Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

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

83 reviews

itsliterarycait's review against another edition

4.0

This was a really good read. Its pretty educational and relatable (for a black-coloured-looking South African). I love how he explains some colloquial terms and how he (seemingly) effortlessly describes life as a South African. I relate so much to how he describes himself as a chameleon, being black but not black enough, looking coloured but not being coloured, speaking multiple SA languages. This book really is like a mirror being held up to my face. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Police brutality, Gun violence, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Excrement

Minor: Suicide attempt and Rape

khaleesiofthegreatwhitenorth's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs and Slavery

jacob_dion's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Colonisation, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, and Slavery

clarabooksit's review

funny inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.5

This is good—not as good as the hype claims, but enjoyable. If you like Noah’s comedy and especially his delivery style, you’ll like this.

Noah is clever, nerdy and funny and this memoir showcases that. His love of South Africa, where he came from and his mother are apparent on every page, even as he’a cracking jokes about them. I especially enjoyed learning a lot about South Africa.

Where the book let me down is in its lack of emotional resonance. That and it was very obviously written for a U.S. American audience, which felt confining even if I’m a part of that audience.

Noah has lived a fascinating life full of sticky, incredible and awful moments, but his voice remains distant like the person at a party who tells wild and traumatic stories for laughs without registering how deeply personal they are. While there’s a great deal of reflection in the book, it all felt anecdotal to me. The format of the book also makes every story feel like a lesson and that didn’t quite work for me.

To be fair, that may be more of a reflection on me than the book. I did like it: it’s zippy, I learned a lot, it made me laugh and at the very end, it made me cry. But it didn’t thrill me. Would still recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Slavery, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Excrement, Police brutality, and Slavery

Minor: Animal cruelty and Rape

awaywiththefairies's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Colonisation

rosieraggz's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Police brutality

nemonobody11's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I have so much to say after finishing this book, but it will come later when I compose my thoughts. All you need to know for now is 5/5 incredible read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Child abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

dalek_caan's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

I feel a bit weird reviewing an autobiography, because it is the account of someones life, so most adjectives feel a bit empty to use. But what I will say is that I'm grateful to Trevor Noah for having the courage to share these pieces of himself with the world, and I feel like I learned a lot about his home country and his family.I'm very glad I read this book and would highly recommend to other readers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Classism, Colonisation, Murder, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Gun violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, and Gore

skilletsnail's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Sexual violence, Racism, Child abuse, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Violence, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death

Moderate: Classism, Genocide, Colonisation, and Blood

ladyzbyrd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This book has so much heart! Sure, it’s written by a comedian, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s a comedic book. This was history and truth and love and trial and struggle - so, so much of everything - wrapped up in - a lot.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Cursing, Violence, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, and Physical abuse