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The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

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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, Booker Prize, Winner

2023, British Book Awards (The Nibbies) Audiobook: Fiction, Short-listed

©2022 Shehan Karunatilaka (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magical Realism South Asian Creators Fantasy Magic Thought-Provoking Heartfelt War Royalty
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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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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.

A window into a world unknown to me

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Like majority of booker prize winners, it’s a great book to listen, finished it in 2 weeks!

Beautiful

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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.

Amazing reader

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Thoroughly enjoyed - magical realism, history, comedy, horror, philosophy. Excellent narration. A worthy Booker Prize winner. Highly recommended!

A worthy Booker winner

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Thoroughly recommend that everyone should listen to this. The story is captivating, has a number of laugh out loud moments, and the narration is nothing other than brilliant. A wonderful listen!

Absolutely captivating!

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