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<book id="99742">
  <title><![CDATA[The Wild Ass's Skin]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0140443304]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780140443301]]></isbn13>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1233947745m/99742.jpg</image_url>
    <work>
  <best_book_id type="integer">99742</best_book_id>
  <books_count type="integer">69</books_count>
  <default_description>Balzac is concerned with the choice between ruthless self-gratification and asceticism, dissipation and restraint, in a novel that is powerful in its symbolism and realistic depiction of decadence.</default_description>
  <id type="integer">1350145</id>
  <media_type nil="true"></media_type>
  <original_language_id type="integer" nil="true"></original_language_id>
  <original_publication_day type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_day>
  <original_publication_month type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_month>
  <original_publication_year type="integer">1831</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>The Wild Ass's Skin</original_title>
  <rating_dist>total:299|5:83|4:106|3:77|2:29|1:13|</rating_dist>
  <ratings_count type="integer">299</ratings_count>
  <ratings_sum type="integer">1114</ratings_sum>
  <reviews_count type="integer">438</reviews_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">19</text_reviews_count>
</work>

  <average_rating><![CDATA[3.73]]></average_rating>
  <ratings_count><![CDATA[165]]></ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[15]]></text_reviews_count>
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99742.The_Wild_Ass_s_Skin]]></url>
  <authors>
        <author id="228089">
      <name><![CDATA[Honoré de Balzac]]></name>
      <role><![CDATA[]]></role>
      <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/228089.Honor_de_Balzac]]></url>
      <average_rating><![CDATA[3.76]]></average_rating>
      <ratings_count><![CDATA[6327]]></ratings_count>
      <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[502]]></text_reviews_count>
    </author>
      </authors>
    <reviews start="1" end="20" total="437">
    <review id="49195007">
    <user id="692710">
    <name><![CDATA[Annabelle]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Flagstaff, AZ]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/692710-annabelle]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Mar 13 16:50:57 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Mar 13 16:53:42 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[First published in 1832, this novel is pedantic and dense.  A young man, Raphael, has lost all is wealth and has become a disrepute and gambler. He plans to throw himself into the Seine, but waits until night, and in the meantime visits an antiquities store where he receives a piece of skin from a g...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49195007">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49195007]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="71377755">
    <user id="1457001">
    <name><![CDATA[Stephen]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1457001-stephen]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Sep 15 22:04:13 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Sep 15 22:05:11 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A young man, having gambled away his last gold coin, walks to the Seine to commit suicide.  While he waits for darkness to fall, he wanders into a curiosity shop where he comes across a wild ass’s skin.  This talisman, he learns, will grant every wish.  But with each wish granted the pelt shrinks,...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71377755">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71377755]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="345333">
    <user id="4693">
    <name><![CDATA[علی]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[3050, Denmark]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4693]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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        <shelf name="classic-fictions" />
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 20 12:13:06 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Apr 04 00:59:00 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read Balzac first, when I was very young, and I enjoyed the stories very much. The second time was when I became interested in history. That was even better. One (who?) has said that ”for better understanding France in 19. century, you’d better read Balzac”. He is the auther of ”Studies of...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/345333">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/345333]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="63595684">
    <user id="2525138">
    <name><![CDATA[Erfaan]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United Kingdom]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2525138-erfaan-kheirandish]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jul 15 10:05:14 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 15 10:07:15 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[It's one of those books which is romantic and philosophical too, well not really philosophical textbook but having some philosophical material in it. Well, I think any book dealing somehow with suicide have some philosophy in it. Right?]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/63595684]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="41017174">
    <user id="1629314">
    <name><![CDATA[Vladimir]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Tyumen, Russian Federation]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1629314-vladimir-toss]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Dec 27 11:50:22 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 27 11:50:45 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Кто бы знал что английское название такое смешное]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41017174]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="58624195">
    <user id="1687788">
    <name><![CDATA[D.w.]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1687788-d-w]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Jun 06 17:57:49 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jun 05 23:29:50 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Jun 06 17:57:49 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[No one's learned anything from this story.  ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58624195]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="77767628">
    <user id="79357">
    <name><![CDATA[Dustin]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Lyon, France]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/79357-dustin-hooten]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Nov 14 12:00:31 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Nov 14 12:01:05 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[One of Balzac's best!]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77767628]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="48097771">
    <user id="2078630">
