The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
About the book
A dead war photographer has seven moons to reach those he loves and reveal his photographs.
Asia · A READING GUIDE
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka received the 2022 Booker Prize for this novel. It combines an afterlife story, a death mystery and political satire during the civil war. Michael Ondaatje, Romesh Gunesekera and Anuk Arudpragasam explore different aspects of memory, work and civil war. Shyam Selvadurai and Ashok Ferrey add a coming-of-age novel and satire.
WHERE TO START
- The Seven Moons of Maali AlmeidaShehan Karunatilaka
- Anil’s GhostMichael Ondaatje
- ReefRomesh Gunesekera
Books to begin with
An editorial selection · not rankedNo matches. Try another language or search term.
Anil’s Ghost
About the book
A forensic anthropologist returns to Sri Lanka, where a skeleton begins an investigation into political violence.
Reef
About the book
A young servant and cook observes his employer’s life and the island’s social changes.
Funny Boy
About the book
Arjie discovers his homosexuality in a Tamil family in Colombo as ethnic conflict intensifies.
A Passage North
About the book
A funeral journey to the island’s north prompts a meditation on grief, desire and the legacy of war.
The Ceaseless Chatter of Demons
About the book
Sonny lives between England and his ancestral home in Kandy, where family secrets take on demonic forms.
Chinaman
About the book
A dying sportswriter searches for a forgotten cricketer and uncovers Sri Lanka’s contradictions.
The Story of a Brief Marriage
About the book
Dinesh and Ganga marry in the final days of civil war, trying to preserve human closeness.
Context and sources
Sources on authors and their connections to this country. Specific edition details appear beside each book. Polish and English originals are not labelled as translations.
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