Have you ever regretted reading any books?

wiseagent Level 1

September 5, 2017, 3:38 pm

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The act of judging a book by its cover or its synopsis unfortunately is still something very common anywhere in the world.

Obviously this is a big mistake because we end up missing the opportunity to read great stories and meet great writers / authors.However, whether we make those mistakes or not at some point some in our lives, a wrong book will pickus up by the arm and - somehow we won't be able to explain it right - "forcing" us to read it, haha.
So, what book (or books) would be on your list and for what reason?

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

I have never actually does this which is weird considering how many books I have read in the past. I have never once regretted reading a particular book which I'm grateful for I guess. Every single book that I have read in the past has been great and I have actually loved most of the books I have read. Maybe that is because I tend to buy books that I know are good or tend to only buy books that I know I will enjoy based on the blurb or cover.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

So, I think for now you might consider yourself a lucky reader, haha... But sooner or later you'll also get into the statistic of readers who have already read a bad book. It's impossible not to read some during life (unless you have never read a book).

9 years ago

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Painterly

Painterly

I find myself in that statistic a lot! Truth be told, I despise reading fiction. I've always suffered a flighty mind, being your prototypical daydreamer in my school years. My imagination has been flexed to the point it needs no further input. Whenever I'm reading someone else's imaginative scribblings I just feel like I'm wasting time I could be spending in my own fanciful artifices which are tailor-made to my own interests. I play several instruments and program RPG video games in my spare time. What do I need some book for?

9 years ago

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

To be fair, I don't think I actually will ever come across a bad book because of the fact that I just don't read books anymore. I don't really have the time or the interest to read any books right now (although that might change in the future so maybe I will end up reading a bad book).

9 years ago

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TheArticulate

TheArticulate

I feel the exact same way, as I can't think of a book that I regretted reading. I have a pretty good sense of what I'll like, which make my selection process pretty reliable in terms of what I'll like. I've maybe regretted starting a book, since I'll quit reading a book if I don't find it intriguing enough after getting a hundred or so pages into it.

But no, I've also never regretted reading a book that I finished!

9 years ago

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mdbree17

mdbree17

When the cover is so nice and all, yet the content is nonsense. Clearly, must remember that do not judge the book by its cover. haha

9 years ago

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DoughBreezy

DoughBreezy

I agree! It's difficult to regret reading a book that you picked out because you already had a feeling that the book would be good. You should also consider the fact that reading books bring you new ideas! I never regretted reading a book because each book comes with new themes and different ideas. If i feel like a book is boring, I still read until it's completed because I want to know what happens at the end. I write so I love to have new ideas brought to my attention! Every book that I have read has given me a new idea on my writings. I also become more knowledgeable to a topic just from reading so I don't think I have ever regretted reading a book.

9 years ago

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mar06

mar06

So far I don't haven't regret about reading books. Though I encountered those deep words in a certain book but I just find a way how to manage it so that I can understand and continue to the process.

9 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

The first question should be why would I regret reading any book that I actually dedicated several hours of my time into reading after that session. If the book isn't passing any information good to me, I will would dump it even before reading less than 5 pages of the book.

But once I read more than 1 chapter in the book, then it's totally worth my reading it over and over again without regretting anything about it.

9 years ago

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RhealaineS

RhealaineS

I totally agree with you. I make sure that the book is worthy of my time before reading it. I don't usually have regrets because I know that before doing anything, I always think and decide carefully. Also, I used to read books recommended by my friends or by other people I know.

8 years ago

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Corzhens

Corzhens

You are lucky not to have read a book that you regret later. I have the occasion to have bought that kind of book that I didn't even finish reading because I don't find any sense. I just relied on the title of the book and the pitch at the back cover not knowing that the writer is not good. It's a good thing that I buy books in the Used Book Sale store. Maybe there are more than 10 worthless books that I had bought but did not finish reading. They go to the trash can afterwards.

9 years ago

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esteban123

esteban123

I agree on @DarthHazard, For me reading a book is not a regrettable thing because it is a fun way to help increase our knowledge and understanding in to some things around us. Reading a book helps me a lot to realize on who I am and what I am aiming for in my life. Through books it gives me the opportunity to be updated on the current trends in the world which is really great and very helpful for me. We should not judge a book by its cover but rather judge the content of the book for us to really know its worth.

9 years ago

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treecko142

treecko142

Yeah, I'm interested in the books that I read in the first place, so I don't really regret reading them all the way through. In addition, I've read some that you know are already bad from the very beginning, so I just stop reading immediately so I won't waste time and regret it.

9 years ago

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DenisP

DenisP

I think I generally agree with this, with regards to the choices I make at least. I'd like to think that I can make some generally educated guesses when it comes to good books, and usually that seemed to be the case.

