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The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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review
BC_Dittemore
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

It took me about an hour to stop expecting the narrator to ask me to choose my own way through the book. And once I got over the second person POV I had an overall wonderful time with Seven Moons. What prevents it from being a straight 5 star read is the author‘s inability to contain themselves when talking about Maali‘s sexuality; I get it, dude likes to f**k.

Endlessly creative with a fine eye for the depths of human imagination.

BC_Dittemore BTW I would totally be on board with a Seven Moons Choose Your Own Adventure. Oh the things one could do with the world that Karunatilaka has built! (edited) 3mo
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BC_Dittemore
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
This post contains spoilers
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Ok, so I really enjoyed this book. But I have a serious question and anyone is welcome to answer:

Considering its illegality, Maali seems to have had sex with pretty much every man he met. So much so I began to wonder, could his behavior be considered predatory.

I wondered as well about his representation as a gay man. It seems the ‘slut‘ is a common trope, but is it accurate or is it presenting a negative stereotype?

review
Creadnorthey
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

A great book with satisfying turns, other worldly tensions in an odd companion piece to “The Famished Road” I read earlier in the season. Deserving of its Booker listing, opening me as a reader to a (Sri Lankan) history and culture and atrocities which I‘d only vaguely been aware of happening.

BkClubCare So good! I enjoyed it, too 3mo
14 likes1 comment
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Creadnorthey
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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It is not Good vs. Evil out here. It is varying degrees of bad, squabbling with conglomerates of the wicked.

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shawnmooney
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Sharon Butala is award-winning novelist and memoirist, currently based in Calgary. She‘s also a big reader who talks about her reading with insight and humor. Lucky me, she‘s now a regular guest on my channel for regular, long-form chats like this.

https://youtu.be/6saOgtOTosU?si=Jd7al30_VwoHDBgO

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jen_hayes7
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Doing some #audiocrafting tonight. This book is a trip!! #huey #catsoflitsy

BookmarkTavern How cozy! ❤️ 9mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 9mo
Kitta I love their kits! 8mo
19 likes3 comments
review
heyitsMacall
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

February book club pick: a multilayered story that follows a complex character in his journey to the afterlife. I don‘t think I‘ve read anything quite like this story and I can tell why it won the booker prize!

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Jari-chan
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

I was patiently waiting for the German translation and now finally got around to meet it. And wow, this is heavy. But I'm thankful for this book that taught me about a war I barely knew anything about. The plot itself dragged every now and then, but it's a pick only for the information I got alone. The way Karunatilaka pictures “life“ after death is hilarious. Yes, there is a good humor in this book, even though we read about devastating history.

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IuliaC
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this novel; very informative on the recent painful history of civil war-torn Sri Lanka. Maali Almeida, a photographer who has just died, is trying to solve the mystery of his own death by communicating with his loved ones and helping them publish his photos to expose the atrocities of the war. In the afterlife his mission is guided by two opposed forces, Dr. Ranee and Mahakali, each symbolizing a dimension of his country and of its past.

BkClubCare I enjoyed this, too. So different and it had funny as well as loving moments. 10mo
Jari-chan Just started this one this morning! 10mo
IuliaC @BkClubCare Exactly, it's such a rich prose 10mo
See All 6 Comments
IuliaC @Jari-chan I hope you enjoy it! 😃 10mo
Leniverse One of my favourites from last year. 10mo
IuliaC @Leniverse A great read 🤩 10mo
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lynneamch
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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I don't know if Shehan Karunatailaka is unusual in Sri Lanka, but for me it is an #UnusualAuthName. Some mixed reviews from #Littens. My musical friend said the audio would make Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle feel like an episode of Seinfeld. Whatever that means. 😏 #NewYearNewBooks (Google image of Ring Cycle performance from Lyric Opera of Chicago.) @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Fascinating 👏🏻👏🏻 10mo
34 likes1 comment
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Leniverse
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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This book hits hard, even in the section epigraphs.

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Leniverse
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka

There are good reasons humans can't converse with animals, except after death. Because animals wouldn't stop complaining. And that would make them harder to slaughter. The same may be said for dissidents and insurgents and separatists and photographers of wars. The less they are heard, the easier they are forgotten.

tpixie Wow 😯 12mo
23 likes1 comment
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Leniverse
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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I've been wondering this entire time why this book is written in the 2nd person. There didn't seem to be a point to it. Pleased to see it addressed, in a chapter called The Voice to boot!

Graywacke I never picked up on this! Glad you shared 12mo
30 likes1 comment
review
SanjanaGhosh
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Bailedbailed

:/

dabbe #hailthebail! 🧡🎃🧡 14mo
14 likes1 comment
review
LadyCait84
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

What a weird, hard, wonderful read.

An intriguing — if chaotic and stressful — depiction of the afterlife. A narrative that disturbs and challenges, but thankfully throws you the occasional joke.

