Kantika
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Kantika
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Narrated by:
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Gail Shalan
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By:
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Elizabeth Graver
About this listen
A kaleidoscopic portrait of one family’s displacement across four countries, Kantika—“song” in Ladino—follows the joys and losses of Rebecca Cohen, feisty daughter of the Sephardic elite of early 20th-century Istanbul. When the Cohens lose their wealth and are forced to move to Barcelona and start anew, Rebecca fashions a life and self from what comes her way—a failed marriage, the need to earn a living, but also passion, pleasure, and motherhood. Moving from Spain to Cuba to New York for an arranged second marriage, she faces her greatest challenge—her disabled stepdaughter, Luna, whose feistiness equals her own and whose challenges pit new family against old.
Exploring identity, place, and exile, Kantika also reveals how the female body—in work, art, and love—serves as a site of both suffering and joy. A haunting, inspiring meditation on the tenacity of women, this lush, lyrical novel from Elizabeth Graver celebrates the insistence on seizing beauty and grabbing hold of one’s one and only life.
©2023 Elizabeth Graver (P)2023 Dreamscape MediaListeners also enjoyed...
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- By S. Price on 12-15-24
By: Ayelet Tsabari
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The Boy with the Star Tattoo
- A Novel
- By: Talia Carner
- Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan
- Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 23
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 20
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Story5 out of 5 stars 20
1942: As the Vichy government hunts for Jews across France, Claudette Pelletier, a young and talented seamstress and lover of romance novels, falls in love with a Jewish man who seeks shelter at the château where she works. Their whirlwind and desperate romance before he must flee leaves her pregnant and terrified. When the Nazis invade the Free Zone shortly after the birth of her child, the disabled Claudette is forced to make a heartbreaking choice and escapes to Spain, leaving her baby in the care of his nursemaid.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great history lesson
- By Kathy on 03-30-24
By: Talia Carner
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One Hundred Saturdays
- Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World
- By: Michael Frank
- Narrated by: Michael Frank
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 127
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 115
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Story5 out of 5 stars 114
With nearly a century of life behind her, Stella Levi had never before spoken in detail about her past. Then she met Michael Frank. He came to her Greenwich Village apartment one Saturday afternoon to ask her a question about the Juderia, the neighborhood in Rhodes where she’d grown up in a Jewish community that had thrived there for half a millennium. Probing and courageous, candid and sly, Stella is a modern-day Scheherazade whose stories reveal what it was like to grow up in an extraordinary place in an extraordinary time—and to construct a life after that place has vanished.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent book
- By Daphne on 09-14-22
By: Michael Frank
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Künstlers in Paradise
- By: Cathleen Schine
- Narrated by: Jesse Vilinsky
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 35
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 31
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 31
For years Mamie Künstler, ninety-three-years-old, as clever and glamorous as ever, has lived happily in her bungalow in Venice, California, with her inscrutable housekeeper and her gigantic St. Bernard dog. Their tranquility is upended when Mamie’s grandson, Julian, arrives from New York City. Like many a twenty-something, he has come to seek his fortune in Hollywood. But it is 2020, the global pandemic sweeps in, and Julian’s short visit suddenly has no end in sight.
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2 out of 5 stars
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I wanted to love this but it The Kunstlers was a klunker
- By Cathryn Harjung on 04-11-23
By: Cathleen Schine
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This Other Eden
- By: Paul Harding
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 129
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 106
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Story4 out of 5 stars 107
In 1792, formerly enslaved Benjamin Honey and his Irish wife, Patience, discover an island where they can make a life together. Over a century later, the Honeys’ descendants and a diverse group of neighbors are desperately poor, isolated, and often hungry, but nevertheless protected from the hostility awaiting them on the mainland.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Painfully overwritten
- By WPH on 02-24-23
By: Paul Harding
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The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem
- A Novel
- By: Sarit Yishai-Levi, Anthony Berris - translator
- Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik
- Length: 17 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 226
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 192
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 190
Gabriela's mother, Luna, is the most beautiful woman in all of Jerusalem, though her famed beauty and charm seem to be reserved for everyone but her daughter. Ever since Gabriela can remember, she and Luna have struggled to connect. But when tragedy strikes, Gabriela senses there's more to her mother than painted nails and lips. Desperate to understand their relationship, Gabriela pieces together the stories of her family's previous generations.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Time travel
- By Bibliophile Equestrienne on 09-15-21
By: Sarit Yishai-Levi, and others
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Sons and Daughters
- A Novel
- By: Chaim Grade, Rose Waldman - translator, Adam Kirsch - introduction
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 28 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
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Story5 out of 5 stars 2
Rabbi Sholem Shachne Katzenellenbogen’s world, the world of his forefathers, is crumbling before his eyes. And in his own home! His eldest, Bentzion, is off in Bialystok, studying to be a businessman; his daughter Bluma Rivtcha is in Vilna, at nursing school. For her older sister, Tilza, he at least managed to find a suitable young rabbi, but he can tell things are off between them. Naftali Hertz? Forget it; he’s been lost to a philosophy degree in Switzerland (and maybe even a goyish wife?). And now the rabbi’s youngest, Refael’ke, wants to run off to the Holy Land with the Zionists.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A mostly lost culture, partly preserved
- By Amazon Customer on 04-07-25
By: Chaim Grade, and others
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The Postcard
- By: Anne Berest, Tina Kover - translator
- Narrated by: Barrie Kealoha
- Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 338
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 292
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 292
January, 2003. Together with the usual holiday cards, an anonymous postcard is delivered to the Berest family home. On the front, a photo of the Opéra Garnier in Paris. On the back, the names of Anne Berest’s maternal great-grandparents, Ephraïm and Emma, and their children, Noémie and Jacques—all killed at Auschwitz. Fifteen years after the postcard is delivered, Anne, the heroine of this novel, is moved to discover who sent it and why.
