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The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

Winner of the Booker Prize 2022
By Shehan Karunatilaka
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka, the story unfolds in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where Maali Almeida, a war photographer who has suddenly died, finds himself in a bureaucratic limbo for souls. With just seven moons to piece together the circumstances of his death, Maali embarks on a journey to uncover truths and transcend his unfinished business, navigating the complexities of his past life. This darkly humorous novel interweaves elements of mystery and magical realism, portraying a vivid picture of existence and the afterlife.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This compelling novel might captivate you with its blend of mystery and satire, as it follows a ghost uncovering the circumstances of their own death in wartime Sri Lanka. If you enjoy stories rich with political intrigue, dark humour, and thought-provoking commentary on humanity, this book could be an excellent choice.

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'Imagine a mash-up of Stranger Things and Salman Rushdie' Robbie Millen, Sunday Times

'Imagine a mash-up of Stranger Things and Salman Rushdie' Robbie Millen, Sunday Times

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2022

Now with added author content - a Map of Colombo as viewed from the afterlife + Dramatis Personae.

A magical realism whodunnit set amid Sri Lanka's civil war.

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

Sri Lanka's foremost author delivers a rip-roaring epic, full of mordant wit and disturbing truths.

'Recalls the mordant wit and surrealism of Gogol and Bulgakov.' - Guardian

'Outstanding... the most significant work of Sri Lankan fiction in a decade.' - New European

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida has been praised for its energetic and imaginative style, with vivid imagery against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil wars. Critics have likened it to the works of Gogol and Bulgakov, noting its combination of mordant wit and surrealism to address a tumultuous period in Sri Lankan history. It is described as a brilliantly rollicking read, with a sharp wit and engaging prose, and hailed as a significant contribution to Sri Lankan literature. This novel is noted for its unique blend of mystery and literary artistry, evoking comparisons to Agatha Christie, Salman Rushdie, and John le Carré.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781914502071

Publisher: Sort of Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 April 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Sort of Books

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 340g

Pages: 432

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Award Winners Best Sellers at Book Hero Best Selling Books Fantasy Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction New Zealand's Best Selling Books Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shehan Karunatilaka

About the Author

Shehan Karunatilaka is the winner of the 2022 Booker Prize for his second novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. His debut novel, Chinaman (2011) won the Commonwealth Book Prize and Gratiaen Prize. Born in Sri Lanka, he studied in New Zealand and has lived in London, Amsterdam and Singapore. He currently lives in Colombo with his family, his guitars and his notes for new stories.

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  • The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
    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 serene Beira lake, and he has no idea who killed him. At a time where scores are settled by death squads, suicide bombers, and hired goons, the list of suspects is...
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  • Chinaman
    From the Booker prize-winning author of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida – a rumbustuous, brilliant novel about Sri Lanka, cricket and the search for a legendary sportsman. A crazy ambidextrous delight – Michael Ondaatje Bristling with energy and confidence – Sunday Times Spellbinding – Mohammed Hanif The blazing debut novel by the Booker prize-winning author of The Seven Moons...
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