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The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
55 posts | 32 read | 31 to read
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blurb
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! 5d
34 likes1 comment
review
BkClubCare
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick
Deblovestoread Well done! 🙌🏼 4w
Cinfhen Congrats!!!!! 4w
Readerann Way to go!! 👏 🎊 4w
See All 8 Comments
squirrelbrain Congratulations! 🎉🎉 4w
BarbaraBB Fantastic! 🏆 4w
Ruthiella 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 4w
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!! 😂 3w
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) 3w
52 likes8 comments
blurb
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! 👍 1mo
BkClubCare @Ruthiella - Made it to page 245 🌟 4w
BarbaraBB That means you are enjoying it I guess?! 4w
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - oh, yes! I really am. Just have been too busy and unfocused lately. 4w
51 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
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! 1mo
BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one too despite my initial doubts about it. 1mo
Cinfhen Cool photo 1mo
56 likes3 comments
review
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!!! 1mo
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) 1mo
squirrelbrain Glad it worked out for you second time around! Looking forward to seeing your wrap-up. 1mo
Liz_M Impressive, reading (as much as you could) the entire shortlist! 1mo
jlhammar Woo-hoo, good work! 1mo
Megabooks Fantastic!! Looking forward to your wrap up. I found this good as well, if a bit over complicated. 1mo
sarahbarnes Yay! I‘m so glad you liked it! And congrats on finishing all but two. 📚 1mo
Hooked_on_books Hooray! And great that you liked your final read. I liked this one, too, and I didn‘t expect to. 1mo
Cortg I‘m glad you went back to it and enjoyed it! 1mo
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! 1mo
Librarybelle I love this cover! #covercrush 1mo
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 1mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen You noticed ❤️😘 1mo
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 1mo
Cinfhen How could I not??? He‘s ADORABLE ☺️ His face lights up the entire page xxxx 1mo
batsy Well done on finishing the list! 🙌🏾 And it's great to end on a high note. 1mo
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! 1mo
Cinfhen I get that 🥰 1mo
94 likes1 stack add21 comments
blurb
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! 1mo
BarbaraBB I am about to start this one too as the last one 🤞🏽 1mo
Ruthiella Love this post! 😂😂😂 SPLASH 💦 1mo
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen Well done 👍🏻 1mo
Hooked_on_books I like this cover, too. So colorful! 1mo
Megabooks I hope you like it! I definitely learned a lot about Sri Lanka. 1mo
49 likes1 stack add6 comments
blurb
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) 1mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 I am not there yet and I bailed on Passenger and Mercury 🤷🏻‍♀️ (edited) 1mo
Suet624 You tried though. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 1mo
See All 15 Comments
Megabooks Enjoy! Checkout 19 is different in a good way. 👍🏻💜 1mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I‘ve heard good and meh things about it but I expect to be in the first group! 1mo
Cinfhen Good luck this week 🫶🏼 1mo
squirrelbrain Have a fab week! 1mo
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. 1mo
TrishB Have a good week 👍🏻 1mo
sarahbarnes Agree with @Graywacke on Seven Moons! 1mo
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. 1mo
Cathythoughts Have a good week! I‘m stacking Checkout 19. 1mo
64 likes15 comments
quote
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! 1mo
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. 1mo
sarahbarnes @ruthiella I agree. ❤️❤️ 1mo
BarbaraBB So glad you liked this. I‘ll try it next week 1mo
40 likes5 comments
quote
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.

review
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 2mo
BarbaraBB You‘re amazing! You read them all! And you even liked the ones that scare me! 2mo
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 💜💜 2mo
See All 50 Comments
BarbaraBB You‘re my hero ❤️ 2mo
Meshell1313 Ah maz ing! 🙌 2mo
TrishB Well done 😁 2mo
Cinfhen Fantastic 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎊❣️📚 2mo
Cortg Congrats! 2mo
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 ? 2mo
jlhammar Nice work!! 2mo
MicheleinPhilly Good for you! I know I won‘t be a completist this year. 2mo
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. 2mo
Chelsea.Poole Great job!! 🥳🎉🙌 2mo
Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole thanks!! 👍🏻 2mo
Megabooks @vlwelser lol…this will be an interesting discussion! There‘s a lot going on! 2mo
Megabooks @MicheleinPhilly thanks! It‘s a rough year for the tob. 2mo
Megabooks @jlhammar thank you! 😁 2mo
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) 2mo
Megabooks @Cortg thanks! 2mo
Megabooks @Cinfhen it was a bit of an odd year to finally decide to be a completist! Thanks friend!! 😘 (edited) 2mo
Megabooks @TrishB thanks!! 💜 2mo
Megabooks @Meshell1313 thank you!! 😁 2mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB 💕💕💕 2mo
Suet624 Congrats! 2mo
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! 2mo
Aimeesue Yay! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 2mo
BkClubCare 👏👏👏 🎯🏆✅ Seven Moons will be my last if I get that far. And I am not sure where/how I will acquire. 2mo
Megabooks @BkClubCare are you in the US? I‘ll send you my copy if you are. 2mo
Megabooks @Aimeesue thanks!! 😁😁 2mo
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) 2mo
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) 2mo
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. 😁😁 2mo
Megabooks @Suet624 thanks!! 2mo
Readerann Congrats! 🥳 I hope to join the Completist Club one of these years. 😩 2mo
Cinfhen So true @Megabooks you easily chose the MOST difficult list to complete in the past 5 years!!! 2mo
squirrelbrain Yay! Well done on being a completist! (I‘m very jealous!) 2mo
batsy Congratulations! That's super impressive 🙌🏾🎉 Glad that this was a pick for you! 2mo
sarahbarnes Congrats!!🎉 I got this one from the library finally and am excited to give it a go. 2mo
Megabooks @Readerann I think this is my first year 💯 complete, but I definitely picked a weird year to do it @Cinfhen ! 😵‍💫 2mo
Megabooks @squirrelbrain thanks!! 😁💜💜 2mo
Megabooks @batsy thank you!! It was definitely interesting. I learned a lot. 👍🏻 2mo
Megabooks @sarahbarnes thanks! Really interested to read what you think! 2mo
Megabooks @BkClubCare just put it in the mail and sent you an email with the tracking info! Enjoy! 2mo
BkClubCare @Megabooks -speedy! Thx. Did you media mail it? 2mo
Megabooks @BkClubCare yes 👍🏻 2mo
BkClubCare @Megabooks - 🏆 I think I can get Chouette out tomorrow 🦉 (edited) 2mo
Megabooks @BkClubCare I‘m excited! 👏🏻👏🏻 2mo
BkClubCare @Megabooks - Arrived today! Thank you ☺️ 💐 📬 2mo
Megabooks @BkClubCare wow! That was fast! I hope you enjoy it! 😁👍🏻 2mo
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! 2mo
112 likes50 comments
blurb
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! 2mo
Tamra Hang in there with a good read! 2mo
squirrelbrain The Strand would make most things better…hope you‘re OK. 2mo
See All 10 Comments
SamAnne Hope you head on an upswing! 2mo
Ruthiella Retail therapy! 👍 2mo
TheBookHippie ♥️ I do this too! Sending light. 2mo
BarbaraBB Wishing you the best, and hope you‘ll like the book. Still need to read it. 2mo
batsy Sending good vibes! Where would we be without our bookish retail therapy ❤️ 2mo
cariashley @Soubhiville @Tamra @squirrelbrain @SamAnne @Ruthiella @TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB @batsy thank you so much for the kind words and positive thoughts!! ❤️❤️ 2mo
sarahbarnes Hope all is well. ❤️ I‘m glad you are taking care of yourself. 📚 I just finished Seven Moons and I liked it. 1mo
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) 2mo
RaeLovesToRead @BarbaraBB At first I didn't think I was going to gel with it, but it got better! Wait, that reminds me... 2mo
See All 7 Comments
batsy Glad to hear this worked for you! 2mo
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 😊 2mo
squirrelbrain Glad you liked it! 2mo
Cinfhen Excellent review ❣️I wish I had the fortitude to ride this book out but I couldn‘t read past page 10 😬 2mo
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. 2mo
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. 2mo
sarahbarnes I‘m excited to try this one when I finally get it from the library. 2mo
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. 2mo
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. 2mo
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!) 2mo
BarbaraBB I am so glad to read a positive review for this one! 2mo
34 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
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 👍🏽📚😂 2mo
BarbaraBB I don‘t think I‘ve seen a “pick” for this one so far 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 2mo
squirrelbrain Love your hashtag! 🤣 I have to agree too, I skim-read most of this and wished I‘d bailed. 2mo
See All 8 Comments
sarahbarnes Man! I‘m waiting for this from the library but becoming less excited with each review. 2mo
RebelReader @sarahbarnes Take heart! I felt that way about Mouth to Mouth and I ended up loving it. 2mo
sarahbarnes I loved Mouth to Mouth, too. 2mo
Ruthiella Gotta respect the right to bail! 2mo
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. 2mo
Ruthiella @squirrelbrain Thanks. I kept forgetting I was reading it, never a good sign. 2mo
merelybookish Nice mug. 👍 I keep forgetting this book is even on the tournament. 🤷 2mo
See All 30 Comments
Ruthiella @merelybookish I have a small ToB mug collection which I like to use particularly when reading! 2mo
Cinfhen Great mug 😁 2mo
Megabooks I‘m kind of dreading this one. I only have it and the passenger left, so February will be interesting…🫣 2mo
Cinfhen I bailed on this book…twice🤪 2mo
Ruthiella @Cinfhen You gave it the college try! Fair enough. 👍😀 2mo
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! 😃 2mo
Suet624 I love that mug and I think I‘ve decided to skip this book. 2mo
BarbaraBB Thanks for this review although it motivates me even less to read the book 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2mo
Readerann Hmm. I have it on a library hold. Rethinking. 2mo
Hooked_on_books I definitely liked this more than I expected to, but I absolutely agree that it was too long. 2mo
Ruthiella @Suet624 It is a satisfying mug to drink from. 😅 Fair enough if you skip this one. 2mo
Ruthiella @BarbaraBB I know! The reviews on Litsy aren‘t encouraging. But you never know! 2mo
Ruthiella @Readerann I say give it a go when your hold comes in. 2mo
Ruthiella @Hooked_on_books I personally thought some of the reminiscences of DD and Jaki could have easily been left out. 2mo
BkClubCare @Ruthiella - sounds like a strategy. 👊 2mo
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! 2mo
Ruthiella @sarahbarnes I can‘t have too many 🐓mugs. I await your verdict when you take a crack at this one. 2mo
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. 2mo
Ruthiella @batsy Maybe it is more rewarding upon rereading? Allegedly, the books are read multiple times prior to the final Booker judgement. 2mo
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 2mo
Cathythoughts Having said that , we can‘t all be rereading 🤷‍♀️ 2mo
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. 2mo
Cathythoughts I hear you ! I‘d love to be a fly on the wall when they argue the toss 😬 The stakes are high! ❤️ 2mo
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. 2mo
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! 2mo
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. 2mo
kwmg40 Good idea. I'll look for it on audio. 2mo
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! 2mo
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! 😂 2mo
Cinfhen I bailed twice!!! But agree, cover art is stunning 🤩 2mo
See All 7 Comments
squirrelbrain Glad you (kind of) liked it! 2mo
RebelReader I still have a couple left, but mixed reviews on them all so I‘m not anxious to pick them up. 😩 2mo
Suet624 I keep trying to pick this up at the library but it‘s never available. maybe I‘ll get off the waitlist. 2mo
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. 2mo
76 likes7 comments
review
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. 2mo
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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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 . 3mo
Graywacke @Ruthiella interesting. I haven‘t read that. But it‘s a good description. 3mo
BarbaraBB I loved Midnights Children but am dreading this one! @Ruthiella 3mo
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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! 😆 3mo
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella I used to love challenging books but with the year I‘ve gotten less patient I sometimes think. 3mo
batsy The satire seems to have gone down easier in print, I think. 3mo
Graywacke @BarbaraBB @Ruthiella hmm. I‘m getting more into it. It‘s not challenging exactly, just heavy satire. 3mo
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. 3mo
batsy @Graywacke Oh dear, the silent delays thing does not sound fun at all. 3mo
39 likes9 comments
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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.