JanuarieTimewalker13 Oooh, that sounds good! Stacking! 1y
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Chars
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Mehso-so

“The kindest thing you can say about life is: It‘s not nothing.”

review
honeydew_reader
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
Pickpick

Definitely not super well versed in the history of Sri Lanka but this was a beautiful take on love (queer and not) and violence, disguised in a colorful ride through the afterlife

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vlwelser
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

This is so well written. It's satire and magical realism and a murder mystery set against the backdrop of 1980s Sri Lanka. It's dripping in references. It won the Booker so my IRL book club picked it for April. And some of them struggled with it. It's very dark. The main character is dead. And there are so many references if you have no background in this.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sounds interesting! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
Parvez In my TBRR

2y
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Readerann
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

An ambitious novel, which I thought flowed really well. I also appreciate there were some glimmers of hope amongst all the tragedy. An apt summary from a blurb on the back: “Imagine a mash-up of Stranger Things and Salman Rushdie”. 🤔
#ToB2023 (I do realize the tournament is over - hashtag is for my reference 😁.)

BarbaraBB Glad you liked it. I should change the hashtag though to #ToB2023 😉 2y
Ruthiella I like this one more now that it is far behind me. Though maybe that‘s a testament to the writing. I should probably go back on Goodreads and add a star! 2y
Readerann @BarbaraBB Oh, whoops. Thx! 2y
Readerann @Ruthiella Definitely an “uncomfortable” read. 2y
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vlwelser
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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I'm calling it. March was fun but my brain has moved on to April. Going to Europe on the 1st (work) so I need to pack. And decide which books should come. Not taking forever books so I already started the tagged for IRL book club. Also put my #SundayBuddyRead on my kindle. See. Someone's ready for April.

#BookSpin #DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Hope you enjoy your trip, even if it is for work! 2y
35 likes1 comment
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BkClubCare
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick
Deblovestoread Well done! 🙌🏼 2y
Cinfhen Congrats!!!!! 2y
Readerann Way to go!! 👏 🎊 2y
See All 8 Comments
squirrelbrain Congratulations! 🎉🎉 2y
BarbaraBB Fantastic! 🏆 2y
Ruthiella 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 2y
BkClubCare Thinking of you @Megabooks and hoping all is on a positive upswing for you and yours. TY again for this book - I really enjoyed it. ACTUALLY, it came all together for me when he chose what he deserved and got assigned to be a Helper!! 😂 2y
Megabooks This was definitely an interesting one, and I was happy to get it to you!!! Maali was a thought-provoking character. Thank you so much for the support 💜, and CONGRATULATIONS on being a completist!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 (edited) 2y
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BkClubCare
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Am on an airplane ✈️
Hoping this means I can get this done!

Ruthiella Good luck! 👍 2y
BkClubCare @Ruthiella - Made it to page 245 🌟 2y
BarbaraBB That means you are enjoying it I guess?! 2y
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - oh, yes! I really am. Just have been too busy and unfocused lately. 2y
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cariashley
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

There‘s a lot going on in this Booker prize winning novel. Sometimes too much, especially with so much brutally gruesome material. Once I got used to the style it did flow better for me, and I did like the surprisingly hopeful way things were wrapped up. Still took me a couple weeks to get through, though. Will definitely be interesting to see how this does in #tob23!

Ruthiella I didn‘t like this too much when reading it, but I have to admit, it has stuck with me! 2y
BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one too despite my initial doubts about it. 2y
Cinfhen Cool photo 2y
57 likes3 comments
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BarbaraBB
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

I did it, I finished this book and I am glad I gave it another try. It is really good.

A Sri Lankan photographer dies and has a week (seven moons) to try come at peace with his life and his death in wartorn Sri Lanka. A typical #Bookerprize winner, and a worthy one.

With this one I finished the #ToB23 shortlist (bailing on two). I‘ll share my wrap-up soon.

See All 21 Comments
Suet624 Fantastic!!! 2y
Chelsea.Poole Wonderful! I‘m listening to this one next. It‘s my last for the shortlist! Glad to see it worked for you. I now have hope 😊 (edited) 2y
squirrelbrain Glad it worked out for you second time around! Looking forward to seeing your wrap-up. 2y
Liz_M Impressive, reading (as much as you could) the entire shortlist! 2y
jlhammar Woo-hoo, good work! 2y
Megabooks Fantastic!! Looking forward to your wrap up. I found this good as well, if a bit over complicated. 2y
sarahbarnes Yay! I‘m so glad you liked it! And congrats on finishing all but two. 📚 2y
Hooked_on_books Hooray! And great that you liked your final read. I liked this one, too, and I didn‘t expect to. 2y
Cortg I‘m glad you went back to it and enjoyed it! 2y
BarbaraBB @Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @Liz_M @jlhammar @Megabooks @sarahbarnes @Hooked_on_books @Cortg Thanks all 🤍 It always feel so satisfying when I finish a book I put away at first! 2y
Librarybelle I love this cover! #covercrush 2y
Cinfhen Love the photo of your dad 😘 and now I‘m disappointed I didn‘t give this book another chance #FoMo maybe I‘ll try this one on audio and see if I have better luck. I‘m also hoping to try again with 2y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen You noticed ❤️😘 2y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen You should try My Volcano again. I am sure you‘ll like it - though that is not the right word. This one I am not so sure about 2y
Cinfhen How could I not??? He‘s ADORABLE ☺️ His face lights up the entire page xxxx 2y
batsy Well done on finishing the list! 🙌🏾 And it's great to end on a high note. 2y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Thank you 💕 I am in our beach house, his favorite place to be. It feels good to have him watching what we‘re up to when we‘re here! 2y
Cinfhen I get that 🥰 2y
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BkClubCare
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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I am diving into this one today! Finished Mouth2Mouth last night (um… Still thinking about it) so I am almost to completist status for #ToB2023. Then I will rank from favorite to least.

