Reviews

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

jampsonn16's review against another edition

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5.0

Amazing.

ilsevdhout's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

june_zhu's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

sitchensis's review against another edition

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funny informative inspiring medium-paced

4.25

cici_li's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

angiehk's review against another edition

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5.0

5/5 stars (I'll always give 5 stars to memoirs I enjoyed and 1 star to those I didn't just as an indicator)

I had heard great things about this book , especially the audiobook and I had a great time listening to it! I'm not sure when I started this audiobook but I know it was like 2 months ago so I listened to it on and off for a long time and it didn't deter my appreciation. I was able to remember the context of the chapter I was in, even if I hadn't listened for a few weeks.

I loved the way the story was told. The writing was good but also having Trevor Noah himself narrate it was excellent. I really liked to hear the words of different languages in the proper pronunciation as I don't know any language he speaks apart from English.

His memoir contains difficult subjects like racism, domestic abuse, physical abuse and sexism but he did it in a way that it wasn't too heavy, but also didn't make a joke out of them. There were comic reliefs throughout the book where appropriate but it wasn't just all humor and laughter which I appreciated.

Overall, I really enjoyed listening to this and would recommend it to anyone looking to read a memoir!

*****

Would I recommend this to others? Yes
Would I reread this? No
Is this book forgettable? No

fictitious_fox's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective fast-paced

5.0

nicholslaw's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

masyazafira's review against another edition

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5.0

Love!

leggup's review against another edition

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5.0

I don't usually read celebrity books, especially after Tina Fey's acclaimed book was a solid 3/5 for me, but everyone recommended this book. I love Trevor Noah's show and overall charisma. The book read in his voice. I had heard him talk about South Africa (and visit it) and was already interested in hearing more.

His childhood was marked by the gradual end of apartheid. That's astonishing- he's not much older than me. He investigates his culture and his upbringing in a way that brings you in like he's explaining to a friend he wouldn't expect you to know.

He's open about his shortcomings too. He's not a Pure & Wholesome rags-to-riches golden child. He also doesn't focus on his rise to fame at all- the story timeline ends in his early 20s. This is a story of an outsider, an observer, a survivor.