Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Karl Schembri's books

73 ratings | 12 reviews | avg rating:4.60

#96 top reviewers

Karl’s Year In Books

Karl’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Karl’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Karl’s 2025 Year in Books

Karl Schembri’s Followers (15)

Karl’s Bookshelves

to-read (48)
currently-reading (12)
read (92)
did-not-finish (0)
visionary (1)

Karl’s Friends (77)

Kirsten Spiteri

110 books | 612 friends

Adrian

902 books | 96 friends

Matthew Schembri

2,118 books | 409 friends

Yanika Attard

247 books | 10 friends

Antoinette Borg

856 books | 205 friends

Michela Brincat

296 books | 171 friends

Nate

785 books | 39 friends

Rafel Grima

880 books | 100 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Karl Schembri has read 12 books of their goal of 10!

120%

Karl Schembri

Goodreads Author

Born

in Malta

Member Since

January 2021

edit data

Karl Schembri, born in 1978, is a novelist and poet who branched out of investigative journalism into the humanitarian field, all the while maintaining a healthy literary output. His first published work appeared in 1997 with the self-published poetry anthology Frekwenzi ta’ Spirti fis-Sakra (Frequencies of Drunken Spirits). Next came the short story collection Taħt il-Kappa tax-Xemx (Under the Sun, Minima) in 2002, which placed Schembri in the roster of alternative literary voices gathered under the umbrella of the short-lived but deeply influential micro-publisher Minima. But it was the release of his debut novel Il-Manifest tal-Killer (Choppy Books, 2006) which secured his position as a notable and urgent literary voice, even leading vet Karl Schembri, born in 1978, is a novelist and poet who branched out of investigative journalism into the humanitarian field, all the while maintaining a healthy literary output. His first published work appeared in 1997 with the self-published poetry anthology Frekwenzi ta’ Spirti fis-Sakra (Frequencies of Drunken Spirits). Next came the short story collection Taħt il-Kappa tax-Xemx (Under the Sun, Minima) in 2002, which placed Schembri in the roster of alternative literary voices gathered under the umbrella of the short-lived but deeply influential micro-publisher Minima. But it was the release of his debut novel Il-Manifest tal-Killer (Choppy Books, 2006) which secured his position as a notable and urgent literary voice, even leading veteran author Mario Azzopardi to describe it as the first truly “anarchist” work of Maltese literature. Telling the story of a group of young misfits banding together to push back against the dominant political narrative through subversive action, the novel fictionalises into satire the real-life strands of political corruption, moral hypocrisy and institutional complacency which Schembri often found himself tackling during his years as a journalist for national media.

Schembri’s professional life would continue to expand and evolve – he branched out into international journalism, and relocated from Malta in 2009 to work as a journalist with a Palestinian news agency in occupied Palestine, before assuming media-adjacent roles in humanitarian institutions such as Oxfam, Save the Children and the Norwegian Refugee Council. His poetry and short fiction would go on to appear in various anthologies, both local and international. And yet, the legacy of Il-Manifest tal-Killer continues to tower over Schembri’s literary reputation, as evidenced by it being privy to a rare phenomenon in Maltese publishing: a freshly reissued edition arriving in 2020 from the prestigious Merlin Publishers, no less. Schembri claims the novel has now come “full circle”, confirming that Malta’s institutionally stagnant political system remains ripe for satire with the same tools he employed back in 2006, despite apparent – and largely cosmetic – changes having occurred on the scene since.

But 2020 was as much about experimentation as it was about revisitation. Also for Merlin Publishers, Schembri collaborated with illustrator Alice Samuel for the picture book for children - It-tifel li salva d-dinja (The boy who saved the world, Merlin Publishers, 2020)– which speaks to Schembri's versatility as an author, capable of transforming a ‘napkin idea’ originally sketched at a Cairo cafe back in 2013 into a universal and slyly complex story about a lonely boy forging an imaginary friendship with the sun. The Lulu Diaries (Ede Books, 2020) adds a further kink to Schembri's recent publication history, being a poetry book inspired by a kitten which accidentally dropped into the author’s life while he was living in Gaza in 2012.

Karl Schembri is now based in Nairobi, Kenya, where he lives with wife Simine and son Salman, their dog Mitti and cats Munzer and Mario. ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Karl Schembri questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Karl Schembri’s books

Average rating: 4.22 · 181 ratings · 22 reviews · 14 distinct works • Similar authors

	Il-Manifest tal-Killer 4.01 avg rating — 83 ratings — published 2006 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Eħlisna mid-deni 4.83 avg rating — 42 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Taħt il-Kappa tax-Xemx by Karl Schembri (Goodreads Author), Greta Borg Carabott (Illustrator) 3.92 avg rating — 39 ratings — published 2002 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Journey of Miskit: The Brave Stoat by Karl Schembri (Goodreads Author), Ana-Maria Cosma (Illustrator) 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Passju Taħt ix-Xita 3.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Lulu Diaries really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	It-tifel li salva d-dinja (Tikka Qari Livell 12) by Karl Schembri (Goodreads Author), Alice Samuel (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Id-Demm Nieżel Bħax-Xita by Karl Schembri (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Adrian Grima (Editor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Remember the Future 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Frekwenzi ta' Spirti fis-Sakra by Karl Schembri (Goodreads Author), Kenneth Busuttil, Bernard J. Cauchi 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Karl Schembri…

