Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

354 reviews

ressicajicks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Yeah okay survivor of an abusive alcoholic stepfather figure take my 5 star rating. I finished this book sobbing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Slavery, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Racism

norcalchris's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

3.75

Well written and performed (audiobook). Trevor Noah has a really surprising and rough story that I had no awareness of. He explained a lot about apartheid and South African cultures; it was very informative. 

Some of the book got a little repetitive and the organization of the last third felt odd. Rather than continuing chronologically like the rest of the book had, the last part jumped around in time. The ending also felt quite abrupt. 

The first half of this memoir was incredibly strong, but my interest dipped over time which affected my rating. My interest dipped due to the inclusion and lengthy amount of time dedicated to stories where it wasn’t clear why those moments had impacted him or his life (the different dates he had in his adolescence, and the mishaps of his dance group in particular). I would’ve enjoyed exploration of the aftermath or post-reflection of these stories, but it was absent. 

I also would’ve enjoyed more continuity of story into his current life. He mentioned university and starting to be a comedian off hand, but without explanation as to how that came about. 

Overall, a very eye opening memoir and I really value the knowledge it imparted. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Domestic abuse, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Racism and Rape

ckavella's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring fast-paced

5.0

This book explores important realities of race, class, culture, identity, and family through the eyes of a boy coming of age in South Africa. It is insightful, hilarious, informative, and empathetic!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Domestic abuse

e11en's review against another edition

challenging funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Antisemitism, and Racial slurs

rubbertree14's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Learned so much both about colonialism in South Africa and its history as well as Trevor Noah. He is so funny and has an excellent balance of seriousness as well as humor. Very enjoyable read, though sad and eye-opening. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Murder, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, and Colonisation

melissabristol's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

Brings incredible joy and humor to a tale containing smoke hardship. A remarkable storyteller and writer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Violence, Slavery, Racial slurs, Drug use, Cursing, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Racism, and Sexual content

angiesesameseed's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

5.0

A very funny and very touching autobiography. Fascinating stories of life in apartheid South Africa and a beautiful relationship between mother and son. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Gun violence

graceemacee's review against another edition

emotional funny informative

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Gun violence, and Racism

miratass's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Rape, Animal cruelty, and Sexual assault

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Gun violence, Child abuse, Police brutality, Violence, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Classism, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Excrement, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury