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The Empathy Problem
Perfect for fans of Graeme Simsion's The Rosie Project and Gavin Extence's debut novel THE UNIVERSE VERSUS ALEX WOODS, comes a wild and witty, searing and true novel about life's ups and downs.
Driven by money, power and success, Gabriel has worked ruthlessly to get to the very top of the banking game. He's not going to let the inconvenience of a terminal brain tumour get in his way.
But the tumour has other ideas. As it grows, it appears to be doing strange things to Gabriel's personality. Whether he likes it or not, he seems to be becoming less selfish, less mercenary, less unlikeable.
Once he could dismiss the rest of humanity as irrelevant. Now he's not so sure. Women, in particular, are becoming worryingly three-dimensional. And none more so than Caitlin, the 'unremarkable' girl he sees busking on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. When she plays her violin, Gabriel could almost believe that he has a soul...
But as each day that passes brings him closer to his last, has time run out for second chances?
Bestselling author Gavin Extence pushes the envelope again with another thought-provoking and funny novel about the surprises, good and bad, that life can throw at us.
Driven by money, power and success, Gabriel has worked ruthlessly to get to the very top of the banking game. He's not going to let the inconvenience of a terminal brain tumour get in his way.
But the tumour has other ideas. As it grows, it appears to be doing strange things to Gabriel's personality. Whether he likes it or not, he seems to be becoming less selfish, less mercenary, less unlikeable.
Once he could dismiss the rest of humanity as irrelevant. Now he's not so sure. Women, in particular, are becoming worryingly three-dimensional. And none more so than Caitlin, the 'unremarkable' girl he sees busking on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. When she plays her violin, Gabriel could almost believe that he has a soul...
But as each day that passes brings him closer to his last, has time run out for second chances?
Bestselling author Gavin Extence pushes the envelope again with another thought-provoking and funny novel about the surprises, good and bad, that life can throw at us.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2016
30 people are currently reading
1223 people want to read
About the author
Gavin Extence
7 books414 followersGavin Extence was born in 1982 and grew up in the interestingly named village of Swineshead, Lincolnshire. From the ages of 5-11, he enjoyed a brief but illustrious career as a chess player, winning numerous national championships and travelling to Moscow and St Petersburg to pit his wits against the finest young minds in Russia. He won only one game.
Gavin is currently working on his second novel. When he is not writing, he enjoys cooking, amateur astronomy and going to Alton Towers.
Gavin is currently working on his second novel. When he is not writing, he enjoys cooking, amateur astronomy and going to Alton Towers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
August 17, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up The Empathy Problem, the blurb intrigued me and the
cover is stunning, I started to read with an open mind.
A couple of hours later I looked up, I was hooked, well and truly. This writing is so compelling, and Gabriel Vaughan is a lead character that I should hate, but who has snuck into my heart and stayed there.
Thirty-two year old Gabriel is at the top of his game. He earns over three million pounds a year, his suits cost £30,000. His chauffeur drives him to work in the city every day in a Mercedes, they don't speak ... ever. His personal car is a yellow Ferrari, his apartment is minimal, stocked with the best of everything and kept as neat as a pin by a cleaner .... who he has never seen. Money is his goal, it buys everything, even his sex life.
Gabriel is at his desk every morning by 6.20am and leaves the officer at 7.30 .... 6.45 on a Friday. He manages his hedge fund with skill, making his company millions and earning the respect of those he works with ... apart from the admin staff, and the doormen .... he doesn't speak to them.
The one thing that money cannot ensure is good health, and when Gabriel bursts into unexplained tears whilst travelling on the Tube ... which in itself is unusual, let alone the tears ... he consults a doctor straight away. The news is bad ... terminal. There's a tumour on Gabriel's brain, and it's going to kill him. He has six months.
The unexplained tears are not the only symptom of this brain invader. Gabriel begins to notice strange feelings. He actually appears to start to care about things. He spends hours gazing out of his high-rise office window at the Occupy London camp that has set up on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral, and when he hears a young girl busker playing classical music on her violin one day, his life takes an unexpected curve.
Gavin Extence is an absolute genius character builder. I should hate Gabriel and all that he stands for, but there were times when I just loved him and his total disregard for those around him which gave him a certain air of vulnerability, and made him quite gullible. The supporting cast of characters range from the downright frightful (his boss Mason), to the absolutely delicious (Caitlin the busker). And the insights into the world of finance were intriguing and told with a straightforward charm that even a complete financial novice such as myself could enjoy.
There's a message within The Empathy Problem, yet it is so sensitively done and so touching that it never feels patronising or preachy. The story raises the question of whether it is ever too late to change, and whether love and empathy go hand in hand.
I really cared about Gabriel. I hoped that it wasn't just the tumour that changed him, I hoped that discovering real love helped him along the way, I hoped that he discovered real happiness alongside the empathy.
Witty, insightful and tender, The Empathy Problem is a triumph. I loved it.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
cover is stunning, I started to read with an open mind.
A couple of hours later I looked up, I was hooked, well and truly. This writing is so compelling, and Gabriel Vaughan is a lead character that I should hate, but who has snuck into my heart and stayed there.
Thirty-two year old Gabriel is at the top of his game. He earns over three million pounds a year, his suits cost £30,000. His chauffeur drives him to work in the city every day in a Mercedes, they don't speak ... ever. His personal car is a yellow Ferrari, his apartment is minimal, stocked with the best of everything and kept as neat as a pin by a cleaner .... who he has never seen. Money is his goal, it buys everything, even his sex life.
Gabriel is at his desk every morning by 6.20am and leaves the officer at 7.30 .... 6.45 on a Friday. He manages his hedge fund with skill, making his company millions and earning the respect of those he works with ... apart from the admin staff, and the doormen .... he doesn't speak to them.
The one thing that money cannot ensure is good health, and when Gabriel bursts into unexplained tears whilst travelling on the Tube ... which in itself is unusual, let alone the tears ... he consults a doctor straight away. The news is bad ... terminal. There's a tumour on Gabriel's brain, and it's going to kill him. He has six months.
The unexplained tears are not the only symptom of this brain invader. Gabriel begins to notice strange feelings. He actually appears to start to care about things. He spends hours gazing out of his high-rise office window at the Occupy London camp that has set up on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral, and when he hears a young girl busker playing classical music on her violin one day, his life takes an unexpected curve.