However, sometimes I've read certain books just to form an opinion about them since they're popular in mainstream culture. Usually, those are the books that I end up regretting having read. Note to self: reading teen novels as an adult is almost always a waste of time and mental energy.

9 years ago

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GGKK

GGKK

I totally get you. I am always like that too. I have never regretted reading something because I very carefully choose my books when I buy them. Usually they are the kind of books I am quite sure I will enjoy reading.

8 years ago

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jeffreyjose48

jeffreyjose48

No! I have not regretted reading books that I love. The holy Bible is my favorite book to read. It has changed my life. I'm forever grateful reading it.

8 years ago

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Authord

Authord

I can vividly remember one of the books, I read back in my college days Tears of Love. The hype behind the book was super in my vicinity which made me to buy the book. Although the book was interesting and very captivating, but at the end the book ended so badly that it tampered with my emotions, It weighed me down as if it happen in real life.
I regretted reading the book, because I'm too emotional.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

Interesting comment.

I hadn't considered the idea of someone commenting "negatively" on a book because it was too motional. It's a very different point of view (positively speaking) especially to me who have never read any books like that.

9 years ago

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mdbree17

mdbree17

That's what happens when emotional people read. Sometimes, they put themselves in the plot of the story. The one who's belittling or you know the one who's weak and fragile. I am like that, too. Most of the times.

9 years ago

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Tangale

Tangale

I read a book when i was about 16 years old. It was a detect book of how detectives solved homicides in Britain in the 16 century. The book was so interesting but it had no front nor back cover and the first 37 pages were missing. It had so many stories from chapter to chapter. The problem is that it broke my heart with very emotional stories. There was one particular story that i could not finish due to some missing pages and i was so affected i wanted to know how it ended. I have tried to look for it by checking every detect book i come across but i have never been lucky to. I regret reading it because i did not know the name of the book and i cant find it in order to finish that story.

9 years ago

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Tangale

Tangale

I read a book when i wasabout 16 years old. It was a detect book of how detectives solved homicides in
Britain in the 16 century. The book was so interesting but it had no front nor
back cover and the first 37 pages were missing. It had so many stories from
chapter to chapter. The problem is that it broke my heart with very emotional
stories. There was one particular story that i could not finish due to some
missing pages and i was so affected i wanted to know how it ended. I have tried
to look for it by checking every detect book i come across but i have never
been lucky to. I only regret reading it because i did not know the name of the
book and i cant find it in order to finish that story.

9 years ago

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Krisleen

Krisleen

I did not regret reading any book so far. My case is the opposite. I am currently on a business venture and part of it is leaning about financial literacy. Our mentors gave us the task to read the book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki. They really love that book. I hear them saying it's an eye opener that helps people develop the right mindset and attitude in taking charge of their finances. I read the book and I really love it. They are not hyping. It turned out to be my favorite book.

9 years ago

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Tronia

Tronia

I don't think that I have ever regretted reading a book because I always do my research prior to buying or borrowing it from the library. I never just say, "Oh look, this one was a nice cover, I'll read it." I'm not impulsive like that. I prefer to know what sort of book I'm getting. I look for specific authors and genres and then I read different, spoilers free reviews. That ensures that I don't end up wasting my time reading a book I wouldn't enjoy.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

I'm like you on this subject, because I really can't be impulsive when it comes to reading. I need to know what I'm going to read, know who wrote it, read some critical reviews and many other things before starting to read.

I may even read something bad someday, but it won't be for lack of precaution, haha!

9 years ago

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TheArticulate

TheArticulate

You've illustrated the exact reason that I haven't regretting reading a book as well. I have a good idea of what I'm getting into whenever I read a book since I also do research on the book, the topic and themes, as well as the author at times.

I also pay good attention to reviews and recommendations from family, friends, and people whose judgement I trust.

9 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

I completely agree with you on this, make your research about the book you want to read before getting it, this would just satisfy your curiosity and push you to buying it or not buying the book, than just running off to buy any book you have no information about or anything about it's author, there is every chance that you would be disappointed with the book.

9 years ago

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peachpurple

peachpurple

When I read a book, I don't read the introduction but go straight to chapter two instead to read the story flow. By the time I had finished chapter two, I would be able to judge whether this book is worth my time to borrow it or buy it. In addition , the killer title of the book also affects my mood

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

I think your way of judging a book before reading it completely is somewhat unusual (at least for me, because I've never met anyone who do that). But at the same time it seems to be very efficient and interesting.

9 years ago

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Gracee77

Gracee77

I did regret one book. The review was scandalous and curiosity overtook me. It affected my viewpoint and until now I'm reaping what I sow. I am now careful with what I read because not everything we read is good for us.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

This is the bad side of doing something after you have created so many expectations, right?

