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Essential Classics for Your Bookshelf
The title says it all: books that every bibliophile must have on his/her bookshelf.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
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The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
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4.30 avg rating — 4,370,950 ratings
score: 836,
and
9 people voted
|
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| 2 |
|
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)
by
4.47 avg rating — 11,139,203 ratings
score: 681,
and
7 people voted
|
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| 3 |
|
The Magician's Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia, #6)
by
4.05 avg rating — 591,743 ratings
score: 680,
and
7 people voted
|
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| 4 |
|
To Kill a Mockingbird
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4.26 avg rating — 6,731,463 ratings
score: 639,
and
7 people voted
|
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| 5 |
|
Animal Farm
by
4.01 avg rating — 4,400,567 ratings
score: 627,
and
7 people voted
|
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| 6 |
|
Jane Eyre
by
4.16 avg rating — 2,274,223 ratings
score: 531,
and
6 people voted
|
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| 7 |
|
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)
by
4.58 avg rating — 4,713,647 ratings
score: 485,
and
5 people voted
|
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| 8 |
|
The Diary of a Young Girl
by
4.20 avg rating — 4,099,943 ratings
score: 463,
and
5 people voted
|
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| 9 |
|
Fahrenheit 451
by
3.97 avg rating — 2,745,428 ratings
score: 458,
and
5 people voted
|
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| 10 |
|
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by
3.92 avg rating — 1,002,047 ratings
score: 381,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 11 |
|
Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)
by
4.32 avg rating — 1,087,274 ratings
score: 378,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 12 |
|
Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh, #1)
by
4.38 avg rating — 390,731 ratings
score: 375,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 13 |
|
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)
by
4.57 avg rating — 4,096,945 ratings
score: 370,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 14 |
|
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)
by
4.43 avg rating — 4,380,303 ratings
score: 368,
and
4 people voted
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| 15 |
|
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)
by
4.58 avg rating — 3,585,136 ratings
score: 364,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 16 |
|
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)
by
4.50 avg rating — 3,715,122 ratings
score: 362,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 17 |
|
The Lord of the Rings
by
4.54 avg rating — 719,835 ratings
score: 282,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 18 |
|
Anthem
by
3.61 avg rating — 164,861 ratings
score: 280,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 19 |
|
The Secret Garden
by
4.17 avg rating — 1,270,751 ratings
score: 273,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 20 |
|
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)
by
4.62 avg rating — 4,032,537 ratings
score: 268,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 21 |
|
The Old Man and the Sea
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3.81 avg rating — 1,276,719 ratings
score: 266,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 22 |
|
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
by
3.83 avg rating — 646,584 ratings
score: 262,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 23 |
|
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5)
by
4.14 avg rating — 378,977 ratings
score: 259,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 24 |
|
The Picture of Dorian Gray
by
4.13 avg rating — 1,803,986 ratings
score: 236,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 25 |
|
Hamlet
by
4.03 avg rating — 1,026,210 ratings
score: 228,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 26 |
|
Romeo and Juliet
by
3.74 avg rating — 2,780,507 ratings
score: 217,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 27 |
|
The Catcher in the Rye
by
3.80 avg rating — 3,822,270 ratings
score: 214,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 28 |
|
Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy, #1)
by
4.09 avg rating — 25,073 ratings
score: 193,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 29 |
|
Dubliners
by
3.84 avg rating — 171,413 ratings
score: 191,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 30 |
|
I Capture the Castle
by
3.99 avg rating — 113,671 ratings
score: 186,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 31 |
|
Daddy-Long-Legs
by
4.13 avg rating — 74,165 ratings
score: 180,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 32 |
|
Dracula
by
4.02 avg rating — 1,426,018 ratings
score: 176,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 32 |
|
The Little Prince
by
4.33 avg rating — 2,397,498 ratings
score: 176,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 34 |
|
The Canterbury Tales
by
3.52 avg rating — 235,375 ratings
score: 174,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 35 |
|
Redwall (Redwall, #1)
by
4.14 avg rating — 127,271 ratings
score: 173,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 35 |
|
1984
by
4.20 avg rating — 5,280,624 ratings
score: 173,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 37 |
|
Things Fall Apart (The African Trilogy, #1)
by
3.74 avg rating — 405,200 ratings
score: 172,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 38 |
|
The House at Pooh Corner (Winnie-the-Pooh, #2)
by
4.38 avg rating — 90,358 ratings
score: 170,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 39 |
|
The Raven
by
4.29 avg rating — 164,672 ratings
score: 166,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 40 |
|
Of Mice and Men
by
3.89 avg rating — 2,769,895 ratings
score: 165,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 41 |
|
A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts
by
3.89 avg rating — 14,762 ratings
score: 164,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 42 |
|
The Bell Jar
by
4.05 avg rating — 1,170,731 ratings
score: 162,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 43 |
|
The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
by
4.40 avg rating — 3,072,932 ratings
score: 161,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 43 |
|
The Postman Always Rings Twice
by
3.76 avg rating — 47,445 ratings
score: 161,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 45 |
|
The Hiding Place
by
4.48 avg rating — 350,259 ratings
score: 160,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 46 |
|
Pride and Prejudice
by
4.29 avg rating — 4,672,942 ratings
score: 159,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 46 |
|
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by
3.99 avg rating — 313,048 ratings
score: 159,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 48 |
|
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
by
4.50 avg rating — 1,093,648 ratings
score: 156,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 49 |
|
The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)
by
4.58 avg rating — 1,012,916 ratings
score: 154,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 50 |
|
Waiting for Godot
by
3.84 avg rating — 218,251 ratings
score: 152,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 51 |
|
Shōgun (Asian Saga, #1)
by
4.41 avg rating — 208,132 ratings
score: 151,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 52 |