This one is my favorite cover. 🌟

squirrelbrain Looking forward to seeing your list! 2y
BarbaraBB I am about to start this one too as the last one 🤞🏽 2y
Ruthiella Love this post! 😂😂😂 SPLASH 💦 2y
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen Well done 👍🏻 2y
Hooked_on_books I like this cover, too. So colorful! 2y
Megabooks I hope you like it! I definitely learned a lot about Sri Lanka. 2y
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BarbaraBB
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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#WeeklyForecast 08/23

Just started Newcomer and again I am loving a Japanese mystery! I‘m working on my courage to try the tagged one, the last one for the #ToB23. Checkout 19 is from the longlist and I hope to get to that one too!

Suet624 What a feat, managing to get through that TOB list. (edited) 2y
BarbaraBB @Suet624 I am not there yet and I bailed on Passenger and Mercury 🤷🏻‍♀️ (edited) 2y
Suet624 You tried though. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2y
See All 15 Comments
Megabooks Enjoy! Checkout 19 is different in a good way. 👍🏻💜 2y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I‘ve heard good and meh things about it but I expect to be in the first group! 2y
Cinfhen Good luck this week 🫶🏼 2y
squirrelbrain Have a fab week! 2y
Graywacke I really liked Seven Moons. I found it annoying at first, and for a while. But by the time I finished I had embraced it, and it hangs around. 2y
TrishB Have a good week 👍🏻 2y
sarahbarnes Agree with @Graywacke on Seven Moons! 2y
Hooked_on_books I expected to bail on 7 Moons but ending up enjoying it, so I hope you do, too. I couldn‘t stand Checkout and did bail on that one. 2y
Cathythoughts Have a good week! I‘m stacking Checkout 19. 2y
64 likes15 comments
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shawnmooney
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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review
sarahbarnes
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

I‘d had this on my list since the Booker and I‘m glad I read it. Different from the style of book I usually gravitate towards, and I appreciated that. At its heart is a beautiful expression of love and friendship in the context of a culture of discrimination and a horrific civil war. #ToB2023

squirrelbrain Glad you enjoyed it! 2y
Ruthiella Great review and yes, it is a story of friendship at its heart. If only Maali had appreciated Jaki fully life. She was awesome. 2y
sarahbarnes @ruthiella I agree. ❤️❤️ 2y
BarbaraBB So glad you liked this. I‘ll try it next week 2y
42 likes5 comments
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Sophronisba
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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You want to ask the universe what everyone else wants to ask the universe. Why are we born, why do we die, why anything has to be. And all the universe has to say in reply is: I don‘t know, arsehole, stop asking. The Afterlife is as confusing as the Before Death, the In Between is as arbitrary as the Down There. So we make up stories because we‘re afraid of the dark.

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Megabooks
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

I am an official #tob23 completist! 🎉 This went between a pick and a low pick, but I think I agree with @Ruthiella that 3 or 4 moons would‘ve been enough. I do feel I understand the civil war in Sri Lanka better 👍🏻, but the plot was a tad(!) over complicated.

Almeida is a queer photojournalist in 1980s Sri Lanka. He has just been killed and has awakened in the afterlife. He has seven nights to make peace with his mistakes before moving on.