That's how it used to happen to me a lot in relation to the movies. But over time you are becoming more aware of the details and not being influenced so easily.

9 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

Books aren't that much of a problem when it comes to reading one that I regretted, such things hardly happen but when it comes to movies, I would admit that I have watched lots of movies that disappointed me 100% and still doing so till date. The reason for this is that by just reading the synopsis of the movie, I would feel wow that it's going to be a good one and I would rush and get it only to be disappointed at the end of just watching few episodes.

9 years ago

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JoeMilford

JoeMilford

I don't think that I have regretted reading books, per se, but I am sure I been disappointed by many books before. I have gotten to the middle or the end of a book and have wished I could get the time in my life which I spent on it back, but still, I was reading, and you can do a lot worse things with your time. Anyway, I am a pretty good judge of an author and of a text, so, lately, these days, I read fewer and fewer bad books because I am a better and better reader.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

I'm like you on this issue. A bad book I've never read (lucky me, haha), but I've already disappointed myself with many of them... However, in a way, I remember them all because they've always had something that reminds me of them at some point.

Sometimes I think this is weird, but it happens.

9 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

Exactly how I feel, I think there are only a few bad books in circulation but there are a lot of niche books in which not all would be interested in reading. It's the readers choice to read whatever book he likes too, that being said, boring books to you could be a great book for some, so its really about ones interests and passion.

9 years ago

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ballyhara

ballyhara

Feel you... A book always deserve to invest your time in it. Obviously, sometimes you may feel disappointed or disagree with it, but it all depends on what you were expecting. I had a very personal and bad experience while I was in college, one of my teachers wrote a book and we had to read it, it was literally required, I felt pushed to read it, and the worst thing is that the book's content wasn't up to date, all the information was according to his experience on the 80's-90's. Seriously, he was writing for new students, we were hungry for upcoming learning about his experience, and we were completely disappointed about it.

9 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

I haven't read something that I've regretted because I believe that all books have some some useful knowledge in it. Even miniscule Information can be useful that's why knowledge can be equated to power.

8 years ago

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LeJayJ

LeJayJ

Actually regret reading a book? No, I couldn't say that I regretted it so much as I wondered what was wrong with me that I continued to read it. There are only two books that come to mind for this and for different reasons. The first is a book that my boyfriend's, friend's grandmother wrote and then paid to have published. After she died, my boyfriend's friend, pressed it on me saying that it was a must read. To be polite and because I wanted to support him in his mourning, I read it. Well most of it anyway. It was awful. It was a mishmash of incidents she shared with a man that she lived with for a short time before he died of kidney failure. It was a shy rendition of an older woman's infatuation with a man who was fifteen years younger than she who , by the sounds of it, took her for her caring and money before he got too sick and died. Outside of the childish and bad writing, it was painful to read this woman's accounts of what she thought was a mutual love affair. Afterwards I had to struggle to think of what to say to my boyfriend's friend.
The other book was a dark look at a girl in a Southern state coming of age in a dysfunctional family. Despite the rawness of the story and its attempt to be realistic, I found it to be unnecessarily depressing and without any character background to tell us why the characters were the way they were. It felt flat and sensation seeking by over using sex as its main source of action. That one I did finish and felt bad about reading because I thought that my spending enough time to read it said more about me than I cared for it to. As for regretting reading it though, I couldn't say that I regret it as much as I could say that I am surprised that I read it at all.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

Well... Your perspective on the facts is very interesting (in a good way, of course). If all readers in the world were the same as you, I don't think there would be bad books (which would be a good thing for all the writers Have you ever regretted reading any books?

Have you ever regretted reading any books?

).

9 years ago

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Emre12

Emre12

Reading books is an amazing thing, although I do indeed regret reading a few. Not because they made me feel bad, but because those certain books were just simply boring and uninteresting. From the start I knew of that, but I was pretty much forced to read them anyway since those books would typically be for English assignments and such.

Then again, not all books for English assignments have been bad and regretful (like Little Brother, etc) but the books I regret reading are typically the ones I'm forced to read for school related stuff. But who knows, maybe I just don't like reading them because of the fact that it's only for school and nothing else?

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

I think the forced readings (especially the school readings) are extremely discouraging. But I may consider myself lucky because I have never read anything - even if forced - that can be considered something worthy of regret.

9 years ago

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DanoCath

DanoCath

Based on my experienced, I never had regretted reading any books. Whenever I plan to read a book I always make it to the point to read the synopsis first, and at the same time, it must be aligned with the genres that I am interested with or otherwise I wouldn't even start reading it.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

Lucky you, haha!

I don't want to discourage you, but I need to ask you this: Don't you think the synopsis can someday play tricks on you and hide a bad story?

This has happened to many of my friends.