Gavin Extence is an absolute genius character builder. I should hate Gabriel and all that he stands for, but there were times when I just loved him and his total disregard for those around him which gave him a certain air of vulnerability, and made him quite gullible. The supporting cast of characters range from the downright frightful (his boss Mason), to the absolutely delicious (Caitlin the busker). And the insights into the world of finance were intriguing and told with a straightforward charm that even a complete financial novice such as myself could enjoy.
There's a message within The Empathy Problem, yet it is so sensitively done and so touching that it never feels patronising or preachy. The story raises the question of whether it is ever too late to change, and whether love and empathy go hand in hand.
I really cared about Gabriel. I hoped that it wasn't just the tumour that changed him, I hoped that discovering real love helped him along the way, I hoped that he discovered real happiness alongside the empathy.
Witty, insightful and tender, The Empathy Problem is a triumph. I loved it.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
October 27, 2016
This is Gavin Extence’s third book and it’s the third book of his I’ve loved and the third book of his I’d tell you to go out and read. He has a real knack for getting under the skin of any given situation and dealing with it, without making it a parody or overly sentimental and slushy and The Empathy Problem is no different.
Set against the backdrop of the St Paul’s Cathedral protest a few years ago, The Empathy Problem follows Gabriel as he learns about his brain tumour. His office overlooks St Paul’s and he often looks out of his window at the protestors and makes assumptions about the people below him and about how long they’ll last for outside. All the while, proud at how much money he’s making and how he’s carrying on his now extremely shortened life.
But, the tumour is affecting his emotions, so with the advice of his oncologist he seeks out the support of a psychologist. She is a no-nonsense, realist and gives him a much-needed kick up the bum. But, this doesn’t stop Gabriel because what Gabriel usually wants, Gabriel usually gets and something like a brain tumour isn’t going to stop him. The problem is, he is now looking at it from a slightly different viewpoint and thinks things make a bit more sense.
This book will keep you hooked as you follow Gabriel on his strange tumour-led journey. It’s not sad and weepy and a book to make you all blue.
It’s quite a clever look at our class system. The banking crisis. And people.
A great read. Highly recommended. I can’t wait to read his next.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my copy.
Set against the backdrop of the St Paul’s Cathedral protest a few years ago, The Empathy Problem follows Gabriel as he learns about his brain tumour. His office overlooks St Paul’s and he often looks out of his window at the protestors and makes assumptions about the people below him and about how long they’ll last for outside. All the while, proud at how much money he’s making and how he’s carrying on his now extremely shortened life.
But, the tumour is affecting his emotions, so with the advice of his oncologist he seeks out the support of a psychologist. She is a no-nonsense, realist and gives him a much-needed kick up the bum. But, this doesn’t stop Gabriel because what Gabriel usually wants, Gabriel usually gets and something like a brain tumour isn’t going to stop him. The problem is, he is now looking at it from a slightly different viewpoint and thinks things make a bit more sense.
This book will keep you hooked as you follow Gabriel on his strange tumour-led journey. It’s not sad and weepy and a book to make you all blue.
It’s quite a clever look at our class system. The banking crisis. And people.
A great read. Highly recommended. I can’t wait to read his next.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my copy.
January 12, 2023
Aptly titled book. The Empathy Problem delivers, in that readers will have extreme trouble finding any empathy for this book, its character and the weak message it attempts to convey. It's more like the Gift of Apathy instead.
---
Old Review:
Gabriel is a hedge-fund co-manager which means he basically gambles on the stock market and is filthy rich. Other than that, his life is devoid of happiness and he is a massive jerk whose only personality trait is selfishness. So, upon learning of his imminent death, Gabriel yearns to become a better person, since he acknowledges he's been a shit human being. A project to which he fails (miserably in my opinion).
The overarching philosophy or message of this book is capitalism is bad. Not a new premise but one that doesn't correlate well in a story about a cold-hearted guy confronting death. The Occupy movements and anti-capitalism movements are heavily featured in this story, often negatively, until good ol' Gabriel realizes the perils of capitalism and that the wealth he has amassed will have no purpose after his inevitable death. What I'm getting at here is that this makes for a poor plot and character driven story.
Gabriel is awful, like truly awful. In addition to the tepid anti-capitalism philosophy running through this novel which inspire a lackadaisical climax, the romance, if you want to be generous and call it that is extremely distasteful. It is so appalling that Gabriel's therapist decides that she can no longer treat him as a patient due to his romantic decisions, which are creepy and immoral. Thankfully, his love 'interest' learns the truth and breaks it off, annoyingly however, there remains a connection between the two, even to the end, which to me is offputting.
There was really nothing that made this special, none of the characters are even close to being good and the story itself was less than enjoyable, if I had to say it succinctly: the book is unsatisfying and it ends with a whimper.
---
Old Review:
Gabriel is a hedge-fund co-manager which means he basically gambles on the stock market and is filthy rich. Other than that, his life is devoid of happiness and he is a massive jerk whose only personality trait is selfishness. So, upon learning of his imminent death, Gabriel yearns to become a better person, since he acknowledges he's been a shit human being. A project to which he fails (miserably in my opinion).
The overarching philosophy or message of this book is capitalism is bad. Not a new premise but one that doesn't correlate well in a story about a cold-hearted guy confronting death. The Occupy movements and anti-capitalism movements are heavily featured in this story, often negatively, until good ol' Gabriel realizes the perils of capitalism and that the wealth he has amassed will have no purpose after his inevitable death. What I'm getting at here is that this makes for a poor plot and character driven story.
Gabriel is awful, like truly awful. In addition to the tepid anti-capitalism philosophy running through this novel which inspire a lackadaisical climax, the romance, if you want to be generous and call it that is extremely distasteful. It is so appalling that Gabriel's therapist decides that she can no longer treat him as a patient due to his romantic decisions, which are creepy and immoral. Thankfully, his love 'interest' learns the truth and breaks it off, annoyingly however, there remains a connection between the two, even to the end, which to me is offputting.
There was really nothing that made this special, none of the characters are even close to being good and the story itself was less than enjoyable, if I had to say it succinctly: the book is unsatisfying and it ends with a whimper.