Megabooks Sorry I tagged everyone in my Stella Maris review. Whoops! I‘ll make a wrap up post soon. So excited the tournament is almost here! 🐔 @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole @Addison_Reads @Suet624 @sarahbarnes @RebelReader @BkClubCare @Aimeesue @Hooked_on_books @merelybookish @batsy @MicheleinPhilly 2y
BarbaraBB You‘re amazing! You read them all! And you even liked the ones that scare me! 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I did. This has been the first year in awhile that I‘ve been a completist, and I‘m really glad I pushed myself!! Thank you 💜💜 2y
See All 50 Comments
BarbaraBB You‘re my hero ❤️ 2y
Meshell1313 Ah maz ing! 🙌 2y
TrishB Well done 😁 2y
Cinfhen Fantastic 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎊❣️📚 2y
Cortg Congrats! 2y
Ruthiella Congratulations on competing the shortlist! 👏👏👏 I do think, despite my complaints, I will remember this title more than say, Sea of Tranquility, which I enjoyed more. You know ? 2y
jlhammar Nice work!! 2y
MicheleinPhilly Good for you! I know I won‘t be a completist this year. 2y
vlwelser 😂 I conned my book club into picking this for April. It's like we're playing chicken. Eventually they'll hate one so much I won't have to pick anymore. 2y
Chelsea.Poole Great job!! 🥳🎉🙌 2y
Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole thanks!! 👍🏻 2y
Megabooks @vlwelser lol…this will be an interesting discussion! There‘s a lot going on! 2y
Megabooks @MicheleinPhilly thanks! It‘s a rough year for the tob. 2y
Megabooks @jlhammar thank you! 😁 2y
Megabooks @Ruthiella I wouldn‘t say the same about that particular book, but Nightcrawling I rated higher than this, but I barely remember it. I hope what sticks with me from this is a better understanding of SL. And thank you!! (edited) 2y
Megabooks @Cortg thanks! 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen it was a bit of an odd year to finally decide to be a completist! Thanks friend!! 😘 (edited) 2y
Megabooks @TrishB thanks!! 💜 2y
Megabooks @Meshell1313 thank you!! 😁 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB 💕💕💕 2y
Suet624 Congrats! 2y
Hooked_on_books I agree with your assessment of this one. For me I think 5 moons would have been about right. I do like what I learned by reading this. Congrats on finishing! 2y
Aimeesue Yay! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 2y
BkClubCare 👏👏👏 🎯🏆✅ Seven Moons will be my last if I get that far. And I am not sure where/how I will acquire. 2y
Megabooks @BkClubCare are you in the US? I‘ll send you my copy if you are. 2y
Megabooks @Aimeesue thanks!! 😁😁 2y
BkClubCare @Megabooks - yes, Kansas 🌻 And I am glad to send you a book in return (if I can find anything you haven‘t read 🤣). Did you ever read Chouette? I have it in trade back. (edited) 2y
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books I get that there‘s probably significance in Buddhism with the 7 moons, but also the plot got very complicated with the armies of dead gathering to do things and the back and forth with Sena, etc., which put it more towards low pick for me. And thank you! (edited) 2y
Megabooks @BkClubCare oh fantastic! I have not read it, and it sounds wild! Email me at megabooksreads at gmail dot com, and we‘ll go from there. 😁😁 2y
Megabooks @Suet624 thanks!! 2y
Readerann Congrats! 🥳 I hope to join the Completist Club one of these years. 😩 2y
Cinfhen So true @Megabooks you easily chose the MOST difficult list to complete in the past 5 years!!! 2y
squirrelbrain Yay! Well done on being a completist! (I‘m very jealous!) 2y
batsy Congratulations! That's super impressive 🙌🏾🎉 Glad that this was a pick for you! 2y
sarahbarnes Congrats!!🎉 I got this one from the library finally and am excited to give it a go. 2y
Megabooks @Readerann I think this is my first year 💯 complete, but I definitely picked a weird year to do it @Cinfhen ! 😵‍💫 2y
Megabooks @squirrelbrain thanks!! 😁💜💜 2y
Megabooks @batsy thank you!! It was definitely interesting. I learned a lot. 👍🏻 2y
Megabooks @sarahbarnes thanks! Really interested to read what you think! 2y
Megabooks @BkClubCare just put it in the mail and sent you an email with the tracking info! Enjoy! 2y
BkClubCare @Megabooks -speedy! Thx. Did you media mail it? 2y
Megabooks @BkClubCare yes 👍🏻 2y
BkClubCare @Megabooks - 🏆 I think I can get Chouette out tomorrow 🦉 (edited) 2y
Megabooks @BkClubCare I‘m excited! 👏🏻👏🏻 2y
BkClubCare @Megabooks - Arrived today! Thank you ☺️ 💐 📬 2y
Megabooks @BkClubCare wow! That was fast! I hope you enjoy it! 😁👍🏻 2y
Megabooks @BkClubCare thank you for the lovely note!! Chouette still has not arrived, but I just checked the tracking and it is still moving. Living in a small town, my mail has to go through a feeder city before it turns up locally, so it is not usually fast. Delays have been slightly worse since Covid. My aardvark package is moving similarly as well. I will let you know when it arrives! Thank you once again for sending it! 2y
112 likes50 comments
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cariashley
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Trying to manage some anxiety around some medical stuff I‘m in the middle of (nothing dire, still stressful), so I did the logical thing and went to The Strand. The walk combined with picking up these two books definitely helped! Seven Moons is for #tob23 and Liberation Day is a signed copy that jumped in my bag - am a huge Saunders fan and had been meaning to pick it up ☺️

Soubhiville Totally logical! I support your therapy! 2y
Tamra Hang in there with a good read! 2y
squirrelbrain The Strand would make most things better…hope you‘re OK. 2y
See All 10 Comments
SamAnne Hope you head on an upswing! 2y
Ruthiella Retail therapy! 👍 2y
TheBookHippie ♥️ I do this too! Sending light. 2y
BarbaraBB Wishing you the best, and hope you‘ll like the book. Still need to read it. 2y
batsy Sending good vibes! Where would we be without our bookish retail therapy ❤️ 2y
cariashley @Soubhiville @Tamra @squirrelbrain @SamAnne @Ruthiella @TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB @batsy thank you so much for the kind words and positive thoughts!! ❤️❤️ 2y
sarahbarnes Hope all is well. ❤️ I‘m glad you are taking care of yourself. 📚 I just finished Seven Moons and I liked it. 2y
51 likes10 comments
review
RaeLovesToRead
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

This was a weird one. My first thought was OH NO, HE'S USING THE SECOND PERSON... make it stop!! 😱😱 And then I spent a moon or two confused. Eventually this surreal tangle of stories kind of won me over.