9 years ago

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Soulwatcher

Soulwatcher

I regret reading this ebook back in the day when blogs were first exploding. The guy said make a bunch of blogs so I made 3 and I did mega research on the topics and I did SEO and I spent a lot of money.

And I was like OH I CANT WAIT! I am going to be making $1,500 a week. And sadly that never happened and the only person who was making $1,500 a week was the guy selling the ebook.

And I couldn't figure out why I wasn't rich. And that's when my dr had to explain to me that 98% of the websites on the internet don't make any money. And out of that 2% of the websites that do make money, 98% of them don't make enough money to live on.

Him telling me that was a slap in the face reality check and I am glad that he told me the truth. Because who knows how much money that I would have spent on websites trying to make money. And these days I make websites with no intention of making money. And if I do make any money then that's great. But I never spend any more money than I am willing to lose!

9 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

I've NEVER, read a book and then regretted reading it much later. I think it's because books are a lot easier to nail down in terms of story, and interest. For example, you can read the back of a books cover to see if the story interests you. Then check out the front cover, and skim the first few pages at a library or book store to see if your interest is piqued enough to check the book out or purchase it. It's a lot easier than oh say, a movie. Where the trailer can be designed to lure you in with a 1 and a half or 2 minute montage of awesome, intense key scenes. From a 90 or 100 minute, mostly uneventful film.

9 years ago

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mildredtabitha

mildredtabitha

I have also never regretted reading a book. If the story at the back of the cover interests me, then I will read the whole book. I have never been a reader before but I need to start reading more books because I write often. Having someone suggest a nice book for me will be better so that I won't experience any regrets in reading a book.

9 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

It's harder because book stores are vanishing all across America. Even the big ones like Barnes and Noble. But there are plenty of book stores online now. Where you can get digital copies or even physical paperback or hard cover copies of books both new and old.

9 years ago

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mar06

mar06

So far I never regret reading books. Although sometimes I spent a lot of time in reading books because I am kind of person who are fond of reading books. So i never regret it.

9 years ago

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mark8625

mark8625

That is right. No need to regret to something you enjoyed and loved the most. Reading books is like educating and learning more important things. Using imagination while reading it is something healthy to our minds. I have never regretted reading books because this is my hobby and I enjoy doing this.

8 years ago

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TheInsaneSakif

TheInsaneSakif

I also didn't regret reading any books so far. I think it's because I do a lot of research before deciding to read a book. When buying a book, I look at the ratings and reviews, because they are a huge factor in determining whether a book is good or bad.

9 years ago

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bienn05

bienn05

Books are just full of knowledge and lessons in life. If it happens to have a bad story, you should learn from that. Next time you buy a book, read the back of the book first for some summary. We should always be careful and be wise with what we purchase. We should not waste money on somethings that does not add value to your life.

9 years ago

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mark8625

mark8625

That is right. Read the summary back of the books so that you would know how the story goes so that you will not waste time and money.

8 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

Reading a book synopsis before venturing into buying it for full reading is very important because it's definitely going to give you an insight on what you are going to come across reading throughout the entire book.

But it's important to point out that some authors have a funny of giving a misleading synopsis about their book. So this sometimes puts some book readers in a bind that they end up getting less than what they looked up to.

9 years ago

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mitan143

mitan143

Yes, I totally agreed to this. When I was planning to buy a book or to read a book, I read its synopsis first because I'm used to test my interest by checking its title and summary. But if I have one thing that surely regretted me for reading a book, it is because the book I read is actually given by relatives or friends as a birthday gift. What I did to appreciate their gift for me is to read it and tell them about what I've read even though it isn't what I like to read. Usually I received some books that are boring and the genre isn't my kind of taste to read.

9 years ago

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edencaga

edencaga

You are right. I usually check first the reviews or check the book synopsis because I want to buy a book that will really enjoy my taste. So far I haven't yet regretted reading any book yet as I loved all the books I have read before so I guess If ever there is one book that I don't really like in the future, instead of feeling regret I will just treasure and at least appreciate the story.

8 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

When picking a book to read, I would first decide on what kind of genre or type of content i would like to read. Then I would do some research on the best books on that genre. After which I would read reviews, if I like the reviews then I would read the book. But if the reviews are not that good then I'll opt for another one.

8 years ago

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edencaga

edencaga

Yes, its also depends on genre. Well for me, I like books about fictional, romantic stories and sometimes horror stories. If I don't like the book or the story, instead of reading it, I just search the plot of the story and I just let others borrow my book. I still keep those books that I don't like even if I have not read the story.

8 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

I have to agree, I never purchase a book blindly without reading a review or its synopsis. What I hate most is buying a book which I don't like to read.
.
All the books I read so far are enjoyable reads. I haven't regretted reading any book because all of them have contributed a nugget of knowledge and information to me.

8 years ago

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