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The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida cover art

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

By: Shehan Karunatilaka
Narrated by: Shivantha Wijesinha
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Summary

Winner of the Booker Prize, 2022

Colombo, 1990. Maali Almeida, war photographer, gambler and closet queen, has woken up dead in what seems like a celestial visa office. His dismembered body is sinking in the Beira Lake and he has no idea who killed him. At a time when scores are settled by death squads, suicide bombers and hired goons, the list of suspects is depressingly long, as the ghouls and ghosts who cluster around him can attest.

But even in the afterlife, time is running out for Maali. He has seven moons to try and contact the man and woman he loves most and lead them to a hidden cache of photos that will rock Sri Lanka.

©2022 Shehan Karunatilaka (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Karunatilaka has a real lightness of touch." (The Observer)

"Celebrate the arrival of the Great Sri Lankan Novel." (The Times)

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Loved it! Rich, intoxicating, exotic and beautifully delivered

So many layers woven together into a rich tapestry.
Beautifully narrated.
Didn’t want it to end.

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Instant classic

Magical and enchanting. Impossible to stop listening. 21st century “Master and Margaret”. The narrator’s performance is out of this world.

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  • R
  • 16-02-23

Amazing reader

It’s true that with the many characters and the plot twists and turns - many fantastical - you have to give this book your attention or you quickly lose your way. But the effort is rewarded.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A window into a world unknown to me

When I started this book, I knew almost nothing about Sri Lankan recent history. I was curious to learn more, hence why I chose the book (and its recent prize winning status helped too). At first, I struggled to keep track of the acronyms, especially in an audiobook format. A look at Wikipedia helped me. By the end of the book, I now have a firmer understanding of the subject. I urge you to persevere -- don't let the acronyms put you off. The history is but the framework for this ingenious story. I grew to become more engrossed as I went along. Besides being a window into a grotesque period in this country's history, it is also, in part, a mystery, as well as an exploration of life after death and homosexual relationships within a Conservative country. The ending provides a satisfying conclusion to the whole complex story.

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Fantastic

Persevere past the shock of continuous gore and violence to find a richly layered story with depth and meaning. Fantastic story telling.

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So good I’m sad it’s over

Brilliant, devastating story and just so beautifully, evocatively and intimately read. I only wish I could go back and unhear so I could start again immediately.

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Interesting and thought-provoking would recommend

This novel is is written from the perspective of the afterlife, which is interesting and unusual. It tells the story of the impact of war and destruction on humanity without focusing on the underlying politics. It is philosophical and thought-provoking and audio performance is fantastic. I would thoroughly recommend.

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I can understand why it won

Political, Environmental, Religious, Spiritual, Historical, Emotional and Magical.

I did find some parts difficult to get - mostly due to my lack of knowledge about the history of Sri Lanka but I stuck with it and it made more sense. It incorporated so many different subjects and points of view, it made for quite interesting listening.

Maali was a journalist photographer and he has very important pictures that would impact Sri Lanka. Unfortunately he died. Can he get them exposed from beyond the grave? What lies beyond death?

Loved the narrator. Excellent job. I could listen to him for hours (and did - clearly)

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Narrator was brilliant!

Was blown away by the story and the narration. The narration brought the story to life.

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Clever story

Couldn’t wait to get in the car to listen to it. Really gripping and well written. Loved the narrator too

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