Book Reviews & Giveaways - April & Oliver
This poignant novel of losses startles with lovely prose and hard truths. April and Oliver are childhood friends, inseparable, soul mates. Oliver moves away to California and April stays in New York. When April's beloved 18 year old brother, Buddy, dies in the car she has loaned him, Oliver moves back from California where he has found law school and a fiance. A promising concert pianist in his youth, Oliver remains the good son, pursuing what he thinks his family desires - the good, secure life. In exchange, his ability to compose and play his beloved piano is gone. In direct contrast, but on the same collision course, April seeks out men who abuse her, ending up with T.J., an alleged murderer and stalker. As these two protagonists dance to a sibilant drama, they ebb and tide around each other like ocean and shore. There are more complications. Oliver finds out just before his wedding to Bernadette, his perfect fiance, lovely and refined, that his adored mother had an affair with Quincy, April's father's partner in the bar business. Quincy is the man who sexually abused April from 14 to 17 when she worked in her father's bar.
The family strains with the enormity of April's choices and Oliver's struggle to be the good son, in contrast to his brother Al, who is rowdy and drinks too much. Recognizing the strange bond between April and Oliver Bernadette demands that Oliver not speak to April PERIOD. Just before the wedding ceremony, Oliver confronts April, enraged that she has not told him of his mother's affair. As the bridal party moves down the aisle, with the guests all smiling, April's beloved grandmother, Nana, has a massive heart attack.
I will go no further as the novel ends circularly, coming back at the end to a transcendence that illuminates both the characters and the prose.
Tess Callahan is an amazing new author, and I will tell you that this is not an easy read. Like April and Oliver themselves, Ms. Callahan explores difficult topics in prose that en captures the reader, and presses through complex family relations to a pounding end. Almost ethereal, the novel reflects the non-linear outposts of loss and love and then returns to find itself as she brings her characters home.
This is not only a writer's novel - I absolutely loved the depth and profundity of her prose style - but also a reader's novel, as one falls, reluctantly sometimes, but deeply in love with her compassion for and her integrity toward her characters. A challenge that I highly recommend, "April & Oliver: A Novel
" affected me deeply . Asher debut novel, I can't wait for the next one!
Not a light read as the subject matter is sometimes difficult, but splendid if you press your way through, Callahan reminds me of Sue Miller, Alice Hoffman, Jane Smiley and Marguerite Duras, yet her voice is solidly her own.
" affected me deeply . Asher debut novel, I can't wait for the next one!Not a light read as the subject matter is sometimes difficult, but splendid if you press your way through, Callahan reminds me of Sue Miller, Alice Hoffman, Jane Smiley and Marguerite Duras, yet her voice is solidly her own.
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Presentation: 5
Overall: Ms. Callahan is a writer's writer.
"April & Oliver: a novel" can be purchased at Amazon.com for $16.31.
Review by Broad "A" - Ava
Presentation: 5
Overall: Ms. Callahan is a writer's writer.
"April & Oliver: a novel" can be purchased at Amazon.com
for $16.31.Review by Broad "A" - Ava
Giveaway
5 (five) winners will each receive a copy of courtesy of April & Oliver: A Novel
Rules:
Daily Entry:
- EZ Entry - simply cut and paste "Hey Broads, I want this book" in the comments along with your e-mail address.
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Please make sure you leave your email address when adding a comment or I will not be able to contact you if you win.
* This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 and over and ends on July 29, 2009 11:59 EST.
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* Good Luck
July 15, 2009 5:27 PM
Hey Broads, I want this book! Thanks for sharing~
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
July 15, 2009 6:07 PM
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misusedinnocence@aol.com
July 15, 2009 11:49 PM
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chromiumman (at) mail (dot) com
July 16, 2009 8:02 AM
"Hey Broads, I want this book." Sounds like an interesting read about some difficult topics.
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July 16, 2009 8:04 AM
I'm also subscribing (via Google Reader).
lahlstedt (at) gmail (dot) com
July 16, 2009 9:36 AM
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July 16, 2009 11:21 AM
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July 16, 2009 11:28 AM
I have subscribed and am following this blog.
July 16, 2009 1:45 PM
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July 16, 2009 1:59 PM
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July 16, 2009 2:00 PM
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July 16, 2009 4:48 PM
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July 16, 2009 8:11 PM
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July 16, 2009 11:15 PM
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pissarro85@yahoo.com
July 16, 2009 11:15 PM
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pissarro85@yahoo.com
July 16, 2009 11:16 PM
I've just subscribed via email:)
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July 16, 2009 11:19 PM
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July 16, 2009 11:27 PM
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July 17, 2009 8:51 AM
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July 17, 2009 8:55 AM
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July 17, 2009 9:23 AM
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July 17, 2009 10:36 AM
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July 17, 2009 3:08 PM
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July 17, 2009 3:43 PM
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July 17, 2009 3:44 PM
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July 17, 2009 3:45 PM
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July 17, 2009 7:27 PM
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July 18, 2009 12:36 AM
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July 18, 2009 12:12 PM
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July 18, 2009 12:37 PM
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July 18, 2009 4:10 PM
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July 18, 2009 5:53 PM
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July 18, 2009 6:14 PM
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July 18, 2009 10:47 PM
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July 18, 2009 10:56 PM
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Hey Broads, I want this book! Daily Entry!
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July 19, 2009 6:27 PM
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July 19, 2009 6:28 PM
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July 19, 2009 8:57 PM
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July 20, 2009 11:04 AM
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July 20, 2009 4:06 PM
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July 20, 2009 4:29 PM
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July 20, 2009 4:29 PM
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July 20, 2009 4:29 PM
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July 20, 2009 5:28 PM
07/20 entry for me please :)
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July 20, 2009 6:53 PM
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July 20, 2009 10:05 PM
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July 20, 2009 10:52 PM
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July 21, 2009 9:26 AM
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Hey Broads, I want this book- Daily entry!
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July 21, 2009 2:00 PM
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July 21, 2009 3:10 PM
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July 21, 2009 3:23 PM
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July 21, 2009 3:23 PM
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July 21, 2009 3:44 PM
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July 22, 2009 3:18 AM
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July 22, 2009 3:18 AM
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July 22, 2009 3:19 AM
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July 22, 2009 9:10 AM
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July 22, 2009 9:11 AM
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July 22, 2009 9:11 AM
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July 22, 2009 12:45 PM
Hey Broads, I want this book! Thanks..
July 22, 2009 1:13 PM
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July 22, 2009 2:04 PM
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July 22, 2009 10:32 PM
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great review. Sounds awesome.
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lauren51990 AT aol DOT com
July 22, 2009 10:33 PM
i'm following your blog.
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July 22, 2009 11:36 PM
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July 23, 2009 7:17 AM
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July 23, 2009 8:04 AM
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July 23, 2009 9:57 AM
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July 23, 2009 10:56 AM
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July 23, 2009 11:55 AM
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July 23, 2009 12:50 PM
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July 23, 2009 12:51 PM
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July 23, 2009 1:31 PM
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July 23, 2009 4:02 PM
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July 23, 2009 4:34 PM
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July 23, 2009 6:19 PM
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July 23, 2009 6:29 PM
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I'm following blog
July 23, 2009 7:27 PM
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July 23, 2009 8:01 PM
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July 23, 2009 8:43 PM
My 07/23 entry :)
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July 24, 2009 12:04 AM
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July 24, 2009 2:22 AM
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July 24, 2009 8:01 AM
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July 24, 2009 1:18 PM
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July 24, 2009 1:19 PM
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July 24, 2009 8:44 PM
My 07/24/09 entry - TGIF !!
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July 24, 2009 9:41 PM
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July 24, 2009 9:49 PM
"Hey Broads, I want this book"
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July 24, 2009 9:50 PM
subscribe via google reader
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July 25, 2009 12:01 AM
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July 25, 2009 12:54 AM
I added ur badge to my website:
http://chadwicksfreestuff.blogspot.com/
thanks
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July 25, 2009 3:06 AM
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Thanks!
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July 25, 2009 3:06 AM
I follow!
Thanks!
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July 25, 2009 7:04 AM
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July 25, 2009 7:57 AM
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July 25, 2009 10:04 AM
Hey Broads, I want this book! Daily entry!
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July 25, 2009 12:41 PM
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July 25, 2009 3:42 PM
My 07/25/09 entry :)
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July 25, 2009 8:27 PM
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July 25, 2009 9:51 PM
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July 25, 2009 10:48 PM
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July 25, 2009 11:33 PM
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July 25, 2009 11:33 PM
I follow.
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July 26, 2009 12:44 AM
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July 26, 2009 2:17 AM
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July 26, 2009 3:50 AM
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July 26, 2009 3:54 AM
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July 26, 2009 3:55 AM
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July 26, 2009 10:25 AM
Hey Broads, I want this book! Today's entry... :)
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July 26, 2009 5:19 PM
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July 26, 2009 6:25 PM
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July 26, 2009 9:36 PM
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July 27, 2009 6:26 AM
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July 27, 2009 6:26 AM
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July 27, 2009 7:33 AM
Hey Broads, I want this book, daily entry.
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July 27, 2009 1:20 PM
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July 27, 2009 6:35 PM
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My 07/27/09 entry :)
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July 27, 2009 9:21 PM
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July 28, 2009 6:16 AM
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July 28, 2009 9:35 AM
Hey Broads, I want this book, today's entry!
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July 28, 2009 11:35 AM
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July 28, 2009 1:40 PM
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July 28, 2009 1:41 PM
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July 28, 2009 5:19 PM
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July 28, 2009 9:49 PM
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July 28, 2009 9:53 PM
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July 28, 2009 10:06 PM
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July 28, 2009 10:07 PM
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July 29, 2009 12:48 AM
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July 29, 2009 1:39 AM
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July 29, 2009 1:46 AM
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July 29, 2009 8:49 AM
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Hey Broads, I want this book, daily entry!
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July 29, 2009 10:09 AM
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July 29, 2009 10:11 AM
I subscribe by email.
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July 29, 2009 10:14 AM
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July 29, 2009 2:43 PM
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July 29, 2009 2:46 PM
I am a email subscriber.
george ferris
littlegeorgie56@yahoo.com
July 29, 2009 3:03 PM
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July 29, 2009 4:30 PM
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July 29, 2009 4:30 PM
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July 29, 2009 4:31 PM
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July 29, 2009 5:53 PM
Hey Broads, I want this book!
Thank you so much for the great contest!
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July 29, 2009 5:54 PM
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July 29, 2009 5:56 PM
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July 29, 2009 5:57 PM
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July 29, 2009 5:57 PM
I follow
July 29, 2009 6:10 PM
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July 29, 2009 6:11 PM
Google reader subscriber!
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July 29, 2009 6:11 PM
Follower!
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July 29, 2009 6:15 PM
Hey Broads, I want this book. sharonaquilino(at)hotmail(dot)com
July 29, 2009 6:25 PM
My 07/29/09 entry :)
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July 29, 2009 8:25 PM
"Hey Broads, I want this book"!