January 3, 2022
03/01/22
Обичам тази книга. Даже не знам , как не съм я препрочитала толкова време. Всеки път намирам нещо ново, което съм пропуснала преди. Сега , като че ли ми се струва някак възможно , някой да изтрие от лицето на земята всякакви финансови институции и наименования. Сигурно няма да съм жива да го видя, но съм напълно убедена , че ще дойде такова време , в което няма да има пари - най-мръсното нещо на земята. Причината поради която, повечето хора се разделят , намразват и какво ли още не.
2019/
Още повече ми хареса с втория прочит книгата.Увлекателен разказвач е автора. Дори донякъде успях да схвана сложните финансови хватки, които се разиграват по световните сцени.Въпреки че в по-голямата си част живота на повечето от нас преминава в рутинни неща, по никакъв начин не искам моя да е свързан с тази сфера( свързана с пари ).
13/01/15/Точно това е, което ме вълнува и мен, тоталната липса на емпатия.
Пълен разрез на съвременността прави автора и то с много точни факти.
Някои от нещата се опитах , но едва ли съм разбрала, защото всички тези финансови изрази и действия , винаги са ми били пълна мъгла и далеч от моя мироглед.
Отдавна съм наясно , че това са повече имагинерни неща.
Да, наистина звучи наивно идеята, но се надявам някой ден да стане факт.
Повече хора да осъзнаят, че парите не са важни, напротив .
"- Защото корен на всички злини е сребролюбието....", както е цитирал и автора.
По мъжки написана книга, без излишни емоции и отклонения.
Написана е с чувство за хумор.
"Гейбриъл бе установил,че общуването с жени в по-зряла възраст,онези след менопаузата,не му се удава с лекота.Усещаше се лишен от много важно предимство,сякаш липсваше основното оръжие от бойното му снаряжение."
Научих нова дума: "дезинхибиция"- загуба на задръжки в особено голям размер.
И цитата, който е използвал : "Трябва да бъдеш промяната , която искаш да видиш."- Ганди
Хареса ми много.
Обичам тази книга. Даже не знам , как не съм я препрочитала толкова време. Всеки път намирам нещо ново, което съм пропуснала преди. Сега , като че ли ми се струва някак възможно , някой да изтрие от лицето на земята всякакви финансови институции и наименования. Сигурно няма да съм жива да го видя, но съм напълно убедена , че ще дойде такова време , в което няма да има пари - най-мръсното нещо на земята. Причината поради която, повечето хора се разделят , намразват и какво ли още не.
2019/
Още повече ми хареса с втория прочит книгата.Увлекателен разказвач е автора. Дори донякъде успях да схвана сложните финансови хватки, които се разиграват по световните сцени.Въпреки че в по-голямата си част живота на повечето от нас преминава в рутинни неща, по никакъв начин не искам моя да е свързан с тази сфера( свързана с пари ).
13/01/15/Точно това е, което ме вълнува и мен, тоталната липса на емпатия.
Пълен разрез на съвременността прави автора и то с много точни факти.
Някои от нещата се опитах , но едва ли съм разбрала, защото всички тези финансови изрази и действия , винаги са ми били пълна мъгла и далеч от моя мироглед.
Отдавна съм наясно , че това са повече имагинерни неща.
Да, наистина звучи наивно идеята, но се надявам някой ден да стане факт.
Повече хора да осъзнаят, че парите не са важни, напротив .
"- Защото корен на всички злини е сребролюбието....", както е цитирал и автора.
По мъжки написана книга, без излишни емоции и отклонения.
Написана е с чувство за хумор.
"Гейбриъл бе установил,че общуването с жени в по-зряла възраст,онези след менопаузата,не му се удава с лекота.Усещаше се лишен от много важно предимство,сякаш липсваше основното оръжие от бойното му снаряжение."
Научих нова дума: "дезинхибиция"- загуба на задръжки в особено голям размер.
И цитата, който е използвал : "Трябва да бъдеш промяната , която искаш да видиш."- Ганди
Хареса ми много.
July 30, 2016
Gavin Extence is an excellent, witty and insightful writer and I enjoyed this book, but I don't think it's in the same class as his previous two.
In The Empathy Problem, Extence creates Gabriel Vaughn, an unpleasant, unfeeling hedge-fund manager who views everything in life as a series of transactions and who has no humanity whatever. Vaughn develops a terminal brain tumour and, for the first time in his life, forms a genuine attachment to a woman. The story is set in 2011-12 during the Occupy protest outside St Paul's which is used as a way of excoriating financial skulduggery and social injustice.
If the idea of a rich, grasping, inhuman person redeemed by illness, trauma and love sounds very familiar…well, it is. There have been endless books, films and TV programmes on exactly this theme going back to Dickens and beyond, which means that a new book needs to be original in some way - and I don't really think this is. Gavin Extence writes very well – his dialogue is especially good, I think – and there are some genuinely touching moments dealing with relationships, humanity and coming to terms with dying, but there are also flaws.
Even though I am in sympathy with Extence's political stance, much of the speechifying about financial inequity (and iniquity) was horribly clunky and contrived, and I found Gabriel's sudden discovery of a social conscience and self-loathing wholly unconvincing, I'm afraid – tumour or no tumour. The whole thing felt very like yet another Richard Curtis film in style, structure and message, which is fine, but there was a strong sense of knowing where this was going and having been there many times before.
However, I kept reading and I did care about what happened. There's easily enough about this book to give it a four-star rating; it's just that The Universe vs Alex Woods and The Mirror World of Melody Black were so exceptionally good that this felt like a slight disappointment to me. It's good enough, but I look for more insight and originality from Gavin Extence, and I hope we get it in his next book.
In The Empathy Problem, Extence creates Gabriel Vaughn, an unpleasant, unfeeling hedge-fund manager who views everything in life as a series of transactions and who has no humanity whatever. Vaughn develops a terminal brain tumour and, for the first time in his life, forms a genuine attachment to a woman. The story is set in 2011-12 during the Occupy protest outside St Paul's which is used as a way of excoriating financial skulduggery and social injustice.
