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whatlenalikes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Wow. This book is breathtaking. It’s written in the same simple, funny, intimate style as Trevor’s comedy, but it deals with the real darkness and tragedy of his childhood growing up under and after apartheid. The complicated figure of his mother throughout the book is so stunningly and humanistically portrayed.
Do you ever read a memoir that you know you won’t be able to stop thinking about for years? Because that’s this one. It’s so matter of fact with the way it deals with the dark stuff, and it also has such moments of light, it’s impossible to put down or forget. Even though it’s an essay collection, so it’s far from a cohesive storyline of Trevor’s childhood, the puzzle pieces are all there that explain how he became the individual he did. It’s just stunningly told.
There weren’t a whole lot of negative reviews that I saw for this, but I’ll say it: the ones that I did see were straight up racist, or completely unaware of their own privilege. I saw people complaining about the choices Trevor’s parents made, or the way he recounted some of the abuses he experienced. I hope those people maybe take a moment to reflect on why that disturbed them as much as it did. This was a stunning collection of well-written stories, and definitely a book I will be revisiting.
Do you ever read a memoir that you know you won’t be able to stop thinking about for years? Because that’s this one. It’s so matter of fact with the way it deals with the dark stuff, and it also has such moments of light, it’s impossible to put down or forget. Even though it’s an essay collection, so it’s far from a cohesive storyline of Trevor’s childhood, the puzzle pieces are all there that explain how he became the individual he did. It’s just stunningly told.
There weren’t a whole lot of negative reviews that I saw for this, but I’ll say it: the ones that I did see were straight up racist, or completely unaware of their own privilege. I saw people complaining about the choices Trevor’s parents made, or the way he recounted some of the abuses he experienced. I hope those people maybe take a moment to reflect on why that disturbed them as much as it did. This was a stunning collection of well-written stories, and definitely a book I will be revisiting.
xcen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
4.5
khander84's review against another edition
5.0
Listen to this one on audio - it is so much better told in Trevor Noah's own voice!
jbrownleo's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve always liked Trevor Noah. I find him hilarious and extremely intelligent. This book made me love him even more. Filled with stories that will make you laugh and stories that will make you cry, his memoir is definitely a story of hope and faith.
cewhouser7405's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.75
danafazz's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
this book is incredible.
He approaches his life from such a place of radical candor, honesty, and humility - highest highs and lowest lows included.
He shares his experience growing up under apartheid and all of the ways that systems of oppression have fractured his sense of identity and how these systems continue to impact its victims and implode in on themselves.
His relationship with his mother and with faith and how it’s been tested and evolved over time.
The subject matter is extremely heavy and yet his humor had me laughing out loud 90% of the time (and left me in tears for the other 10%)
read in a good headspace ❤️
He approaches his life from such a place of radical candor, honesty, and humility - highest highs and lowest lows included.
He shares his experience growing up under apartheid and all of the ways that systems of oppression have fractured his sense of identity and how these systems continue to impact its victims and implode in on themselves.
His relationship with his mother and with faith and how it’s been tested and evolved over time.
The subject matter is extremely heavy and yet his humor had me laughing out loud 90% of the time (and left me in tears for the other 10%)
read in a good headspace ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Minor: Addiction and Child abuse
jillianjesreader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
The only reason it wasn't a 5 is because there were so many time skips and I go a little confused. This book is actually crazy though, it was so good!
emilynsopp's review against another edition
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Really interesting. I learned a lot about apartheid and South Africa. I wish the timeline throughout the book had been more clear.
chowmeyow's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0