I was hoping to learn more about Sri Lanka than I did. This is a montage of atrocities, a collage of corruption and violence, a mosaic of disillusion and apathy. As a novel it was more artistic than educational.

Still, it was different.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

BarbaraBB Your review gives me hope! You‘re one of the few people who have actually finished this book! (edited) 2y
RaeLovesToRead @BarbaraBB At first I didn't think I was going to gel with it, but it got better! Wait, that reminds me... 2y
See All 7 Comments
batsy Glad to hear this worked for you! 2y
RaeLovesToRead @batsy Thanks! I wrote a longer review on Goodreads. I was interested to read your thoughts on there and I will read A Portrait of a Brief Marriage on your recommendation 😊 2y
squirrelbrain Glad you liked it! 2y
Cinfhen Excellent review ❣️I wish I had the fortitude to ride this book out but I couldn‘t read past page 10 😬 2y
76 likes7 comments
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RaeLovesToRead
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka

We must all find pointless causes to live for, or why bother with breath?

Because, on reflection, once you have seen your own face and recognised the colour of your eyes, tasted the air and smelled the soil, drunk from the purest fountains and the dirtiest wells, that is the kindest thing you can say about life. It's not nothing.

review
Graywacke
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

Some Batik?

I‘ve now read 9 from the #booker2022 longlist.

I found this a little awkward on audio, opening with heavy satire. But I stuck with it, took it slow, through all those momentum-deadening dialogues, and I feel rewarded. It comes around. It has an overall structural arch that I can appreciate in hindsight and that made it all worth it. I got attached, and I got to really like Maali and his posthumous self in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1990.

Graywacke @batsy I was thinking about your Litsy post and comments the whole time I was listening. 2y
batsy @Graywacke I'm really glad this was a pick for you! Despite having some mixed feelings, it's not a book that is easily forgotten. 2y
sarahbarnes I‘m excited to try this one when I finally get it from the library. 2y
Suet624 Jeez, I keep going back and forth on reading this one. Now with you and @Batsy‘s reviews I‘m back on and will have to find it. 2y
Graywacke @Suet624 I encourage you to try. But, don‘t do audio. Don‘t bring expectations. 🙂 But seriously, I‘m really grateful to have listened to it. I hope if you try you‘ll find it rewarding. 2y
57 likes5 comments
review
rmaclean4
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

I admire this novel for its craft and creativity. I see why it won the Booker Prize last year. I learned a great deal about Sri Lanka. It has some profound observations about war, love,betrayal, and forgiveness. I think this will stay with me for a long time. 4 🌟
#TOB23 #52BOOKCLUB23 #setinwar
@LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @Jennifer8 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird

squirrelbrain Glad you liked it (or loved it even!) 2y
BarbaraBB I am so glad to read a positive review for this one! 2y
35 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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RebelReader
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Bailedbailed

I just couldn‘t get into this. It felt like a zombie movie to me. I have too many books to read to waste time reading something I don‘t enjoy. #Allhailthebail
The cover is beautiful though.

Cinfhen Exactly!!! #AllHailTheBail 👍🏽📚😂 2y
BarbaraBB I don‘t think I‘ve seen a “pick” for this one so far 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
squirrelbrain Love your hashtag! 🤣 I have to agree too, I skim-read most of this and wished I‘d bailed. 2y
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sarahbarnes Man! I‘m waiting for this from the library but becoming less excited with each review. 2y
RebelReader @sarahbarnes Take heart! I felt that way about Mouth to Mouth and I ended up loving it. 2y
sarahbarnes I loved Mouth to Mouth, too. 2y
Ruthiella Gotta respect the right to bail! 2y
49 likes8 comments
review
Ruthiella
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Mehso-so