If the idea of a rich, grasping, inhuman person redeemed by illness, trauma and love sounds very familiar…well, it is. There have been endless books, films and TV programmes on exactly this theme going back to Dickens and beyond, which means that a new book needs to be original in some way - and I don't really think this is. Gavin Extence writes very well – his dialogue is especially good, I think – and there are some genuinely touching moments dealing with relationships, humanity and coming to terms with dying, but there are also flaws.
Even though I am in sympathy with Extence's political stance, much of the speechifying about financial inequity (and iniquity) was horribly clunky and contrived, and I found Gabriel's sudden discovery of a social conscience and self-loathing wholly unconvincing, I'm afraid – tumour or no tumour. The whole thing felt very like yet another Richard Curtis film in style, structure and message, which is fine, but there was a strong sense of knowing where this was going and having been there many times before.
However, I kept reading and I did care about what happened. There's easily enough about this book to give it a four-star rating; it's just that The Universe vs Alex Woods and The Mirror World of Melody Black were so exceptionally good that this felt like a slight disappointment to me. It's good enough, but I look for more insight and originality from Gavin Extence, and I hope we get it in his next book.
August 17, 2016
Gavin Extence is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors. His style is so understated yet beautifully, movingly and perfectly expressed. He has a slow way of unfolding a story that is always engaging and completely absorbing; very difficult to put down without completely knowing why. This is not a blockbuster style of writing with a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter, yet he lures you into his lair and chains you to the lives of his characters so gently, you’re hooked before you know it.
The Empathy Problem is an exploration of the banking crisis of 2012 seen through the eyes of Gabriel, an enormously successful, forty something, multi-millionaire financier working for city firm Mason Wallace Capital Management. Gabriel is proud that he is a self-made man. He has ‘never identified with those who’d hd their money handed to them on a plate. He identified with the strivers, the people who’d had to beat their own path to economic success. And as far as he could see, the vast majority of people who worked in the City fitted this profile.’ Gabriel has just discovered he has an in-operable brain tumour that is going to kill him. His doctor tells him to stop working and enjoy what’s left of his life, but Gabriel discovers, in a short bout of atypical self-awareness, that he has lots of money and a fabulous city flat but no friends, no closeness with his family, no real life outside of his work. So he just keeps on working, because that is all the life he knows. Then Gabriel discovers Caitlin, a young violinist, busking outside his office. He becomes obsessed with Caitlin, following her home, trying to find out everything about her, engineering a meeting with her, a relationship with her, lying about himself to fit into her world - which turns out to be right at the very heart of the Occupy Campaign he previously despised.
Then Gabriel finds he is changing: his view of the world and everything in it starts to feel a little offbeat. Could his ideas and opinions possibly be wrong? He starts seeing the world as others might see it and it is all so very alien and unsettling. Is it just the tumour, or something far more dangerous? Could Gabriel be starting to see life from a different perspective? Could he be developing a conscience?
There is a lot of politics in this novel but it doesn’t overbear and it’s very subtly woven into the quietly unfolding tale. The Empathy Problem does not have the very apparent political slant of a Rob Newman novel, but it is there and it’s not going to appeal to everyone. But then, who is truly right in this Romeo and Juliet tale of opposing houses? Is there a bad guy and a heroine, or is it all a great deal more complicated than that and quite challenging There’s a surprising amount to think about as the tale unfolds towards its inevitable end. It’s a very thoughtful story and start to finish, it is terrifically well- told.
The Empathy Problem is an exploration of the banking crisis of 2012 seen through the eyes of Gabriel, an enormously successful, forty something, multi-millionaire financier working for city firm Mason Wallace Capital Management. Gabriel is proud that he is a self-made man. He has ‘never identified with those who’d hd their money handed to them on a plate. He identified with the strivers, the people who’d had to beat their own path to economic success. And as far as he could see, the vast majority of people who worked in the City fitted this profile.’ Gabriel has just discovered he has an in-operable brain tumour that is going to kill him. His doctor tells him to stop working and enjoy what’s left of his life, but Gabriel discovers, in a short bout of atypical self-awareness, that he has lots of money and a fabulous city flat but no friends, no closeness with his family, no real life outside of his work. So he just keeps on working, because that is all the life he knows. Then Gabriel discovers Caitlin, a young violinist, busking outside his office. He becomes obsessed with Caitlin, following her home, trying to find out everything about her, engineering a meeting with her, a relationship with her, lying about himself to fit into her world - which turns out to be right at the very heart of the Occupy Campaign he previously despised.
Then Gabriel finds he is changing: his view of the world and everything in it starts to feel a little offbeat. Could his ideas and opinions possibly be wrong? He starts seeing the world as others might see it and it is all so very alien and unsettling. Is it just the tumour, or something far more dangerous? Could Gabriel be starting to see life from a different perspective? Could he be developing a conscience?
There is a lot of politics in this novel but it doesn’t overbear and it’s very subtly woven into the quietly unfolding tale. The Empathy Problem does not have the very apparent political slant of a Rob Newman novel, but it is there and it’s not going to appeal to everyone. But then, who is truly right in this Romeo and Juliet tale of opposing houses? Is there a bad guy and a heroine, or is it all a great deal more complicated than that and quite challenging There’s a surprising amount to think about as the tale unfolds towards its inevitable end. It’s a very thoughtful story and start to finish, it is terrifically well- told.
August 11, 2016
Another break from my usual crime fiction and another winner. I am so glad I am branching out more and more these days. Gabriel works in hedge funds. Basically, he makes money for people, lots of people and, of course for himself. He came from nothing, has worked hard to get to where he is today and today, he wants for nothing. He lives in luxury, works for a prestigious firm, chauffeur driven from door to door when he is not driving himself in his top range car. But that's his life. Estranged from family, no friends to speak of, he buys what "romance" he needs and so, when he is diagnosed with a brain tumour he has no support network. As the tumour grows, something changes in his brain that brings out his emotional side and he has absolutely no idea how to play it. The drugs his doctor gives him suppresses these new feelings but, for how long. Slowly, he starts to question his morals, his ethics, his place in the world. And then he meets this girl...
I said it isn't my usual genre read. That's true but I do really love character driven books. In whatever genre and you can't get more character driven than this. It is the story of a man's awakening. There is a lot of questioning, confusion, maturing, opening up and it's really well handled. As Gabriel faces his own mortality combined with the chemical changes going on in his brain we see him change, slowly at first, there is a lot of things he is unsure of, but it's like a flower opening, once the bud has cracked open, the transformation begins.