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4 out of 5 stars
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The author’s words deserve a better narrator
- By TK on 05-22-23
By: Anne Berest, and others
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The House of Doors
- By: Tan Twan Eng
- Narrated by: David Oakes, Louise-Mai Newberry
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 317
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 280
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 280
The year is 1921. Lesley Hamlyn and her husband, Robert, a lawyer and war veteran, are living at Cassowary House on the Straits Settlement of Penang. When “Willie” Somerset Maugham, a famed writer and old friend of Robert’s, arrives for an extended visit with his secretary Gerald, the pair threatens a rift that could alter more lives than one. Maugham, one of the great novelists of his day, is beleaguered: Having long hidden his homosexuality, his unhappy and expensive marriage of convenience becomes unbearable after he loses his savings—and the freedom to travel with Gerald.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great, but no “Garden”
- By Susan on 10-30-23
By: Tan Twan Eng
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The Fraud
- A Novel
- By: Zadie Smith
- Narrated by: Zadie Smith
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 442
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 399
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 398
It is 1873. Mrs. Eliza Touchet is the Scottish housekeeper—and cousin by marriage—of a once-famous novelist, now in decline, William Ainsworth, with whom she has lived for thirty years. Mrs. Touchet is a woman of many interests: literature, justice, abolitionism, class, her cousin, his wives, this life and the next. But she is also sceptical. She suspects her cousin of having no talent; his successful friend, Mr. Charles Dickens, of being a bully and a moralist; and England of being a land of facades, in which nothing is quite what it seems.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Very disappointing
- By Happy purchaser on 09-10-23
By: Zadie Smith
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Homecoming
- By: Kate Morton
- Narrated by: Claire Foy
- Length: 17 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,000
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,627
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,623
Adelaide Hills, Christmas Eve, 1959. At the end of a scorching hot day, a local deliveryman makes a terrible discovery. A police investigation is called, and the small town of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most shocking and perplexing murder cases in the history of South Australia. Many years later and thousands of miles away, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for nearly two decades, she now finds herself laid off from her full-time job and struggling to make ends meet. Until a phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Loved the compelling audiobook version!
- By Melissas Bookshelf on 04-07-23
By: Kate Morton
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North Woods
- A Novel
- By: Daniel Mason
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall, Michael Crouch, Jason Culp, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,725
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,494
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,493
When two young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to growing apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths an ancient mass grave—only to discover that the earth refuse to give up their secrets.
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5 out of 5 stars
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An American Masterpiece
- By Psumissyh on 09-21-23
By: Daniel Mason
What listeners say about Kantika
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Gregory L. Glover
- 12-22-23
Reminds me of Chaim Potok
I loved the cultural aspects and the character building. The story takes off when Luna enters the narrative and “sings.” Beautifully written. I prefer a little more action and stronger emphasis on plot, but the story is a good one and the final chapters do reach a satisfying climax. Well done. Very much worth the time and effort. The use of French, Spanish, etc., were masterful and the reader didn’t miss a beat. Virtuoso performance. It has been a while since I read Potok, but the cultural milieu put me very much in mind of his writing.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amy Gerstein
- 02-01-24
Beautiful story. Excellent narration.
Beautiful story. Excellent narration. Kantika follows multiple generations and weaves in Jewish culture, immigration, and beauty.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Elliott Wolfe, M.D.
- 07-25-23
Outstanding performance of a beautiful book
The performer is to be complemented for her performance,, which enhances the author's writing. Highly recommended.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sue St Paul
- 08-19-24
Wonderful history
Loved the book and listening to the narrator. A beautiful story of a mother and daughter, resilience, hope and commitment to providing a better life. Last chapter explores jealousy vs. riding above the feeling to kindness.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PD
- 09-02-24
Unusual topic
Loved characters in the story, particularly the lead character. I couldn’t put this down. I hope there is a sequel.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Marsha L. Woerner
- 10-08-24
Coping with the world as a Jew before&during WWII
(As posted in Goodreads)
We had our book club meeting on this book last night; afterwards, I really didn't know how to rate it. It's a good book- well written and full of geography and history, but overall I personally didn't enjoy it as much as most of the rest of the group. I would give it three stars, but my book club overall rates of four stars.
It was an interesting story of a family who started in Turkey and moved around to Spain, Cuba, and eventually the US during pre-world War Two through the war and beyond. They were a Jewish family with limited options, and they had many trials and challenges.
Overall, it was interesting to see their approach to the challenges and the different characters approaches to life in general. I enjoyed the book, but it didn't grab me in that special way (whatever that might mean). I was not in agreement with the majority, probably mostly because it really was a good book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SomervilleWhereElse
- 05-23-23
A beautiful family story
Well narrated and sung. I enjoyed every moment, though it’s not my family’s story, it’s so lovely, it will be enjoyed by all.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Cindi Anthony
- 06-08-23
Very disappointing
While the story was interesting, I never really connected with any of the characters. But my biggest complaint is with the performance. I found the narration so annoying that it was a real distraction. I’m glad I made it through but plan to avoid this narrator in the future.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Barbara
- 11-13-23
Journey to Safety
I Loved the reader & her singing is beautiful. The story held my interest all through the book. I fell in love with Rebecca for her loving, nurturing, and resilient qualities - she is a wonderful role model.
Wonderful to learn about the Sephardic Jewish culture. So sad to once again read of the world’s antisemitism, which doesn’t seem to ever end.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jill A. Broder
- 07-28-24
Memoir worth reading in today’s world!
This is a must read to go back to gain historical context with what is happening today in the Middle East.
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