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A review by peonydancer
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As someone with a Sri Lankan Tamil background, I had mixed feelings about the book. Whilst I loved the inside jokes that anyone from there would tots get about the culture, history, society, etc, Maali himself was a pain in the ass lol. Plus, the book didn't really show the war for what it was and how it started; it started with ultimately, the Anti-Tamil Porgroms enacted by the Sinhalese government and carried by its citizens; the mass murder and displacement of Tamil civilians. Still, I enjoyed the scathing commentary - a very unique book!
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, and Abandonment