|
The Elements of Style
by
4.18 avg rating — 86,425 ratings
score: 148,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 53 |
|
Tess of the D’Urbervilles
by
3.84 avg rating — 298,940 ratings
score: 143,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 54 |
|
The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-5)
by
4.07 avg rating — 116,769 ratings
score: 139,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 55 |
|
A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes, #1)
by
4.13 avg rating — 485,108 ratings
score: 127,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 56 |
|
Little Women (Little Women, #1)
by
4.17 avg rating — 2,407,902 ratings
score: 124,
and
2 people voted
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| 57 |
|
A Tale of Two Cities
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3.88 avg rating — 1,000,018 ratings
score: 114,
and
2 people voted
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| 58 |
|
The Great Gatsby
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3.93 avg rating — 5,772,344 ratings
score: 107,
and
2 people voted
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| 59 |
|
The Secret Language
by
4.14 avg rating — 986 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 59 |
|
Stranger in a Strange Land
by
3.92 avg rating — 324,130 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 59 |
|
Wuthering Heights
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3.90 avg rating — 1,973,094 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 59 |
|
Candide
by
3.76 avg rating — 296,190 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 59 |
|
A Room of One's Own
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4.22 avg rating — 249,785 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 64 |
|
All Quiet on the Western Front
by
4.10 avg rating — 508,659 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
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| 64 |
|
The Cask of Amontillado
by
4.07 avg rating — 86,262 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
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| 64 |
|
A Song of Ice and Fire (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1-5)
by
4.61 avg rating — 64,408 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
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| 67 |
|
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
by
3.97 avg rating — 62,014 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
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| 68 |
|
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
by
4.28 avg rating — 7,440 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
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| 68 |
|
Generals Die in Bed
by
3.82 avg rating — 1,639 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
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| 68 |
|
Slaughterhouse-Five
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4.10 avg rating — 1,458,688 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
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| 71 |
|
The Painted Veil
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3.97 avg rating — 50,693 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
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| 72 |
|
Dear Enemy (Daddy-Long-Legs, #2)
by
3.92 avg rating — 12,975 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
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| 72 |
|
The Things They Carried
by
4.14 avg rating — 339,136 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
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| 74 |
|
Metamorphoses
by
4.10 avg rating — 76,837 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
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| 74 |
|
Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot, #18)
by
4.12 avg rating — 297,073 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
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| 74 |
|
East of Eden
by
4.43 avg rating — 610,603 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
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| 77 |
|
The Divine Comedy: Inferno - Purgatorio - Paradiso
by
4.08 avg rating — 168,393 ratings
score: 92,
and
1 person voted
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| 77 |
|
Quiet American
by
3.98 avg rating — 69,438 ratings
score: 92,
and
1 person voted
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| 79 |
|
The Body in the Library (Miss Marple, #3)
by
3.82 avg rating — 123,373 ratings
score: 91,
and
1 person voted
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| 79 |
|
Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1)
by
4.27 avg rating — 288,962 ratings
score: 91,
and
1 person voted
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| 81 |
|
Charlotte’s Web
by
4.21 avg rating — 2,005,639 ratings
score: 90,
and
1 person voted
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| 81 |
|
A Modest Proposal
by
4.02 avg rating — 48,590 ratings
score: 90,
and
1 person voted
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| 81 |
|
Burmese Days
by
3.87 avg rating — 31,550 ratings
score: 90,
and
1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
by
3.76 avg rating — 75,611 ratings
score: 89,
and
1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
Picnic at Hanging Rock
by
3.66 avg rating — 29,546 ratings
score: 89,
and
1 person voted
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| 84 |
|
The Stand
by
Stephen King (Goodreads Author)
4.35 avg rating — 818,987 ratings
score: 89,
and
1 person voted
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| 87 |
|
New Oxford Dictionary of English
by
Judy Pearsall (Chief Editor)
4.13 avg rating — 15 ratings
score: 87,
and
1 person voted
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| 88 |
|
The Invisible Man
by
3.63 avg rating — 212,584 ratings
score: 86,
and
1 person voted
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| 88 |
|
Lost Horizon
by
3.95 avg rating — 24,406 ratings
score: 86,
and
1 person voted
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| 90 |
|
Flowers for Algernon
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4.23 avg rating — 770,738 ratings
score: 85,
and
1 person voted
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| 91 |
|
Beowulf
by
3.50 avg rating — 339,694 ratings
score: 84,
and
1 person voted
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| 92 |
|
The Time Machine
by
3.89 avg rating — 555,606 ratings
score: 83,
and
1 person voted
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| 93 |
|
The Turn of the Screw
by
3.38 avg rating — 173,524 ratings
score: 79,
and
1 person voted
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| 94 |
|
Carmilla
by
3.87 avg rating — 171,464 ratings
score: 78,
and
1 person voted
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| 95 |
|
The Art of War
by
3.95 avg rating — 555,365 ratings
score: 76,
and
1 person voted
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| 96 |
|
Confessions of a Mask
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3.95 avg rating — 37,757 ratings
score: 75,
and
1 person voted
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| 97 |
|
The Sound of the Mountain
by
3.84 avg rating — 9,311 ratings
score: 74,
and
1 person voted
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| 98 |
|
The Makioka Sisters
by
4.03 avg rating — 11,375 ratings
score: 73,
and
1 person voted
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| 99 |
|
No Longer Human
by
3.95 avg rating — 234,459 ratings
score: 72,
and
1 person voted
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| 100 |
|
Tales of Moonlight and Rain
by
3.79 avg rating — 2,891 ratings
score: 71,
and
1 person voted
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