Karl is Currently Reading

Karl Schembri is currently reading

By the Sea

by Abdulrazak Gurnah

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 22, 2026 01:24AM

Karl Schembri is currently reading

At Night All Blood is Black

by David Diop

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 18, 2026 02:06PM

Karl Schembri is currently reading

Krapp's Last Tape & Embers

by Samuel Beckett

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jul 26, 2026 03:18AM

rss
Karl’s Recent Updates

Karl Schembri wants to read 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2026 07:18AM · like
Karl Schembri wants to read The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2026 07:07AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karl Schembri wants to read Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2026 07:02AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karl Schembri liked Yanika’s status update Yanika Attard wants to read Taħt il-Kappa tax-Xemx
Aug 22, 2026 06:53AM
Karl Schembri wants to read I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2026 06:49AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karl Schembri started reading By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2026 01:24AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karl Schembri wants to read Independent People by Halldór Laxness	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 21, 2026 01:07AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Independent People by Halldór Laxness. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Independent People by Halldór Laxness <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karl Schembri is now following Virginia Evans Author of The Correspondent
Aug 21, 2026 12:57AM · like
Karl Schembri started reading At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 18, 2026 02:06PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Karl Schembri rated a book it was amazing Obscenity & the Arts by Anthony Burgess	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Obscenity and the Arts: A Battle That Never Ends The death of Desmond Morris last month sent me down a rabbit hole I had not expected: Malta in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a small island that had somehow attracted a cluster of internationally sig ...more
Aug 18, 2026 11:07AM · like · see review

More of Karl's books…

Quotes by Karl Schembri (?)

“Mill-kunvent għall-ħabs m’hemmx xi qabża kbira. Imdawwar bl-irġiel kont u tibqa’, forsi dawn tal-aħħar ftit iżjed b’saħħithom. Juruk xi jsarrfu malli taqagħlek is-sapuna fix-xawer.”
― Karl Schembri, Eħlisna mid-deni

tags: jail, paedophile, prison

0 likes

“Se nitilqu l-lupu lura f’nofs in-nagħaġ, imma din id-darba n-nagħaġ se jkunu jistgħu jarawk u jifhmuk mingħajr ma turihom snienek.”
― Karl Schembri, Eħlisna mid-deni

tags: abuse, justice, retribution, revenge

0 likes

“Mill-postijiet kollha li setgħu bagħtuk, skola għażlu. Mank dar tal-anzjani. Mank iċ-ċimiterju, għalkemm ma nafx jeċitawkx il-mejtin ukoll. Xi tgħidli, Mons.? Jew it-tfal biss? Il-mejtin orrajt? Ma tmisshomx? Tħallihom bi kwiethom? Ma tħobbhomx l-iġsma bierda jiddekomponu bil-mod il-mod? Tippreferi l-ġilda tarija tat-tfal taħt l-età? Ftehemna. Allura ngħid jien ma setax bagħtek iċ-ċimiterju, l-Arċisqof, u b’hekk kien jiskansa ma nafx kemm-il traġedja ma’ għexieren ta’ tfal li kellhom jgħaddu minn taħt idejk?”
― Karl Schembri, Eħlisna mid-deni

tags: child-abuse, paedophile, priest, sarcasm

0 likes

See all Karl Schembri's quotes »

Karl’s Quotes

“Keep your eye on the doughnut, not on the hole.”
― David Lynch, Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity: 10th Anniversary Edition

90 likes

“Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see, one chance out between two worlds, fire walk with me!”
― David Lynch

303 likes

“Se nitilqu l-lupu lura f’nofs in-nagħaġ, imma din id-darba n-nagħaġ se jkunu jistgħu jarawk u jifhmuk mingħajr ma turihom snienek.”
― Karl Schembri, Eħlisna mid-deni

tags: abuse, justice, retribution, revenge

0 likes

“Id-dawl f’wiċċek qisu qed idejqek. Qaħbeċ, u jien ħsibtek imdorri taħt id-dawl divin, mhux se tagħma b’daqsxejn ta’ bozza.”
― Karl Schembri, Eħlisna mid-deni

tags: justice, sarcasm, torture, trial

0 likes

“Hawn xi talba li jismagħha dan Alla tiegħek jew aħna biss mistennija nintrabtu biż-żobb ta’ maħfra?”
― Karl Schembri, Eħlisna mid-deni

Karl’s Year In Books

Karl Schembri’s Followers (15)

Karl’s Bookshelves

Karl’s Friends (77)

2026 Reading Challenge

Karl Schembri

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
Karl Schembri’s books

Karl is Currently Reading

rss
Karl’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing

See a Problem?

Preview — Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann

See a Problem?

Preview — I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan

See a Problem?

Preview — By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah

See a Problem?

Preview — Independent People by Halldór Laxness

See a Problem?

Preview — At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop

Karl’s Quotes

Karl’s Friend Comments

Karl Schembri’s Followers (15)

Karl Schembri

Goodreads Author

Popular Answered Questions

rssKarl’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing

See a Problem?

Preview — Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann

See a Problem?

Preview — I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan

See a Problem?

Preview — By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah

See a Problem?

Preview — Independent People by Halldór Laxness

See a Problem?

Preview — At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop

rss
Karl’s Recent Updates