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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! 3mo
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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? 3mo
sarahbarnes I‘m on hold for this one at the library and am interested to check it out. I‘ve seen some mixed reviews. 3mo
BarbaraBB Hi Liz, did my package reach you? According to my track & trace it did, I hope you received it 🤞🏽 3mo
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 🤗 3mo
BarbaraBB Perfect. Enjoy your stay 😘 3mo
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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… 3mo
BarbaraBB Bummer indeed. There seem to be some really unpopular books on the shortlist. 3mo
Jolynne Was a DNF for me. 3mo
65 likes3 comments
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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. 3mo
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. 3mo
Amiable Great review! (The cover is lovely, at least. 😬) 3mo
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TrishB I haven‘t read, but a wonderful review. 3mo
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. 3mo
BarbaraBB I will definitely get back to your review and opinion once I start this book. 3mo
Graywacke Such a thoughtfully scathing review! I plan to read this soon. I‘ll have your comments, and perspective, in mind. 3mo
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? 3mo
batsy @Amiable Thank you! Yes, it's a pretty great cover :) 3mo
batsy @TrishB @squirrelbrain Thank you! 💜 The magical realism/afterlife bit might not cater to all tastes, I agree. 3mo
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. 3mo
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? 3mo
BarbaraBB Your biases are very helpful I think. 3mo
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. 3mo
SamAnne Thank you for this insightful review. I may pass on this one….so many other books to read! 3mo
jlhammar Such a great review! Very interesting thoughts. 3mo
batsy @SamAnne @jlhammar Thank you for your kind words 💜 3mo
vivastory This is such a wonderful review 💙 3mo
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. 3mo
batsy @vivastory Thank you! 3mo
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 3mo
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. 🙌 3mo
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 ❤️ 3mo
batsy @nathandrake1997 I need to get to A Passage North! I've been kind of "saving" it, so to speak ? 3mo
BkClubCare But what a pretty cover 3mo
batsy @BkClubCare Indeed! 😁 3mo
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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. 4mo
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. 4mo
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 😉 4mo
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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. 4mo
Ruthiella I‘d heard that the book has a lot of humor. Did you find this to be true? 4mo
squirrelbrain I skimmed a lot of this, and it was my least favourite on the Booker list. 🤷‍♀️ 4mo
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. 4mo
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. 4mo
Addison_Reads @Ruthiella It does have humor mixed in throughout the book, and I chuckled a few times. 4mo
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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