Characterisation was excellent. Well, you need that in a character driven book but, what also impressed me were the interactions between the characters. We have an eclectic mix of cast in this book and each has been well described and felt true. They all have depth that, for the most part, remained below the surface until coaxed out by action, interaction or circumstance. Very well played by the author.
There's a lot of finance stuff in the book, all of which is very well explained for the ignorant. It's political too in parts but not overly heavy on that. With the subject matter that the book contains it could have been heavy but there are some great funny moments contained within that balance out the heavy stuff to make the book very readable. There are also some quite touching, tender moments which are very well described. And there is lots of food for thought. It would definitely make a good discussion book. I'm certainly still thinking about it several days after finishing it. The basic premise of this book is not unique but it has been delivered in a unique way.
It's the first book I have read by this author but, on the strength of this, I have just downloaded "Alex Woods" and look forward to reading that soon, tbr allowing!
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I said it isn't my usual genre read. That's true but I do really love character driven books. In whatever genre and you can't get more character driven than this. It is the story of a man's awakening. There is a lot of questioning, confusion, maturing, opening up and it's really well handled. As Gabriel faces his own mortality combined with the chemical changes going on in his brain we see him change, slowly at first, there is a lot of things he is unsure of, but it's like a flower opening, once the bud has cracked open, the transformation begins.
Characterisation was excellent. Well, you need that in a character driven book but, what also impressed me were the interactions between the characters. We have an eclectic mix of cast in this book and each has been well described and felt true. They all have depth that, for the most part, remained below the surface until coaxed out by action, interaction or circumstance. Very well played by the author.
There's a lot of finance stuff in the book, all of which is very well explained for the ignorant. It's political too in parts but not overly heavy on that. With the subject matter that the book contains it could have been heavy but there are some great funny moments contained within that balance out the heavy stuff to make the book very readable. There are also some quite touching, tender moments which are very well described. And there is lots of food for thought. It would definitely make a good discussion book. I'm certainly still thinking about it several days after finishing it. The basic premise of this book is not unique but it has been delivered in a unique way.
It's the first book I have read by this author but, on the strength of this, I have just downloaded "Alex Woods" and look forward to reading that soon, tbr allowing!
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 21, 2016
The theme of bankers and greed reminded me of The Mark and the Void (Paul Murray), that of potential redemption made me think of Eleven by Mark Watson, but Gavin Extence has his own voice and his own theme running throughout his novels so far - brain injuries/conditions and mental illness seem to feature in each.
Here we have a rather interesting protagonist - a banker. Patrick Bateman without the psychosis, a greedy and thoughtless young hotshot rising up the ranks to be suddenly stopped in his tracks by the discovery of an incurable brain tumour.
With little time left, he finds the symptoms of sudden emotion and empathy to make him see the London world of big business around him in a new way.
You never think this is going to end with a miracle cure, but you DO want Gabriel to have a George Bailey realisation and see the world as it truly is, and what he could have done in it.
It would make a lovely heart-warming tear-jerker of a film, with some slightly predictable relationships (seeing the banking protesters as humans, Gabriel also develops feelings for someone he wouldn't ordinarily have noticed) but a good build to a fitting and moving conclusion.
I've read all of Extence's novels and this may be my favourite, tipping Alex Woods off the top spot.
An unusual 'hero' but an enjoyable journey as the reader hopes the erstwhile 'money guy' will learn the most important lessons of all while he still can.
Could be a good one for book groups and discussions.
Here we have a rather interesting protagonist - a banker. Patrick Bateman without the psychosis, a greedy and thoughtless young hotshot rising up the ranks to be suddenly stopped in his tracks by the discovery of an incurable brain tumour.
With little time left, he finds the symptoms of sudden emotion and empathy to make him see the London world of big business around him in a new way.
You never think this is going to end with a miracle cure, but you DO want Gabriel to have a George Bailey realisation and see the world as it truly is, and what he could have done in it.
It would make a lovely heart-warming tear-jerker of a film, with some slightly predictable relationships (seeing the banking protesters as humans, Gabriel also develops feelings for someone he wouldn't ordinarily have noticed) but a good build to a fitting and moving conclusion.
I've read all of Extence's novels and this may be my favourite, tipping Alex Woods off the top spot.
An unusual 'hero' but an enjoyable journey as the reader hopes the erstwhile 'money guy' will learn the most important lessons of all while he still can.
Could be a good one for book groups and discussions.
September 23, 2016
I practically inhaled this book. Loved the central character, and was 5 stars all the way to the end. Perhaps it was compounded by the fact i din't want it to end and the female wasn't really grabbing me at all, but i felt a little disappointed at the end. Still a hugely enjoyable read.
November 1, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I like short chapters and these chapters were very short. The subject of the book was extreme sadness but interspersed with the sadness I laughed out loud more than once, the chat at times was very funny. Will probably read more of the author’s books
September 23, 2016
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
This has swiftly jumped into one of my favourite books of the year. It’s heartfelt without being too emotional and so well written. I started reading and was completely hooked!
The story follows hedge fund manager Gabriel, who really lives the typical rich lifestyle – and doesn’t really seem to care about anyone apart from himself. He’s well aware of this, and to be fair he doesn’t pretend to be anything he’s not, but he really doesn’t give seem to give a damn about anything apart from his own comfort and happiness. The book starts with him just having been diagnosed with a brain tumour, which gives him only a few months to live – you’d think this would immediately change his outlook on life, but as we begin the story it really hasn’t changed him... or so it seems.
The characters are SO brilliant; though Gabriel is one of those people you know you should hate, he’s got a real charm about him. Perhaps this is because we see inside his head and see the way he thinks about everything; some of his thoughts really made me laugh and others made me feel really sad. However, the novel manages to avoid swaying into overly emotional territory, despite the nature of the story. Still, I felt pretty damn emotional by the end of the book. I really loved Caitlin's dry sense of humour and the depictions of Gabriel's greedy workmates; they rang quite true to life - or at least how I'd imagine people like that to be!
