Book review: God Loves Hair, by Vivek Shraya

Shraya God Loves HairShraya, Vivek. God Loves Hair. Artwork by Juliana Neufeld. Arsenal Pulp Press. 2014. $18.95. 110p. PB. 9781551525433.

In this compilation of short stories, the author explores coming of age in a Canadian Hindu family. Ranging in length from one paragraph to a few pages, each piece is accompanied by a full-color illustration. Shraya covers a multitude of topics, from gender and sexuality to politics and bullying.

The first-person perspective as a series of memory snapshots gives insight into the author’s thoughts and impressions as a child growing up in a Hindu family. The sparse literary writing style makes this book easier to digest in small bites rather than at one sitting. Since the narratives lack either an individual or an overall plot, the book may be a hard sell for young adults. Better suited for a memoir collection in the adult section of a public library, God Loves Hair contributes much to the multicultural GLBTQ body of literature.

God Loves Hair is recommended for public libraries.

Jenni Frencham, Librarian
Cesar Chavez Middle School, Hayward (CA)

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