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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
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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...

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MinnieTimperley
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

There is wisdom and beauty in this book: an appreciation of life in the darkest of tales.

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AnneCecilie
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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AnneCecilie
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka

Evil is not what we should fear. Creatures with power acting in their own interest: that is what should make us shudder.

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MinnieTimperley
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Last night was wonderful. In previous years, the Southbank Centre has hosted readings from the authors before the result. Listening to this year's winner, Shehan Karunatilaka, and last year's winner, Damon Galgut was both thought provoking and entertaining (they both have great wit). Sara Collins was a brilliant host and her knowledge and understanding of the books meant great questioning.

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MinnieTimperley
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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MinnieTimperley
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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"Evil is not what we should fear. Creatures with power acting in their own interest: that is what should make us shudder." Apt for UK politics at present.

paulfrankspencer Makes you wonder how exactly evil should be defined. 5mo
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charl08
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Congratulation to Shehan Karunatilaka.

Loved this book - a great read.

sarahbarnes I haven‘t read it yet but glad to hear you enjoyed it! 5mo
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AnneCecilie
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Just been announced.

I‘m going to read this one later in the week, but I‘m even more excited to read it now than before.

What do you think of this winning the Booker Prize this year?

charl08 👏👏👏👏👏 5mo
jlhammar I was hoping for Keegan or Everett (or even Strout or Garner would have made me happy) to take the prize, but not surprised this won. Hope you enjoy it more than I did! 5mo
mjtwo Struggling through it at the moment… 5mo
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BarbaraBB I couldn‘t get the hang of it. I now feel like ai should try again! 5mo
AnneCecilie @charl08 @jlhammar @mjtwo @BarbaraBB Now I‘m even more intrigued. Apparently this is a book one either loves or hates 5mo
BookwormM This was my prediction for winner and my favourite of the shortlist hope you enjoy it 5mo
55 likes6 comments
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jlhammar
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Mehso-so

Well darn, I couldn‘t really get into this one. Had to push myself to finish. Satire is often a miss for me (though I LOVED The Trees) so not all that surprised. It just felt so busy and very dialogue-heavy.

