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A review by haddyreads
The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was a bittersweet experience — I loved it… and I hated it. First off, I loved the depiction of Harare. I loved how Zimbabwe was portrayed. It honestly felt like I was walking the streets with the narrator and the characters — so vivid, so real.
The author did an amazing job building suspense and mystery, leading up to this big reveal. And to be honest, you could already guess what the reveal was, but for the sake of the plot, let’s pretend we didn’t know. Then when the reveal happened… everything fell flat. I was irritated. I was disgusted. The way the main character handled it? Absolutely not. She could have handled it so much better, especially considering all the benefits that came with her association with the person in question. Why did she react like that? I cannot get it out of my head.
It just felt unfair. So unfair. Like — what was the point? What was the point of all of it? The first 75% of this book was great, I won’t lie. But the last 25%? My goodness. I feel robbed. Like something was taken from me. Why did she act that way? I honestly don’t understand. It doesn’t make sense.
And that ending? No. I don’t like how it ended. I don’t appreciate it. I don’t like how her character acted out. She had such a good dynamic with the person in question, and then it just… crashed. Burned. It was frustrating. I don’t know, man. I feel so dissatisfied. I was having a good time, and suddenly everything turned sour. That’s how this book made me feel. I was enjoying it… and then everything just went left.
I’m not sure I would recommend this book, simply because the end was disappointing.
The author did an amazing job building suspense and mystery, leading up to this big reveal. And to be honest, you could already guess what the reveal was, but for the sake of the plot, let’s pretend we didn’t know. Then when the reveal happened… everything fell flat. I was irritated. I was disgusted. The way the main character handled it? Absolutely not. She could have handled it so much better, especially considering all the benefits that came with her association with the person in question. Why did she react like that? I cannot get it out of my head.
It just felt unfair. So unfair. Like — what was the point? What was the point of all of it? The first 75% of this book was great, I won’t lie. But the last 25%? My goodness. I feel robbed. Like something was taken from me. Why did she act that way? I honestly don’t understand. It doesn’t make sense.
And that ending? No. I don’t like how it ended. I don’t appreciate it. I don’t like how her character acted out. She had such a good dynamic with the person in question, and then it just… crashed. Burned. It was frustrating. I don’t know, man. I feel so dissatisfied. I was having a good time, and suddenly everything turned sour. That’s how this book made me feel. I was enjoying it… and then everything just went left.
I’m not sure I would recommend this book, simply because the end was disappointing.