The Empathy Problem is beautifully written and manages to avoid being cheesy or clichéd, which I feel is a real achievement. Gavin Extence includes plenty of wit and manages to avoid the novel feeling like it’s preaching at you; it makes you think without forcing you, and I hugely enjoyed it. To me, this novel was pretty much perfect – whatever genre you enjoy, I strongly advise you to read it now!
* Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
This has swiftly jumped into one of my favourite books of the year. It’s heartfelt without being too emotional and so well written. I started reading and was completely hooked!
The story follows hedge fund manager Gabriel, who really lives the typical rich lifestyle – and doesn’t really seem to care about anyone apart from himself. He’s well aware of this, and to be fair he doesn’t pretend to be anything he’s not, but he really doesn’t give seem to give a damn about anything apart from his own comfort and happiness. The book starts with him just having been diagnosed with a brain tumour, which gives him only a few months to live – you’d think this would immediately change his outlook on life, but as we begin the story it really hasn’t changed him... or so it seems.
The characters are SO brilliant; though Gabriel is one of those people you know you should hate, he’s got a real charm about him. Perhaps this is because we see inside his head and see the way he thinks about everything; some of his thoughts really made me laugh and others made me feel really sad. However, the novel manages to avoid swaying into overly emotional territory, despite the nature of the story. Still, I felt pretty damn emotional by the end of the book. I really loved Caitlin's dry sense of humour and the depictions of Gabriel's greedy workmates; they rang quite true to life - or at least how I'd imagine people like that to be!
The Empathy Problem is beautifully written and manages to avoid being cheesy or clichéd, which I feel is a real achievement. Gavin Extence includes plenty of wit and manages to avoid the novel feeling like it’s preaching at you; it makes you think without forcing you, and I hugely enjoyed it. To me, this novel was pretty much perfect – whatever genre you enjoy, I strongly advise you to read it now!
* Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
December 2, 2017
Let's be honest for a second.
The book wasn't a masterpiece. It didn't make me cry, and it won't make my top ten list.
Still, it was such a fun read!
I read the book in two sittings, mostly because the chapters were super short (A quality that I love in a fiction book). It was enjoyable and fun. I liked the setting and I liked how the author didn't cut Gabriel any slack. It takes daring to set up a character like how Gabriel was. The book was recommended to me by a friend, so after I was a few chapters in I texted her:
The guy is racist, sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic and a jerk in general. I smell the character development from miles away.
And indeed the character development came, though it took more time than I expected for Gabriel to finally come out of his little bubble and see what he was doing to Caitlin.
Favorite parts:
-The ending! It felt sad but also just a little bit bittersweet.......
-Gabriel saying his sunglasses were insured.
-Everyone calling out Gabe on his creepy stalking instead of romanticizing it.
-Caitlin NOT completely forgiving Gabriel and them NOT ending back together. What Gabriel did, it was unacceptable. No romantic confession of love or tragic death was going to fix that. Again, I praise Extence. I've seen worst things done by characters and then swept under the carpet just to show that love conquers all.
- Gabe buying a 40 dollar wine for Caitlin and saying it was the best 40 dollars he'd ever spent.
-All of the employees quitting their job together. God, that was such a satisfying scene.
-Nicola!!
Saddest part:
Caitlin never getting that dress.....
The book wasn't a masterpiece. It didn't make me cry, and it won't make my top ten list.
Still, it was such a fun read!
I read the book in two sittings, mostly because the chapters were super short (A quality that I love in a fiction book). It was enjoyable and fun. I liked the setting and I liked how the author didn't cut Gabriel any slack. It takes daring to set up a character like how Gabriel was. The book was recommended to me by a friend, so after I was a few chapters in I texted her:
The guy is racist, sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic and a jerk in general. I smell the character development from miles away.
And indeed the character development came, though it took more time than I expected for Gabriel to finally come out of his little bubble and see what he was doing to Caitlin.
Favorite parts:
-The ending! It felt sad but also just a little bit bittersweet.......
-Gabriel saying his sunglasses were insured.
-Everyone calling out Gabe on his creepy stalking instead of romanticizing it.
-Caitlin NOT completely forgiving Gabriel and them NOT ending back together. What Gabriel did, it was unacceptable. No romantic confession of love or tragic death was going to fix that. Again, I praise Extence. I've seen worst things done by characters and then swept under the carpet just to show that love conquers all.
- Gabe buying a 40 dollar wine for Caitlin and saying it was the best 40 dollars he'd ever spent.
-All of the employees quitting their job together. God, that was such a satisfying scene.
-Nicola!!
Saddest part:
Caitlin never getting that dress.....
August 4, 2016
Empathy. Noun. 1) The psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitude of another. In The Empathy Problem, Gabriel Vaughn has made a great success of himself partly due to a lack of it. Now a tumour the size of a golf ball lodged deep in something called his anterior insular cortex is causing peculiar side-effects…
That empathy is presented as a problem is the crux of this novel. Is it really never too late to change your life? Does that change count if it is imposed rather than sought? Does wealth equal richness? All of these questions and more are threaded through this intelligent, bittersweet, darkly comic, thought-provoking, and hugely enjoyable read.
This is Gavin Extence’s third novel, and it’s the third time that he’s delivered something that is going to challenge your assumptions and opinions. I love it especially because I know that some will be warmed by a redemptive love story, and others will be discomforted by spending time with a skilled manipulator. Book clubs especially are going to be thrilled with the discussions that this book will raise. He writes books that get under your skin and stick with you, and this offering is well worth your time.
That empathy is presented as a problem is the crux of this novel. Is it really never too late to change your life? Does that change count if it is imposed rather than sought? Does wealth equal richness? All of these questions and more are threaded through this intelligent, bittersweet, darkly comic, thought-provoking, and hugely enjoyable read.
This is Gavin Extence’s third novel, and it’s the third time that he’s delivered something that is going to challenge your assumptions and opinions. I love it especially because I know that some will be warmed by a redemptive love story, and others will be discomforted by spending time with a skilled manipulator. Book clubs especially are going to be thrilled with the discussions that this book will raise. He writes books that get under your skin and stick with you, and this offering is well worth your time.
