This book by Shehan Karunatilaka is one of those I like more the more I think about it. I had never heard of it until my IRL book club elected to read it, at which point I got the audiobook from my library.
BTW, the audiobook is really good, so I highly recommend giving that a listen if you’re into audiobooks.
The book opens with Maali Almeida finding himself in the afterlife with no memory of how he died. He’s only in his 30s or 40s and he wasn’t sick, so it wasn’t old age or illness. He’s sure he didn’t commit suicide, which leaves either an accident or murder. He’s pretty sure he was murdered and he doesn’t want to move on to the next phase of the afterlife until he finds out who murdered him.
He was a photojournalist living in Sri Lanka, so he’s pretty sure he was murdered over some compromising photos he took of powerful people.
Maali finds himself in what seems a lot like any other bureaucratic nightmare. The woman “processing” him informs him he has seven moons (i.e. one week) to get processed and go into the light. If he doesn’t go into the light in that time frame, he will turn into a ghoul and haunt the Earth for the rest of eternity.
But Maali is determined to find out who killed him before going into the light. And tell his friends where he hid the negatives of his most incriminating photographs so they can get them developed and published so they can bring down the corrupt politicians currently running Sri Lanka.
The story goes back and forth in time from before and after Maali’s death. In the years leading up to his death, Maali was living with his best friend, Jackie, who initially had a crush on him, but eventually figured out he’s gay.
Maali’s boyfriend is named Dillon, but Maali only calls him Dee Dee. Dee Dee’s father, Stanley, works for the Sri Lankan government and likes Maali until he realizes he’s sleeping with his son.
Because of his father’s wealth and position, Dee Dee was raised in privilege and tends to be spoiled and lazy. His father expects him to work for the family law firm, which makes good money, but isn’t the most ethical choice.
Come to think of it, Maali’s politics might have been another reason Stanley didn’t like him in addition to his homophobia.
SPOILER ALERT‼️
I have to talk about the ending, so if you want to read the book (which I highly recommend) and you don’t want it to be spoiled for you, stop reading now.
The woman “processing” Maali’s soul teaches him how to communicate with the living by slipping into their dreams and leaving them cryptic messages. Apparently if he just tells them what he wants them to know, it will be forgotten. Because of course that would be too easy.
Maali does manage to communicate to Jackie where the negatives are located and whom to contact to get them developed. She succeeds in putting his work on display, but the Minister, who’s protected by a demon, comes in and has his lackey take down everything incriminating. All Maali’s hard work amounts to nothing.
What’s left on display are the photos he took just for himself and left in an envelope labeled “Perfect 10.” It includes pictures of beautiful naked people, but also a sunrise and a picture of a mother elephant with her babies. I kind of love that the only work of his that’s left end up being works of beauty, even if they don’t have the effect he was hoping his photography would have on the world.
I also appreciate an interesting take on the afterlife, especially from the perspective of someone who, while alive, didn’t believe in a higher power or an afterlife.
I also thought this book had the best final line ever, but you have to read that for yourself.