teachers, parents, people, if you want them to read, make them read good books, not shıt. What did you expect?

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#16

Freud, Introductory Lectures On Psychoanalysis

Freud, Introductory Lectures On Psychoanalysis

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#18

Hate Lvls 1, 2 & 3 The Great Gatsby

Hate Lvls 1, 2 & 3 The Great Gatsby

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Skara Brae
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh. I summarize this book, along with War and Peace, as 'Stupid people doing stupid things'

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#21

Dostoevsky, Notes From Underground

Dostoevsky, Notes From Underground

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Daria B
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So.... basically.... the comment section of any "serious" article on social media ♡

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#22

Herbert Marcuse, "One-Dimensional Man: Studies In The Ideology Of Advanced Industrial Society"

Herbert Marcuse, "One-Dimensional Man: Studies In The Ideology Of Advanced Industrial Society"

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#23

The Gay Science

The Gay Science

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Rando
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BTW, gay has four meanings: 1. Homosexual 2. Carefree 3. Brightly Coloured 4. Happy

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#24

Moby Dick

Moby Dick

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Dash Blue
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once read that Moby D**k is the most boring classic novel ever written. This is why I have never attempted to read it.

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#25

Kant, Groundwork Of The Metaphysics Of Morals

Kant, Groundwork Of The Metaphysics Of Morals

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Two_rolling_black_eyes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its almost like the book was written 300 years ago and helped kick off an age of enlightenment that allowed us to discuss the very issues he has. Its like saying the Wright Brothers are overrated because their plane only flew 800 feet.

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#26

Murakami, 1q84

Murakami, 1q84

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Skara Brae
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand the reviewer's sentiment. The book starts out like it's the real world, but when it shifts, it's not a lot, but still obvious. One wonders why the main characters don't think anything of it. I liked the book, though. I like stories that are less predictable than usual.

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#27

G.w.f. Hegel, "Elements Of The Philosophy Of Right"

G.w.f. Hegel, "Elements Of The Philosophy Of Right"

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Miss Cris
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't rate Hegel by only reading three pages. Moreover if they're the three first pages. You don't even know what about is the book.

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#28

Capital Vol. I

Capital Vol. I

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sofacushionfort
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too, but since I am the last king and was unable to find the entrails of the last priest, here I remain.

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#29

The Death Of Tragedy (Hamlet)

The Death Of Tragedy (Hamlet)

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Thomas Stead
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

one guy is left, the dude who is now king of 2 kingdoms due to everyone else being popped off.

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#30

The Cloud Of Unknowing

The Cloud Of Unknowing

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Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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