Reviews

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

lemon_nadie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

aricci's review against another edition

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Struggled to get into this, I liked the setting Inari Lanka but didn't find the main character likeable and was never really 'in' the story 

anjalisudarsan's review against another edition

4.0

The universe is anarchy. It is trillions of atoms pushing at each other, trying to clear space

Set at the time of the Sri Lankan civil war, this book is centred on Maali's ghost trying to do a few things before he passes into 'the Light' (I'm not going to get into the plot). There were so many Buddhist and Hindu afterlife concepts Maali witnesses, and it makes one think of how absurd all these ideas of the afterlife are. This book takes you through a lot of sad events that happened in real life...but I enjoyed how the writer has woven this story, flitting between the ghost-world and the human world. There is no justice or karma irl

riotcinema's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely amazing book. It was a marvellous read that taught me so much about Sri Lanka. Reading it while there really lent a whole new perspective to my walks around Colombo. 

davethescot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

hannahsutherland's review against another edition

Obviously I am wrong, this book has won awards and I've heard lots of people praise it, and maybe it's just my mood, but I'm finding the second person narration makes it really difficult to get in to. Soft DNF, because I am really dragging my feet. 

lit_laugh_luv's review against another edition

1.0

Despite the popularity and acclaim this book gets, I cannot find anything positive to say about it. Incredibly slow paced, so convoluted, far too many characters that are entirely one-dimensional, and trying to keep track of all the relationships among them becomes an entirely academic pursuit. Had I not been reading it for book club, I would have given up around page ~120. The titular character is not particularly likeable nor compelling, and the 'mystery' of his death is incredibly predictable. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more with further historical and cultural context, but I doubt it.

freyabarton's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

cupitonians's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I am often vary of Booker Prize winners, but this was recommended by a dear friend and OMG! What a journey. Shehan writes masterfully about this horrific era of Sri Lankan history through a lens of magic realism. It's stunning AND brutal. It hit me especially hard because of state sponsored violence going on right now. At the heart of it is a classic whodunnit with an unrealiable narrator. This was both entertaining and eye opening. Please add to your TBR! 

ebussa47's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was really looking forward to reading this book, and it did not disappoint! Maali is hilarious and messy, and I think the structure of the book mirrors this in the best way possible. In love with the way objects or context or a name procures memory.