If you‘re a fan of The Sympathizer &/or A Brief History of Seven Killings (both books that I appreciated, but didn‘t love), you might enjoy this more than I did. Great cover art. #Booker2022

Ruthiella Thanks for the “read-alikes”. I‘ve read and appreciated both, but they were work to get through. 6mo
BarbaraBB I liked A Brief History but I couldn‘t finish this one. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6mo
squirrelbrain I agree - this was just too busy and noisy for me and I didn‘t really enjoy it. 6mo
charl08 Oh, sorry this wasn't a hit for you. I'd quite like it if this one wins! 6mo
jlhammar @charl08 That's okay. I mean, 4 of the 6 books shortlisted were five-star reads for me so that's pretty amazing! Maybe you'll get your wish. I know of lots of other smart readers, like you, who are rooting for Seven Moons. I think it is just an issue of my personal reading taste and probably current mood. Timing can make such a difference! Still glad to have read it. 6mo
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ClairesReads
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

I loved this conversations with the dead-style exploration of the complex history of Sri Lanka‘s Civil War. Magical realism is often hit or miss for me, but in this instance it‘s a real winner. This is a zesty, vibrant, grim, critical exploration of the meaningless nature of conflict. It‘s not perfectly paced, but it‘s original, challenging, and engaging reading in equal measure. I wouldn‘t be sad if this won the Booker.

BarbaraBB Great review. I couldn‘t get the hang of it unfortunately and was to impatient to keep trying. 6mo
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Hazel2019
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

#Booker2022Shortlist
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A photographer in civil war-torn Sri Lanka that dies & wakes up in the afterlife being given seven moons / days to figure out whether he will choose ‘the Light‘. It describes the not so distant atrocities committed in Sri Lanka. At the same time it takes a very honest and personal look at the life of the Maali. Another book that‘ll stick with me this year.

BookwormM I am hoping this one wins 7mo
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jlhammar
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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#Booker2022 shortlist! I am shocked that The Colony didn‘t make it. Four of the six were among my favorites and the other two (tagged and Glory) I haven‘t read yet.

I was laughing while reading the live chat on the announcement video. They started late and someone wrote “This is taking longer than it took to read Small Things Like These!” and someone else “EastEnders is on at 7:30, hurry-up!”

rmaclean4 Looking forward to reading The Seven Moons. I was not a big fan of Oh William. My favorite is The Trees! 7mo
jlhammar @rmaclean4 Loved The Trees! I'd be very happy if that takes the prize. I think I'm going to have to order Seven Moons from Book Depository since it isn't out in the US yet. 7mo
JamieArc Hmmm. I am surprised by this list. Hmmm. 7mo
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squirrelbrain I too am really shocked that The Colony didn‘t make it. Glory and Seven Moons weren‘t my favourites but were two that I thought the judges would pick. I too would pick The Trees to win from this list @rmaclean4 7mo
rmaclean4 @jlhammar i have Seven Moons in my "basket" with Book Depository as I type this. I am in the US also. 7mo
rmaclean4 @jlhammar I have Seven Moons in my basket also. I have heard such good reviews! 7mo
BarbaraBB @jlhammar @squirrelbrain I am shocked too (and somehow not) about The Colony and Spectacular Bodies not making the shortlist. So disappointing! I guess now I have to read Glory… 7mo
Addison_Reads I just finished Glory. It started strong and ended strong, but I admit that I almost have up in the middle because it became so repetitive. 7mo
Cinfhen Whoa!!! This list is SHOCKING!!!!!!! 7mo
squirrelbrain That‘s *exactly* how I felt with Glory! @Addison_Reads 7mo
Addison_Reads @squirrelbrain Had it not been on the Booker list I probably would have bailed. Overall, I'm glad I stuck with it, and I can appreciate it for the message, the author just didn't have to beat me over the head with it. 😁 7mo
Cinfhen @Ruthiella must be disappointed to see two US authors on this list!!! 7mo
Ruthiella @Cinfhen I am! 😢😂 7mo
batsy I'm surprised by this just based on reader comments, not from reading it 😆 I thought for sure The Colony would be on it. Didn't expect Glory, Seven Moons, and Oh William to make it. Told myself I'd try to read the shortlist but wasn't so keen on Glory and Seven Moons making it because I'm wary of both—satire and magical realism can be hit or miss with me. 7mo
squirrelbrain @batsy - I was the same with Glory and Seven Moons. I didn‘t love either, but almost expected them to be on the list. It was a case ‘it‘s not you, it‘s me‘ in both instances. I don‘t like magical realism as a genre. 7mo
batsy @squirrelbrain I struggle with it, too. But then I think The Trees basically incorporates both satire and magical realism in a totally lowkey but extremely relevant way, and I loved it. I guess it boils down to how it's written 🙂 7mo
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charl08
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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3 out of 6 is better than my usual strike rate!

