The seven moons of Maali Almeida - review

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Came across an amazing book ‘The seven moons of Maali Almeida’ by Sheehan Karunatilaka. It is an intriguing, unusual and non-linear narrative by the main protagonist Maali Almeida who gets killed during Srilanka civil war time. Maali is a war photographer, gay, and a half Sinhalese and half Tamil, who is fond of gambling in casinos. He describes his life journey, when he turns a ghost in the in-between world after his death. He is given seven moon (days) to meditate before he gets to meet The light and a rebirth when he would not remember anything about his past. He decides not to meditate but to explore the circumstances that led to his death and expose the horrific stories of mass murders on ethnicity by the Government in power as well as Tamil tigers and communists who are militarised by foreign mercenaries. On each of his seven moons, Maali the ghost discovers ways to whisper the clues to his alive trusted associates, rescue them in troubled times by making friends with demons who are led by Mahakaali that devours the bad ghosts and take revenge. Maali learns to enter the dreams of his trusted friends. Interestingly he finds that animals also take rebirths and do understand the humans very well. A conversation of Maali with a leopard is instructive towards the end as it turns philosophic. Maali makes a choice of staying authentic when could also choose from among many other more rewarding options.
A dark humorous satirical take on the political situation in Sri Lanka that also brings forth the frailties of human nature. A thoroughly enjoyable gripping tale of after life world having the similar twists and travails as they operate in live world.