Mishka’s Book Reviews

with Mishka Campbell

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

by Shehan Karunatilaka

When you read the synopsis for this book it gives you, as it should, a loose idea of what to expect as far as plot goes. Set in Colombo, Sri Lanka, this novel tells the story of Maali Almeida, referred to as a “war photographer, gambler, and closet queen”. He awakens, dead, in what appears to be some sort of bureaucratic office for the afterlife and is made to understand that he has exactly seven moons (or days) to tie up loose ends (ie: discover who killed him, visit his loved ones etc) or he will not be given the option to move into the Light. To be clear, he could choose to move directly into the Light, but if he requires a sense of closure he only has seven moons to find it before the path to the Light is forever closed to him.

I found this teaser intriguing enough to pick the book up…well, that plus the fact that it won the 2022 Booker Prize. However, getting through the first chapter was a challenge for me. I appreciate magical realism, but because this novel opens in the in-between and because Maali is (understandably) confused and disoriented upon discovery that he’s dead, I did find it hard to follow. It didn’t take long for me to grasp the rhythm of the storytelling though, and once I did, I could not put this book down. It would be impossible to pack in as much vivid imagery as this book contains without expressing it in this unique way. Maali weaves stories of his past seamlessly alongside the memories he has of the events that led to his death, openly sharing his flaws. He’s a ghost, piecing together a murder mystery while also reflecting on the ways in which he’s chosen to lead his life (spoiler alert: those choices haven’t all been good ones). There’s a great deal of Sri Lankan politics and history shared here, much that I had been unaware of, but it is critical to the story and to understanding the dangerous worlds Maali moved in as a photographer who captured violence and injustice, in photos that some would rather never see the light of day. This novel somehow manages to be a whodunnit, a love story, a journey of self-discovery, and political satire; altogether serious, while never taking itself too seriously.

Hey Salty,

For many folks with vulvas, orgasms can be infrequent and for some, seemingly unattainable - which is hard to believe considering that the clitoris has over 10,000 nerve endings dedicated to pleasure! Studies have found that in heterosexual relationships, ciswomen have fewer orgasms than their cismale partners. Sex Researchers have even coined the term “Orgasm Gap” to describe this discrepancy.

So why might this be?

Researchers at Rutgers University found that due to having fewer orgasms (the orgasm gap), many heterosexual ciswomen put less importance on their sexual satisfaction and lessen their desire for orgasms. Deepening the gap and perpetuating a “cycle of orgasm inequality” (Wetzel et al., 2022, p. 456). Not to mention that throughout Western History, clitoral and vaginal pleasure has largely been associated with mystery, fear, and shame.

So how do we close this gap? We’ve got some suggestions for you!

Start by:

1) Exploring your body! Find what turns you on. There are some great resources both online and in books. Tools like sex toys, hands, or breathing techniques can also be a great start.

2) Communication with your partner is key.

3) Stay in the moment. If you find your mind wandering while being intimate with yourself or a partner, try acknowledging the thought and then letting it pass. Then return to the moment, thinking about what and where something feels good, how you feel, and ride that wave.

4) Be gentle with yourself and recognize that just like learning any new skill, this sort of thing can take time.

For partners:

1) Listen! Be open to what your partner suggests.

2) Recognize that it may be really hard for them to talk to you about something so intimate, so try not to pass judgment. That means both verbal and non-verbal (facial expressions, posture, etc..)

3) Be patient and humble when trying out new things. If something makes you uncomfortable, let them know!

This month’s article was written by our amazing Options volunteer, Alyssa. Much like the clitoris, Alyssa touches just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to orgasms. Check out these amazing resources if you are keen to dig a little deeper:

★ Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D. (Found at OPT!)

★ Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters by Dr. Laurie Mintz (Found at OPT!)

★ Wetzel, G. M., Cultice, R. A., & Sanchez, D. T. (2022). Orgasm frequency predicts desire and expectation for orgasm: Assessing the orgasm gap within mixed-sex couples. Sex Roles, 86(78), 456-470. (The study!)

Stay Sexy Salty!

Options for Sexual Health is open on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:30 pm. For appointments, please call (250)537-8786 or email opt.ssi@gmail.com