#Booker2022
#Bookerchat

jlhammar Yes, exciting! I was really surprised four of my six favorites made it. Guess I need to give Glory and Seven Moons a try. Not sure how long it will take Seven Moons to get here since it isn't out in the US. 7mo
BookwormM I got 3 as well the other 3 were my least favourites and how did Colony not make it 😳 7mo
charl08 @jlhammar I'm glad re Seven Moons - hope you can find a copy. 7mo
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charl08 @BookwormM I hadn't read the Garner, just about 100 pages into Glory and although I liked the Strout I liked the earlier ones in the Lucy series more... 7mo
batsy @charl08 Is there only one more in the Lucy series (My Name Is...) or are there others? 7mo
batsy @charl08 Ah OK, thank you! I don't want to read Oh William until I've read the ones that came before it :) 7mo
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charl08
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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Pickpick

The last of the sweet peas (probably) and the last Booker from the longlist (probably) before the announcement.
I loved this one, kind of a crime story but told from the point of view of the dead man. Given "seven moons" before he has to make a decision on the afterlife, Maali tries to work out what led to his death. Problem is, too many suspects when you've taken work from all sides in a murky civil war (Sri Lanka, 1990).

#BookerLonglist2022

Ruthiella I‘ve also heard that this book has a sense of humor. Did you find this as well? 7mo
Cinfhen Great photo!! Im looking forward to this one 🤩 7mo
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squirrelbrain I think we‘ve had differing opinions on nearly every long list book! 🤣 7mo
charl08 @Ruthiella yes, it's really funny: not enough characters to fit everything in I liked about this book. 7mo
charl08 @Cinfhen one of the ones where I want to buy my own copy. I hope the paperback keeps this gorgeous cover. 7mo
charl08 @squirrelbrain I've really enjoyed reading how everyone has found the books- and the range of responses 😀 7mo
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charl08
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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If you had a spirit on your back whispering in your ear, how would you possibly know? And, even if you did, how could you separate that voice from every other whisper?

#BookerLonglist2022

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charl08
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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My fancy pudding reminded me of something...

'We have our job to do.'
'What's our job?'
'We protect the innocent,' says Detective Cassim.
'I thought we protect the powerful.'
'Do we need to discuss this now?' Cassim takes his finger off the button, which causes the doors to close. He curses and sticks his arm out to block the lift's jaws.
'I'm confused about another thing.'
'Get in the lift now!'
'Are we investigating this? Or covering this up?"

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charl08
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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The afterlife is a tax office and everyone wants their rebate.

#Booker2022 #4Daystogo #ShortlistSoon

rmaclean4 I am excited to read this! 7mo
charl08 @rmaclean4 I'm enjoying the dark humour. 7mo
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GatheringBooks
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida | Shehan Karunatilaka
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#ArtfulAugust Day 26: #TitleWithPersons - I have been trying to find this Booker Prize finalist in bookstores while in the US to no avail. 😭 Maali Almeida, you are trez elusive.

vlwelser I found it on Book Depository. It ships for free worldwide from the UK. But it takes a while, so maybe send it to your house if you're traveling. 7mo
Eggs Great choice! 7mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty!! 7mo
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