October 2, 2019
This started off well enough, but then just became a cliched chick-lit (even though it's not) mess. The main character was unpleasant but not exactly evil so there wasn't any need for the great reform he seemed to feel was necessary. The relationship with Caitlin was embarrassingly badly written, and all the other characters seemed to be cardboard stereotypes. The only exception was the dad - this was the only chapter that I felt was at all real or interesting.
The author's first book was truly great, but Melody Black was shite and after this I won't be reading any more by him.
Also: this novel is so similar to Checking Out (another shite tumor novel) by Nick Spalding that for the first couple of chapters I thought I'd read it before.
The author's first book was truly great, but Melody Black was shite and after this I won't be reading any more by him.
Also: this novel is so similar to Checking Out (another shite tumor novel) by Nick Spalding that for the first couple of chapters I thought I'd read it before.
September 18, 2018
It doesn’t sound too promising does it - a book about a ruthless hedge fund manager with a brain tumour? However, since I’d already read Gavin Extence’s other two novels, both of which I’d highly recommend, I hoped this would be equally gripping. I wasn’t disappointed. It’s poignant but not over emotional, the characters are likeable and it’s delivered with style. I can’t wait for your next book Mr Extence.
February 13, 2017
Totally loved this book. The story of Gabriel, a hedge fund dealer, who is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and whose life and personality totally change because of this. The book is not in the least bit depressing, it's funny, witty, uplifting but also heartbreakingly moving. It's certainly one of the best books I have read for a long time. Well worth reading!
October 8, 2016
Gavin Extence is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. His first book The Universe v Alex Woods was my favourite read of 2013 and his latest novel The Empathy Problem didn't disappoint. A thought provoking beautifully written book. I won't hesitate to recommend it to friends and customers.
November 19, 2016
Funny, sad and thought provoking. Written in a fluent, pacy style with short chapters that keep you turning the pages. Paints a believable picture of a world that is totally alien to the vast majority of us. One of the most enjoyable novels I've read this year.
January 27, 2017
So, I didn't cry. But I did tear up a few times. The book started off a bit slow, with all the finance and hedge fund talk. But it picked up after all that good stuff was established and I really got into the book.
July 14, 2018
Jaj, to byl doják .... když jsem četla anotaci, myslela jsem si, že půjde o četbu jak dělanou na city, protože prostě hlavní hrdina a rakovina. Jenže hlavní hrdina - Gabriel - byl do dobré poloviny prostě strašnej hajzl, člověk bez empatií, kterého zajímají jen šesticiferná čísla na výplatu. Vše umě proloženo skutečnými událostmi z finančnictví a politiky, takže člověk nabývá dojmu, že nečte příběh o lásce a vážné nemoci. To všechno má změnit Caitlin, která ale není žádnou záchranou příběhu, řekla bych. V podstatě mi přišla až skoro nadbytečná vsuvka v Gabrielově životě, nicméně se mi dost líbila a stala se skvělým osvěžením celého příběhu. Naopak se mi ještě více líbila Gabrielova psychoterapeutka, která nedávala svému pacientovi nic zadarmo a dost často jsem se přistihla, jak se nad jejich rozhovory doslova řehtám. Naopak jsem nedokázala potlačit pláč nad posledním rozhovorem Gejba s otcem. To se z těch očí valily potoky slz a nešlo tomu zabránit. Užasná kniha. Jednak proto, že si nehraje na "zahraju ti na city, bo hlavní hrdina má rakovinu", jednak proto, že budete jedním dechem číst o síle politiky a moci peněz, jednak proto, že si zde přečtete spoustu užitečných názorů na život a na člověka jako takového, jednak proto, že to celé psal chlap, což je zárukou skvělých hlášek a "zvláštního druhu" chlapského přemýšlení, jež nechává autor skrze hlavní postavu dokonale ventilovat :-) Už dlouho mne žádná kniha tak nebavila a tak nepřekvapila.
December 22, 2022
I wasn't sure about this book: the same old story of rich, heartless individual who learns humanity and empathy (hence the title) which has been around since Dickens, and before. However, Gavin Extence's book took it to a whole new level. His writing was beautiful as always and the story had real depth. Gabriel Vaughn, the "empathy-less" main protagonist, was extremely well drawn with insight and touches of humour which drew me to him, even at the beginning. His brain tumour, the underlying cause of Gabriel's fundamental change, although very present, was mostly kept in the background with its symptoms minimised, although you knew what its end result would be.
I enjoyed this, his third book, just as much as the previous two.
I enjoyed this, his third book, just as much as the previous two.
June 27, 2019
Думите за тази книга не стигат.
Очаквах леко романче, с което да разнообразя дните си през предстоящите две седмици на пътувания и почивка. А прочетох книгата за 2 дни, като спах по- малко през нощта, защото предпочитах да чета.
Много въпроси породи в мен и затвърди позицията ми винаги да слушам сърцето си. Беше тъжна, но реалистична картина.
Очаквах леко романче, с което да разнообразя дните си през предстоящите две седмици на пътувания и почивка. А прочетох книгата за 2 дни, като спах по- малко през нощта, защото предпочитах да чета.
Много въпроси породи в мен и затвърди позицията ми винаги да слушам сърцето си. Беше тъжна, но реалистична картина.
October 20, 2023
Ik twijfelde erg hoe ik dit boek moest beoordelen maar ik ben geëindigd op 3,5/4 sterren. Het las mega snel weg. Ik heb het in 2 zittingen gelezen. Het verhaal was mooi (niet perfect) maar zette me wel zeker aan het denken. En het hoofdpersonage maakte een mooie ontwikkeling mee. Ik moest aan het einde wel echt even denken van okey wat heb ik nu precies gelezen haha.
April 30, 2025
Genuinely upset I have now finished this, loved it!
November 15, 2020
Despite the content, I found this book a light and easy read. It was a nice pastime but felt it lacked depth and connection.
April 2, 2019
The book's firm 3.5 stars. 3 is too little and 4 too much. The last page of the book lost it the perceived 0.5 stars.
When I finished the book, I had a hunch that my impression of it would be different than many of the other readers. Quick skim through reviews here confirmed that I read different book from many here. Neither better nor worse, just different, given the lens of how I saw the main character.
