The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu
Genre: Cultural (Africa)
Pages: 196 (ereader)
Source: Author
Buy it: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Book Depo
Description:
Vimbai, the self proclaimed number one hairdresser in Harare is livid with jealousy when the good looking, smooth-talking Dumisani joins the esteemed Mrs Khumalo’s Hair Salon and snatches the number one spot. Against her better judgment Vimbai soon falls under his infectious charm not knowing that Dumisani holds a shocking secret, one that will turn her views of the world upside-down. The Hairdresser of Harare catapults us into the world of Zimbabwe’s elite society, where stereotypes and prejudices are as abundant as the lavishness. It tactfully tackles the issue of homosexuality that most African literature shies away from.
My Rating:
From the beginning, I was drawn into this story. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Zimbabwe and the struggles of the post-revolution country. The glimpses into the people and how they cope with difficult times was truly fascinating. But the real story involved Vimbai and the unfolding relationship with Dumisani. Dumi's secret becomes pretty clear half-way through the story but it doesn't ruin the story; it merely drew me in more as I wanted to know how things would unfold. I was quite disappointed with the ending as I felt that it was abrupt and didn't tell me anything about the ripple effects of Dumi's actions. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this read and really enjoyed both the insights into the culture and the drama within the story.