I think it could have been 3 or 4 moons instead of 7 and none the worse. Maali is a supposedly apolitical photographer in late 20th century Sri Lanka who narrates the story from the afterlife. He documented some of the worst atrocities of the civil war. Is that what got him killed? Maybe I, like Maali, became numbed by endless brutality presented, but I found this Booker winner too long, too repetitive and occasionally ponderous. #ToB2023

squirrelbrain Great review - I didn‘t care for this one either. 2y
Ruthiella @squirrelbrain Thanks. I kept forgetting I was reading it, never a good sign. 2y
merelybookish Nice mug. 👍 I keep forgetting this book is even on the tournament. 🤷 2y
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Ruthiella @merelybookish I have a small ToB mug collection which I like to use particularly when reading! 2y
Cinfhen Great mug 😁 2y
Megabooks I‘m kind of dreading this one. I only have it and the passenger left, so February will be interesting…🫣 2y
Cinfhen I bailed on this book…twice🤪 2y
Ruthiella @Cinfhen You gave it the college try! Fair enough. 👍😀 2y
Ruthiella @Megabooks I‘m not looking forward to the McCarthy book either. I hope you get on better with this one than I did. I know @Hooked_on_books liked it. There‘s hope! 😃 2y
Suet624 I love that mug and I think I‘ve decided to skip this book. 2y
BarbaraBB Thanks for this review although it motivates me even less to read the book 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
Readerann Hmm. I have it on a library hold. Rethinking. 2y
Hooked_on_books I definitely liked this more than I expected to, but I absolutely agree that it was too long. 2y
Ruthiella @Suet624 It is a satisfying mug to drink from. 😅 Fair enough if you skip this one. 2y
Ruthiella @BarbaraBB I know! The reviews on Litsy aren‘t encouraging. But you never know! 2y
Ruthiella @Readerann I say give it a go when your hold comes in. 2y
Ruthiella @Hooked_on_books I personally thought some of the reminiscences of DD and Jaki could have easily been left out. 2y
BkClubCare @Ruthiella - sounds like a strategy. 👊 2y
sarahbarnes Love the mug! I have a black one. I‘m waiting my turn for this one at the library and am interested to check it out. Great review! 2y
Ruthiella @sarahbarnes I can‘t have too many 🐓mugs. I await your verdict when you take a crack at this one. 2y
batsy Nicely put! I'm not sure why it won. Structurally somewhat baggy and (dare I say it?) too impressed with with its own voice, and politically all over the place. Maali's nihilism seems, idk, too easy. 2y
Ruthiella @batsy Maybe it is more rewarding upon rereading? Allegedly, the books are read multiple times prior to the final Booker judgement. 2y
Cathythoughts We had it for IRL Bookclub, not sure why it won either @batsy ! I didn‘t realise that about the rereading Ruth ! That makes some sense 2y
Cathythoughts Having said that , we can‘t all be rereading 🤷‍♀️ 2y
Ruthiella @Cathythoughts Agreed! For me, rereading is an indulgence I rarely engage in. So many other books out there that I want to read instead! But, I‘ve also never judged a book prize. 2y
Cathythoughts I hear you ! I‘d love to be a fly on the wall when they argue the toss 😬 The stakes are high! ❤️ 2y
batsy @Ruthiella Perhaps! Though it makes me tired to think of rereading this one 😅 On that note, the speed needed for judges to go through the books is something that I find endlessly fascinating. 2y
kwmg40 I'm on my library's waiting list for this book and am wavering about reading it, given the mixed reviews. Love the Rooster mug! 2y
Ruthiella @kwmg40 I think you should give it a go once it‘s your turn on the holds list. You‘ve nothing to lose! Also, if you have access to Hoopla, it‘s available there on audio. 2y
kwmg40 Good idea. I'll look for it on audio. 2y
72 likes30 comments
review
Hooked_on_books
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

Given the tepid Litsy response and my own less than stellar history with Booker winners, I fully expected to hate this and bail fairly early. But I didn‘t hate it! I didn‘t love it, either, but I liked this solid look at sectarian violence in 1980s Sri Lanka. It‘s overly long and I would have wanted it tightened up, but good enough for a low pick from me. Plus, cool cover. #tob2023

Megabooks This is one of the last ones I have left and you‘ve given me some guarded optimism! 2y
Ruthiella I‘m halfway through-been reading it on and off for weeks now. I agree it could be tighter-for example, every time Jaki and DD appear, we get YET ANOTHER anecdote about them. Enough already! 😂 2y
Cinfhen I bailed twice!!! But agree, cover art is stunning 🤩 2y
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squirrelbrain Glad you (kind of) liked it! 2y
RebelReader I still have a couple left, but mixed reviews on them all so I‘m not anxious to pick them up. 😩 2y
Suet624 I keep trying to pick this up at the library but it‘s never available. maybe I‘ll get off the waitlist. 2y
sarahbarnes Glad to hear this! I‘m interested to try it. @Suet624 I‘m in the same boat - I‘ve been on the waitlist for awhile. 2y
76 likes7 comments
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Jas16
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Mehso-so

When this won the Booker I wasn‘t interested enough to pick it up. #tob23 made me give it a try and ultimately I am glad I did. I didn‘t love it, it could easily have been a couple of moons shorter and been all the better for it, but there parts that I couldn‘t look away from.

BarbaraBB Another one I still have to pick up again. I started it after it won the Booker but bailed early on. 2y
48 likes1 comment
review
Jilly6183
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

On a whole, this was a good read with an interesting narrative. It had a lot of insightful moments about people and their motivations and power struggles. But it would definitely have helped to know more about Sri Lanka and the war.

