God Loves Hair Explained
God Loves Hair is a collection of 21 short stories by Vivek Shraya with illustrations by Juliana Neufeld. The collections tells the stories of a child of Indian immigrants growing up in Canada.[1] Originally self-published in 2010 it was a finalized for the Lambda Literary Award.[2] In 2014 it was rereleased by Arsenal Pulp Press.[3] In 2020 a hardcover 10th anniversary edition which includes a new story, new illustrations and a foreword by writer Cherie Dimaline.[4]
Reception
Both Booklist and Quill & Quire gave God Loves Hair starred reviews with Booklist writing "The highly visual nature of the stories is enhanced by artist Neufeld's full-page color illustrations, which accompany each selection. [...] A book for all ages, this will be especially welcomed by contemporary genderqueer youth and twentysomethings, who will see themselves in these vividly realized pages."[5] and Quill & Quire calling it "a rich and powerful exploration of gender, sexuality, religion, race, and the desire to fit in."[6]
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books highlighted the synergy of Shraya and Neufeld; "There is clear collaborative effort between the author and the illustrator, Neufeld, and the drawings are indeed one of the strongest elements, sharpening what are occasionally long passages into one searing image that captures the same tone." and concluded "This may resonate most with older teens who may have also seen enough glimpses of life beyond high school to fully appreciate the evolution of the trapped, bullied kid represented to the sharp, poetic man who remembers being him."[7]
God Loves Hair has also been reviewed by Publishers Weekly,[8] the School Library Journal,[9] Kirkus Reviews,[10] The Gazette,[11] and CM: Canadian Review of Materials.[12]
Stories
The stories in God Loves Hair are:[13]
God Loves Hair
Bed Humper
Lipstick
Dress Up
Sridevi
Pervert
Dear Vishnu
Girls Are Mothers and Sisters
Es Ee Ex
Colour Purple
Girls Are Dangerous
Gaylord!
Bubble Butt
Moustache
Girls Get Pregnant
Sundays
God Lives in India
Dirty Thoughts
Suicide Jeans
Eyebrows
God is Half Man Half Woman.
Notes and References
- Web site: Jolly. Jihii. 2010-07-19. God Loves Vivek. 2021-03-25. Lambda Literary. en.
- Web site: 2010-04-29. God Loves Hair · Vivek Shraya. 2021-03-25. vivekshraya.com. en-CA.
- Book: Shraya. Vivek. God loves hair: stories. Neufeld. Juliana. 2014. Arsenal Pulp Press. 978-1-55152-543-3. Vancouver.
- Book: Vivek, Shraya. God Loves Hair: Tenth Anniversary Edition. Arsenal Pulp Press. 2020. 9781551528137.
- Booklist Review: God Loves Hair (starred review) . Booklist . American Library Association . April 27, 2017.
- May 2014 . Reviews: God Loves Hair (starred review) . Quill & Quire . St. Joseph Media . April 27, 2017.
- December 2014 . Jackson, Richard In Plain Sight . Deborah Stevenson . Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books . The Johns Hopkins University Press . 68. 4 . 229 . April 27, 2017.
- Web site: God Loves Hair (starred review) . Shraya's stripped-down prose has documentary force, and Neufeld's illustrations, with their intersecting planes of translucent color and their linoleum block-style images, add humor and bite. It's an important addition to the library of coming-out literature. . September 29, 2014 . Publishers Weekly . PWxyz LLC. April 27, 2017.
- Book: God Loves Hair . Each story is accompanied by mixed-media illustrations with comic-book appeal, that along with the work's Indian and American pop-culture references and its intersection of race and gender, bring a fresh and vibrant addition to YA LGBT literature. [...] Librarians should be on the lookout for this queer coming-of-age story that offers an endearing and honest voice, as well as a heartbreaking account of adolescence.. kcls.bibliocommons.com . 9781551525433 . 864394858 . April 27, 2017. Shraya . Vivek . 2014 . Arsenal Pulp Press .
- Web site: God Loves Hair . In his debut novella, the Toronto-based Shraya explores growing up gay and religious through the character of a nameless Indo-Canadian boy who from childhood on is somewhat female-identified. [...] Neufeld’s mixed-media illustrations pair well with the scenes they depict, capturing the essence of being young with their multilayered texture and comic book–like immediacy. Running the emotional spectrum from shame to pleasure and acceptance, Shraya offers a refreshing window into the intimate struggles of youth. . July 16, 2014 . Kirkus Media LLC . April 27, 2017.
- News: Rob Cline . November 9, 2014 . 'God Loves Hair': Novel equally appealing to teens, adults . "God Loves Hair" is wholly appropriate for adult readers, as well. This isn’t because it offers a fast-paced story with broad appeal (it doesn’t), but because it captures moments of self-doubt and self-discovery that are likely to resonate with many people. . The Gazette . April 27, 2017.
- September 2, 2005 . God Loves Hair . Rob Bittner . God Loves Hair is a lovely collection of short stories from the talented Vivek Shraya, with complementary artwork by Juliana Neufeld. . CM: Canadian Review of Materials . The Manitoba Library Association . 20 . 26 . April 27, 2017 . May 28, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160528210727/http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol20/no26/godloveshair.html . dead .
- Book: God loves hair. 24 May 2017. worldcat.org. OCLC. 864394858 .
