The best booker prize for fiction 2022 was won by Shehan Karunatilaka is a Sri Lankan author who wrote his second novel, “The Seven Moons Of Maali Almeida”.
Shehan Karunatilaka
The Srilankan author Shehan Karunatilaka was praised for his novel, “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida ” by Neil MacGregor, for his unique narrative techniques and his good audacity. It was his second novel after his “Chinaman”, released in 2011.
Shehan Karunatilaka was the second Srilankan author to win this prize after Michael Ondaatje, in 1992. Karunatilaka, born in Colombo, in 1975 has written many screenplays, rock songs, etc. He has won several other prizes like Commonwealth, Ratiaen, etc. and also was selected for BBC Read.
Plot of the novel – “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”
The main plot revolves around a man named Maali Almeida, in Colombo, during the 1990s. He was a gambler, war photographer, etc, and was murdered by someone in an anonymous way. His body was found in a lake. He was woken up dead. Finally, the story ends up with how he resolves his death mysteries with the help of “Seven moons”. This is a thriller novel that switches the reader to a world of Dark heart, which tells about the horrors of the Srilankan Civil war. It is hilarious to know about the beauty, love, and tenderness of an ideal.
Shehan Karunatilaka At the Event
Shehan Karunatilaka got his trophy from the queen Consort, Camilla. At this event, he spoke about the Sri Lankans and Sinhalese. Finally, he stated, “I write for these people, and one day the political issues in Srilanka would end. I assure you that this novel will sit in all bookshops of Srilanka.” This book was published by an independent press, Sort of Books.
The entire event took place at Roundhouse, UK, in the early hours of 18th Oct 2022. The Judging panel was joined by Macgregor(Academic), Shahidha Bari(Broadcaster), Helen Castor (Novelist ),John Harrison(Critic) and Alain Mabanckou (poet and professor).
