Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

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

326 reviews

filipa_maia's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

I'm such a huge fan of Trevor Noah and this book was on my TBR list for so long... I was really excited about this read. I'm usually not a fan of autobiographies (biographies in general) but I could not pass this one.

I really enjoyed this book. Is so effortlessly written, almost like a conversation.  The story goes back and forth with such grace and detail that the reader feels like its actually a one-on-one talk with Trevor.

Trevor as a very unique way of describing whats around him. Its a very funny, but serious way of telling us what was like to born and live being someone who does not belong. But this book is so much more that just a story about Trevor's life. Is all about a time period that changed an entire country and its people forever. Its very interesting the way this book describes such dark times through the eyes of a child and, later, with the proper interpretation of an adult. More than 30 years after the end of apartheid people still live surrounded by its "ghost"... its not there anymore but its presence is still felt.

Everyone, no matter what your race is, your age, where you are from, should read this book. We all should learn what happened during (and after) apartheid, because when we forget the past we are bound to repeat the same mistakes.

P.S.: I believe there is a quote very similar to this by a philosopher, but this is a saying that I really like.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Blood, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

audreyxine's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence

madisonfrank's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, and Classism

allapaz's review against another edition

3.5

I realize I'm in the minority on this, but this one didn't blow me away as far as memoirs go. It is an EXCELLENT discussion and depiction of real life in South Africa post-apartheid, and the parts that got real were really really good. What lost me in parts was Trevor Noah's humor in some places, and the jumping around in the timeline. I found it hard to keep track of what happened when when we'd get entirely new information/context like 3 chapters later. That last chapter about his mom though was 5000/5 stars

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

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. 

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Excrement

Minor: Rape and Suicide attempt

cnnr876's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

6 / 5 stars. I loved loved loved this book. Best audiobook I've ever listened to. His intertwining of personal stories with historical commentary of the development of apartheid and South Africa was incredibly impactful. I have no notes!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence

ryliereadss's review against another edition

challenging funny informative medium-paced

4.0

Trevor Noah talks about his childhood and growing up as a child of mixed race in Africa. Noah touches on themes of racism, poverty, family, and his first heartbreak. We got to learn about the struggles Noah faced fitting in during his years at school. It was also fun to read about his relationship with his mother, how their opinions differ on certain topics, and the empathy Noah has developed while reflecting on her parenting style. It was interesting to read about someone who had a much different childhood than I did.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse

Minor: Rape and Suicide

jacob_dion's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

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

malazreads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence