One of the things we love about reading is that sometimes it prompts the reader to learn more about something in order to better enjoy or understand the story. Maybe you are familiar with the situation? You begin reading a new book, and a few pages in, you want to look up something which is repeatedly mentioned in the text. Sometimes you just want to look at a map or some photos online so that you can understand the setting better. Sometimes you go to Wikipedia (or an encyclopedia book!) and one page or click leads to another, and before you know it, you've spent a whole afternoon researching Sri Lankan history, language, and culture!

An example of this type of book is The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka, the book we will talk about in our first autumn session. The book is a darkly satirical and gruesome supernatural murder investigation set in 1990s Sri Lanka. It won the Booker Prize in 2022.

Shehan Karunatilaka won the Booker Prize in 2022. He is considered one of Sri Lanka’s foremost authors. In addition to his novels he has written rock songs, screenplays and travel stories. Born in Galle, Sri Lanka, in 1975, Karunatilaka grew up in Colombo, studied in New Zealand and has lived and worked in London, Amsterdam and Singapore. He currently lives in Sri Lanka. His songs, scripts and stories have been published in Rolling Stone, GQ and National Geographic. He has worked as an advertising copywriter and played guitar in a band called Independent Square.

We look forward to talking about The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, with you on Friday, October 9th. We will meet in the “Sala Kids”!

Info and booking: 0471 99740, infobiblio@comune.bolzano.it