I'm hard-pressed to see the redemption arc for Gabriel. He started as arrogant and aloof but didn't come across as purposely malicious. Just indifferent. Then the tumor kicks in, and for all the newfound empathy and musings of personal betterment, the opposite seemed to be true. Deceit, stalking, betrayal and hypocrisy took root instead. There was very little to like about the main character, as a person, but the portrayal came out as a very realistic version of his progression towards death. I'm just not sure, if Extence intended it as such.
For how much we get to learn about Gabriel, other characters are hardly fleshed out. Hardly anything is let on even about Caitlin, let alone the other personas. This is the lowlight of the book. Provided the POV, it’s hardly surprising, but the narrative veers on the edge of superficiality for almost everyone’s motivations.
One the closing note, I'd be curious what others find is the moral of the story. From my perspective, money seemed to fix everything. And the one time, the protagonist tried something else, he failed miserably - the Caitlin debacle.
When I finished the book, I had a hunch that my impression of it would be different than many of the other readers. Quick skim through reviews here confirmed that I read different book from many here. Neither better nor worse, just different, given the lens of how I saw the main character.
I'm hard-pressed to see the redemption arc for Gabriel. He started as arrogant and aloof but didn't come across as purposely malicious. Just indifferent. Then the tumor kicks in, and for all the newfound empathy and musings of personal betterment, the opposite seemed to be true. Deceit, stalking, betrayal and hypocrisy took root instead. There was very little to like about the main character, as a person, but the portrayal came out as a very realistic version of his progression towards death. I'm just not sure, if Extence intended it as such.
For how much we get to learn about Gabriel, other characters are hardly fleshed out. Hardly anything is let on even about Caitlin, let alone the other personas. This is the lowlight of the book. Provided the POV, it’s hardly surprising, but the narrative veers on the edge of superficiality for almost everyone’s motivations.
One the closing note, I'd be curious what others find is the moral of the story. From my perspective, money seemed to fix everything. And the one time, the protagonist tried something else, he failed miserably - the Caitlin debacle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2018
I thought the Universe Vs Alex Woods was a phenomenal novel and moving piece of art. But then I read this. And this is a whole new level. Maybe I'm just biased because I started typing this review half an hour after finishing the book (a half hour I spent trying to process my emotions and wipe away the tears - which is not something I usually need to do, I'm a hardass and it takes a lot for a book or movie to move me to tears). I usually wait a few hours to write reviews but I just couldn't this time. I need to tell the world how freaking great this is.
It's not that the book is particularly sad. It is. But it isn't. It's just that there's a lot of other things going on here as well, and it's kind of an emotional rollercoaster on that darn feels train. Gabriel isn't exactly a guy who you'd easily be friends with. What happens to him is horrible but he is kind of an ass. But then there are parts of him that are truly likeable. He's such a complex and well-thought-out character and perhaps that's why the book is so addictive - or should I say, unputdownable. (Seriously I shouldn't have read this when I have lots of essays to write because all I wanted to do was read it. I had to limit myself to 80 pages a day - which I'd read in one sitting before I got breakfast - and even then it was hard to stop.)
How can a book be so heartbreakingly beautifully happy and sad all at the same time? I don't know, but Gavin Extence has managed it with this one.
It's not that the book is particularly sad. It is. But it isn't. It's just that there's a lot of other things going on here as well, and it's kind of an emotional rollercoaster on that darn feels train. Gabriel isn't exactly a guy who you'd easily be friends with. What happens to him is horrible but he is kind of an ass. But then there are parts of him that are truly likeable. He's such a complex and well-thought-out character and perhaps that's why the book is so addictive - or should I say, unputdownable. (Seriously I shouldn't have read this when I have lots of essays to write because all I wanted to do was read it. I had to limit myself to 80 pages a day - which I'd read in one sitting before I got breakfast - and even then it was hard to stop.)
How can a book be so heartbreakingly beautifully happy and sad all at the same time? I don't know, but Gavin Extence has managed it with this one.
February 28, 2017
This was a very mixed read for me. Although I can't fault the author on his writing, I can't say I felt all that much for any of the characters. Although Gabriel undergoes this huge transformation, and tries to right some of the wrongs he caused, I felt the entire story to be somewhat implausible. A brain tumour causing a person to become someone completely different, over a matter of a few months, feels too much like a author gimmick, and I didn't buy into it at all. Gabriel's character at the start is someone extremely unlikeable, and although I understand that's the point, in order for his transformation to have the impact it was supposed to, this book left me mostly cold. I can tell from some of the other reviews that it was supposed to be funny - I consider myself as someone with a great sense of humour, but if this book made me even chuckle once, I don't remember it.
I expected a lot more from this book, and perhaps that's why I was so disappointed by it.
I expected a lot more from this book, and perhaps that's why I was so disappointed by it.
February 1, 2021
At least until 50 pages before the book ended, I felt like I could give it credit for at least going in a different route than what is expected out of a book with this premise. But nope. It went exactly like how I thought it would go.
I really couldn’t dislike the main character or the love interest anymore, even after the “redemption arc”.
Not to mention the outright racism and ignorance of the main character that (while I understand was a part of his villain thing) kept just nagging at me while reading the book but wasn’t addressed or corrected at all by the end. When writing a character that’s racist against very misinterpreted minorities, I personally think the least you can do is set the record straight about what your character said that is false and what the truth actually is, or you could easily choose another minority for your character to be racist against.
I really couldn’t dislike the main character or the love interest anymore, even after the “redemption arc”.
Not to mention the outright racism and ignorance of the main character that (while I understand was a part of his villain thing) kept just nagging at me while reading the book but wasn’t addressed or corrected at all by the end. When writing a character that’s racist against very misinterpreted minorities, I personally think the least you can do is set the record straight about what your character said that is false and what the truth actually is, or you could easily choose another minority for your character to be racist against.
February 22, 2021
I was intrigued by the reviews and blurb about this book and it didn’t disappoint. A treat to read on a February weekend in Covid Lockdown. I enjoyed the insights into the Fiancial world and the 2008 St Paul’s protest camp. The characters feel very real & the thought processes & questions they invoked in me are likely to be with me for a very long time. I love a book especially a novel that uncovers & questions my assumptions making me review my life experiences and opinions - this book certainly did that. Recently I’ve tended to gravitate to Biographies but very happy I ventured back into fiction with his book - a great mix of characters against a back drop of events I recall.
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