    <name><![CDATA[Ria]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Saint Petersburg, 66, Russian Federation]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2078630-ria-rina]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="classics" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 03 06:57:43 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Mar 13 08:34:14 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Sometimes you don't know what is more precious - life оr love?<br/>It's all about what you choose...<br/><br/>Really liked it.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48097771]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="34812776">
    <user id="1602405">
    <name><![CDATA[Andy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1602405-andy]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Oct 08 09:22:14 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Oct 08 09:24:13 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Magical realism form a much earlier age. I had no real expectations -- didn't even expect to actually read it -- but this ended up being a pretty gripping page-turner. Amazing ruminations on the flailing nature of desire and its various ill effects. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/34812776]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="17247610">
    <user id="953172">
    <name><![CDATA[Davy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Francisco, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/953172-davy]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Mar 07 11:55:03 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Mar 07 11:55:03 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is one of my favorite title's of a book. I think he should have used the letter S more though. Maybe it's just the translation that puts all those Ss together there. Balzac's pretty damn good nonetheless.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17247610]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="13188455">
    <user id="816704">
    <name><![CDATA[Neil and Elodie]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/816704-neil-and-elodie]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jan 22 13:55:22 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jan 22 14:38:14 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[And no, we're not talking about some of our colleagues....  The title in French is more revealing : La peau de chagrin (Sorrow skin)  A must-read for our society...]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13188455]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="6870988">
    <user id="425689">
    <name><![CDATA[Shon]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/425689-shon-mcdonnell]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Sep 26 22:48:38 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Sep 26 23:08:01 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[If you like Wilde's Pic of Dorian Grey, you'll love this one. We all go through this at some point; we all consider selling our soul's in some form or other. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6870988]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="335159">
    <user id="32442">
    <name><![CDATA[Anand]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Mountain View, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/32442-anand]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>0</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 19 21:39:00 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 19 21:39:00 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I was attracted to the book because it was called the Fatal Skin and it was referred to in another of my favorite author's work ( I can't recall which one).]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/335159]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="11805771">
    <user id="749611">
    <name><![CDATA[Branford]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/749611-branford-burgundy]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jan 06 14:22:13 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jan 06 14:24:07 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I've always wanted to hide in my lover's wardrobe and watch her comteplate the love of another man. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11805771]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="24440807">
    <user id="1237809">
    <name><![CDATA[John]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1237809-john-bellville]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>0</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="currently-reading" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jun 13 15:53:45 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jun 13 15:54:22 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I just started this book a little bit ago. I like the narrative style.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24440807]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="13188486">
    <user id="816704">
    <name><![CDATA[Neil and Elodie]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/816704-neil-and-elodie]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jan 22 13:55:47 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jan 22 13:56:14 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Philosophique and definitely bien à propos for this time of our lives...]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13188486]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="36052854">
    <user id="1645551">
    <name><![CDATA[Caitlin]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1645551-caitlin]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="for-school" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Oct 23 15:15:07 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Oct 23 15:15:57 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read this for my French class (in French, of course).  ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36052854]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="24296606">
    <user id="103017">
    <name><![CDATA[Liz]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Brooklyn, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/103017-liz]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 11 21:33:15 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jun 11 21:33:30 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Decent book, better title. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24296606]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="1605975">
    <user id="110525">
    <name><![CDATA[Geoffrey]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/110525-geoffrey]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Jun 02 08:12:10 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jun 04 22:40:49 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Slow &quot;philosophical&quot; novel.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1605975]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="79100444">
    <user id="2984832">
    <name><![CDATA[Ideend]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Parsian, 11, Iran, Islamic Republic of]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2984832-ideend]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Nov 27 02:57:08 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Nov 27 02:57:08 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
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