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anusha_reads 's review for:
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
by Shehan Karunatilaka
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
πTHE SEVEN MOONS OF MAALI ALMEIDA, SHEHAN KARUNATILAKE #BOOKERPRIZE2022 π
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The number seven is interesting. Mathematical fact: seven is an odd number, a prime number. But why do we have seven days of the week, seven continents, seven colours of the rainbow, and seven wonders of the world, and why do many consider the number seven to be lucky? The title of this brilliantly written book also has seven.
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βThe Seven Moons of Maali Almeidaβ is a very different kind of a read. Set in Sri Lanka, full of unrest and tension due to the civil war, itβs the ghost story of titular Maali Almeida, narrated in the second person format, a whodunit.
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A photographer by profession, after death he is given the time of seven moons i.e. a week, to solve his murder mystery. We see a confluence of the realms of the living and the dead. He goes back and forth between the real world and the netherworld(?). He struggles to communicate with his people. He is restless and is unable to guide and reveal the mystery behind his murder to the living humans. Many parts were humorous, and some parts were heartbreaking. It portrays the devilish nature of humans which was scarier than the ghouls and ghosts. A Quote from the book that justifies this thought: βIT IS NOT MONSTERS OR YAKAS OR DEMONS WE SHOULD FEAR. ORGANISED COLLECTIVES OF EVIL DOERS WHO THINK THEY ARE PERFORMING THE WORK OF THE RIGHTEOUS. THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD SHUDDER.β
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I liked the character, Maali, the protagonist, whether he was a ghost or otherwise. An amazing photographer who captures many beautiful pictures of gruesome things happening at that time and gets into trouble because he takes a few photographs that could expose a few fraudulent leaders and could change the face of the regime. As a living being, he appeared to be a person who didnβt like to completely get involved with anyone. He sports a detached behaviour even towards his mother.
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This spirit world is an in-between world which decides the rightful place for every soul(?). It looked as though there was a hierarchy even here. This place was interesting as even animalsβ souls spoke, signifying the fact that all living things have a soul. A quote: βDO ANIMALS GET AN AFTERLIFE? OR IS THEIR PUNISHMENT TO BE REBORN AS HUMAN?β
While reading every chapter I kept hoping some clue might crop up with which the whodunit might be revealed, only to be jolted to my soul by the twist in the tale at the end.
A literary fiction, which is also a murder mystery, with a sprinkle of humour, a dash of romance, political turmoils, war, conspiracies and wandering spirits and their mythical abode.
It makes me wonder how a person can think of such a premise! Itβs a very unusual book that one cannot not enjoy reading!
ππ
The number seven is interesting. Mathematical fact: seven is an odd number, a prime number. But why do we have seven days of the week, seven continents, seven colours of the rainbow, and seven wonders of the world, and why do many consider the number seven to be lucky? The title of this brilliantly written book also has seven.
ππ
βThe Seven Moons of Maali Almeidaβ is a very different kind of a read. Set in Sri Lanka, full of unrest and tension due to the civil war, itβs the ghost story of titular Maali Almeida, narrated in the second person format, a whodunit.
ππ
A photographer by profession, after death he is given the time of seven moons i.e. a week, to solve his murder mystery. We see a confluence of the realms of the living and the dead. He goes back and forth between the real world and the netherworld(?). He struggles to communicate with his people. He is restless and is unable to guide and reveal the mystery behind his murder to the living humans. Many parts were humorous, and some parts were heartbreaking. It portrays the devilish nature of humans which was scarier than the ghouls and ghosts. A Quote from the book that justifies this thought: βIT IS NOT MONSTERS OR YAKAS OR DEMONS WE SHOULD FEAR. ORGANISED COLLECTIVES OF EVIL DOERS WHO THINK THEY ARE PERFORMING THE WORK OF THE RIGHTEOUS. THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD SHUDDER.β
ππ
I liked the character, Maali, the protagonist, whether he was a ghost or otherwise. An amazing photographer who captures many beautiful pictures of gruesome things happening at that time and gets into trouble because he takes a few photographs that could expose a few fraudulent leaders and could change the face of the regime. As a living being, he appeared to be a person who didnβt like to completely get involved with anyone. He sports a detached behaviour even towards his mother.
ππ
This spirit world is an in-between world which decides the rightful place for every soul(?). It looked as though there was a hierarchy even here. This place was interesting as even animalsβ souls spoke, signifying the fact that all living things have a soul. A quote: βDO ANIMALS GET AN AFTERLIFE? OR IS THEIR PUNISHMENT TO BE REBORN AS HUMAN?β
While reading every chapter I kept hoping some clue might crop up with which the whodunit might be revealed, only to be jolted to my soul by the twist in the tale at the end.
A literary fiction, which is also a murder mystery, with a sprinkle of humour, a dash of romance, political turmoils, war, conspiracies and wandering spirits and their mythical abode.
It makes me wonder how a person can think of such a premise! Itβs a very unusual book that one cannot not enjoy reading!