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blurb
Graywacke
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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I have no clue why this has a blank gray audible book cover. I started on January 1. It‘s heavy satire which is tough on audio. I can appreciate it, and find it interesting. but I‘m not really enjoying it. #booker2022

Ruthiella It‘s reminding me of Midnight‘s Children in how much work it is taking me to appreciate it . 2y
Graywacke @Ruthiella interesting. I haven‘t read that. But it‘s a good description. 2y
BarbaraBB I loved Midnights Children but am dreading this one! @Ruthiella 2y
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Ruthiella @BarbaraBB I‘m about 20% through it and am finding it challenging in a similar way to MC. We‘ll see how I feel by the end, but sometimes challenging books are ultimately rewarding…but sometimes not! 😆 2y
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella I used to love challenging books but with the year I‘ve gotten less patient I sometimes think. 2y
batsy The satire seems to have gone down easier in print, I think. 2y
Graywacke @BarbaraBB @Ruthiella hmm. I‘m getting more into it. It‘s not challenging exactly, just heavy satire. 2y
Graywacke @batsy no question that‘s true. As a narrator, once you start the satirical voice, you‘re trapped in. You can‘t revert. In hindsight I think the reader should have handled it better. He has a nice voice though. There‘s a 2nd bad aspect. He struggled differentiating character voices. The audio editor “resolved” this by putting in silent delays between speakers. It‘s so wrong. 2y
batsy @Graywacke Oh dear, the silent delays thing does not sound fun at all. 2y
39 likes9 comments
review
mjtwo
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Panpan

1 Nov-9 Dec 22
#Bookerlonglist 6
Disappointed this won the Booker as I found it a real slog. I quite like magic realism but this was tedious and I found it difficult to decipher what was going on. Possibly did not help that I knew so little about the Sri Lankan civil war. None of the characters interested me and the plot went nowhere.

review
Emilymdxn
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

This has some mixed reviews but I really liked it! It‘s long for sure but the audio flowed well and didn‘t feel too dragging for me. The ending was very satisfying and I thought it was a very satisfying ending for an MC who didn‘t believe in anything. I also thought the second person narration worked really well - a hard thing to get right without it feeling pretentious and forced.

Megabooks Well now I‘m a bit more excited! 2y
52 likes1 comment
blurb
Liz_M
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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A lovely way to have spent a cold MN evening.

BarbaraBB Are you enjoying it? It seems a hard read? 2y
sarahbarnes I‘m on hold for this one at the library and am interested to check it out. I‘ve seen some mixed reviews. 2y
BarbaraBB Hi Liz, did my package reach you? According to my track & trace it did, I hope you received it 🤞🏽 2y
Liz_M @BarbaraBB I'm in MN visiting family for the holidays. I'll let you know next week when I'm back in NYC 🤗 2y
BarbaraBB Perfect. Enjoy your stay 😘 2y
28 likes5 comments
review
Well-ReadNeck
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Mehso-so

#ToB23

I started this one on audiobook, but it just didn‘t gel for me. I preferred the print which I saw the snarky and sarcastic bits better. The second person point of view didn‘t completely work for me. Liked it but didn‘t love it.

Ruthiella Bummer! I was really curious about this Booker winner but it doesn‘t seem to be popular among the TOB Littens… 2y
BarbaraBB Bummer indeed. There seem to be some really unpopular books on the shortlist. 2y
Jolynne Was a DNF for me. 2y
66 likes3 comments
review
batsy
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Mehso-so

I found this book clever enough, with bits of stellar writing & whip-smart dialogue. It was too long, but my main problem is with the emptiness of its politics. Maybe I'm biased because my family is Jaffna Tamil, though we are Malaysian. I've not experienced any of this first hand, but have heard about it & lost close & extended family members to SL state violence. Maali's glib nihilism as a photographer who has seen it all felt aimless. #TOB2023

