Vivek Shraya
God Loves Hair is Vivek Shraya‘s first book, a collection of 21 short stories following a tender, intellectual, and curious child as he navigates complex realms of sexuality, gender, racial politics, religion, and belonging.
Told with the poignant insight and honesty that only the voice of a young mind can convey, the stories are accompanied by the award-winning illustrations of Toronto artist Juliana Neufeld.
God Loves Hair was selected as a finalist in the 2011 Lambda Literary Awards.
![[An illustration of a yellow cartoon character with a bushy “unibrow,” and the word “Eyebrows” written across it in white lettering.]](../images/thumb_eyebrows.jpg)
God Loves Hair is a DIY masterpiece.
Beautifully illustrated & tenderly narrated, God Loves Hair enchants the reader from the very first page.
A touching, poetic exploration of budding sexuality, the mysticism of religion, and family dynamics.
Brian Francis, author of Fruit
Shraya’s endearing descriptions of childhood and adolescence are both humorous and heartbreaking.
Sara Quin (of Tegan and Sara)
A welcome peek into the complexities, richness, hardship, and even ‘juicy’ moments that make up a life lived not part of the majority.
Ted Kerr, Xtra and Vue Weekly columnist
Winner: Applied Arts Award for Illustration
Finalist: 2011 Lambda Literary Awards
Featured on the American Library Association’s
2011 Rainbow Project and
Over the Rainbow book lists
More reviews:
NOW,
Crazy Quilts,
Revel & Riot,
Trikone,
Out in Print,
What is Queer and Asian,
The New Gay,
Gaysi Family,
The Coast.
Interviews with Vivek:
South Asian Generation Next,
Lambda Literary,
KQED,
Mid Day,
Masala Canada,
Xtra!,
Eye Weekly,
Gaysi Family.
God Loves Hair in the classroom
![[A black-and-white illustration of a young boy studying at a desk. A colourful thought bubble shows that he is dreaming of the god Ganesh.]](../images/thumb_classroom.jpg)
God Loves Hair is being used as course material in gender and sexuality courses at the University of Alberta, Brock University, and George Brown College. If you are interested in using God Loves Hair in your class as a textbook and/or having Vivek do a reading, workshop, or guest lecture, please contact vivek@vivekshraya.com for more information.
Order the second edition now!
Free shipping!
Also available at:
- Glad Day Bookshop (Toronto)
- The Book Keeper (Sarnia)
- Venus Envy (Ottawa)
- Co-op Bookstore (Montreal)
- K. Campos (Edmonton)
- Little Sister’s (Vancouver)
- Ardea Books & Art (Vancouver)
Bhajans for Mom
![[An illustration of a young brown-skinned boy with eyes closed and hands clasped in front of his face in prayer, and the text “I’m only a few days till Sunday.”]](../images/thumb_bhajans.jpg)
Bhajans for Mom are eight Hindu devotional songs performed and produced by Vivek. Listen to them now, or download them all for free.