batsy I understand that a novel is art, & is not representative of a political view, but I do expect something more from political art than a well-written, riotous, carnivalesque magical-realist tale that is the equivalent of a noncommittal shrug. There was an over-emphasis on the Tamil Tigers as terrorists & less on how it was a response to SL state violence. I didn't expect this novel to provide solutions. But I expected it to have ... well, balls. 2y
batsy My fave characters in this were the two dogs & the leopard who had all of 2 pages of dialogue, maybe. Perhaps this explains the author's worldview. The locus of political power & why people rebel against a state to the point of taking up arms against it is erased; everyone's equally bad, power is diffuse, & the hard work of taking a side can be avoided. I can get this from your average liberal bro at the bar who's had one too many whiskey shots. 2y
Amiable Great review! (The cover is lovely, at least. 😬) 2y
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TrishB I haven‘t read, but a wonderful review. 2y
squirrelbrain Amazing review Suba, interesting to hear your perspective on the politics. I didn‘t like this due to the magical realism and the confusing dialogue, and therefore skim-read it and didn‘t pick up on the detail. 2y
BarbaraBB I will definitely get back to your review and opinion once I start this book. 2y
Graywacke Such a thoughtfully scathing review! I plan to read this soon. I‘ll have your comments, and perspective, in mind. 2y
Graywacke Random side thought question: it‘s about to be released on audio (in 2 days). Do you have a sense whether or not it might work in that format? 2y
batsy @Amiable Thank you! Yes, it's a pretty great cover :) 2y
batsy @TrishB @squirrelbrain Thank you! 💜 The magical realism/afterlife bit might not cater to all tastes, I agree. 2y
batsy @BarbaraBB @Graywacke I hope you both enjoy it! My biases got in the way, I guess, and it was hard to see past that. 2y
batsy @Graywacke I wish I could help you! I don't do audiobooks at all so am a pretty terrible judge of this. Perhaps @squirrelbrain might have some thoughts? 2y
BarbaraBB Your biases are very helpful I think. 2y
Graywacke @batsy thanks, re the audiobook. I‘ll try a sample and decide. (And I‘ll welcome your input, @squirrelbrain ) As for the bias, i‘m so removed from that world that i can‘t comment except to say that your comments are important and informative. 2y
SamAnne Thank you for this insightful review. I may pass on this one….so many other books to read! 2y
jlhammar Such a great review! Very interesting thoughts. 2y
batsy @SamAnne @jlhammar Thank you for your kind words 💜 2y
vivastory This is such a wonderful review 💙 2y
Centique A wonderful review! I also believe the issues you raise are important and I might not bother with this one. I hope other, better, books set around the conflict go on to win awards and get attention. 2y
batsy @vivastory Thank you! 2y
batsy @Centique Thank you! I do wish there were more novels by minority writers about the multiple conflicts in Sri Lanka caused by ethnonationalist extremism instead of writers from the dominant ethnic group getting the most publicity. The reason why satire like Percival Everett's The Trees works is because it's a novel about racism written by a Black writer & thus it informs the whole perspective. This is a novel set in Sri Lanka that I loved 2y
Centique @batsy oh good, I had that on my TBR but I will bump it up. I loved The Trees too - I love the way it subverts the genre, while simultaneously having fun with the genre! Riotous and sharp pointed and holding up the imbeciles for the light to shine on all their ugliness. 🙌 2y
nathandrake1997 While the novel worked for me, in retrospect, I feel Arudpragasam indeed is the better author. Loved both THE STORY OF A BRIEF MARRIAGE and A PASSAGE NORTH ❤️ 2y
batsy @nathandrake1997 I need to get to A Passage North! I've been kind of "saving" it, so to speak ? 2y
BkClubCare But what a pretty cover 2y
batsy @BkClubCare Indeed! 😁 2y
80 likes1 stack add26 comments
review
Addison_Reads
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Mehso-so

#ToB23 #ToB2023

I had a tough time with this one. I couldn't connect with it, and at first I was enjoying the format, which was almost like an interconnected short story book, but as it progressed I became bored and had to push myself to finish.

There were some thought provoking ideas presented and some lovely writing. In the end though, it just really wasn't for me.

sarahbarnes I have this on hold at the library and am interested to see what I think. Thanks for your review. 2y
Addison_Reads @sarahbarnes This is definitely a case of me and not the book because so many others loved it. I hope you enjoy it. 2y
BarbaraBB I bailed on this one early on but I want to give it another try now it‘s shortlisted and won the Booker Prize. Your review is not really encouraging though 😉 2y
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jlhammar I‘m with you. This one just didn‘t work for me and I was glad to be finished. Oh well. Very cool cover though. 2y
Ruthiella I‘d heard that the book has a lot of humor. Did you find this to be true? 2y
squirrelbrain I skimmed a lot of this, and it was my least favourite on the Booker list. 🤷‍♀️ 2y
batsy I'm about 30% in and I feel the same—I appreciate it on some level but it's not really fully working for me. 2y
Cathythoughts We are reading it for Bookclub at the moment.. I can‘t connect with it .. I don‘t get what it‘s about , and I‘m not familiar with any of the characters , I still don‘t know who they are. I did laugh once near the start. 2y
Addison_Reads @Ruthiella It does have humor mixed in throughout the book, and I chuckled a few times. 2y
43 likes9 comments
blurb
Cazxxx
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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So many of my library holds have come in at once. Going to start with this one as I‘ve been looking forward to it for ages

blurb
rmaclean4
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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1 The Lonely Hearts Hotel
2 What is Not Yours is not Yours
3 Caleb‘s Crossing
4 Parable of the Sower
5 NW
6 The Luminaries
7 Oranges are not the only Fruit
8 Gustov Sonata
9 The Master Butchers Singing Club
10 For the Wolf
11 The Master
12 Holding
13 Hotel World
14 A Place Called Winter
15 The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
16 Lincoln in the Bardo
17 Library
18 Library
19 Audio
20 Audio
December #bookspin #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

12 likes2 comments
review
Ellen_C
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

WOW!! Excellent novel about Sri Lanka in the 1980s and the Afterlife, both of which are filled with warring factions and violence. Surprising funny in parts but also quite thrilling https://cannonballread.com/2022/11/the-seven-moons-of-maali-almeida-a-novel-elci...