Scan barcode
A review by bookapotamus
Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
5.0
THIS is the celebrity memoir I have always wanted to read. There is like .00001% celebrity in it. And the rest is just life. But Trevor Noah's life (pre-celeb) isn't 'just anything'. It is a crazy ride navigating childhood through a tumultuous South Africa during apartheid - and the way Trevor struggles, laughs, cries, causes trouble and gets through it all is inspiring. But also sad. And hysterical. And heartbreaking. An incredibly fearless adventure that to him, was just life.
I'm going to admit right off I think TN is adorable. And hello accent! Yes, please! I don't really watch his show - I have a few times, but I just don't watch much TV especially at 11pm (Zzzzzz). What I do know is that he's exceptionally smart, and equally funny. And well, that's about all I care about. This story follows him throughout his life in South Africa. We all know where he ends up, and there's just a tiny snippet of him just getting his start at the end, but who cares about Hollywood? What is the most riveting part of his life, is right here in this book.
He was "Born a Crime" because his mom is black and his dad is white. And that in itself was a crime at the time - his mere existence was illegal. His parents took painstaking actions to keep this a secret - even living apart - although his looks were a dead giveaway. Aside from having this struggle through most of their life (if caught - his mother would have most definitely been sent to prison), it was hardly the only struggle. Poverty, hunger, abuse, violence throughout the whole country - was a daily theme. But Trevor's mother, tirelessly religious, was fierce and determined. And Trevor himself, a curiously naughty boy with big ideas and an ample sense of humor, was loved unconditionally by her.
From eating caterpillars, to being thrown from cars, shot in the face, jail time, beatings ... you wouldn't think this was a funny book. But from tragedy, comes comedy - at least in Trevor's case. The book is a series of storied from childhood, thoughtfully constructed and put together so, so well. Snippets of South African history pepper his narrative, and I couldn't open my eyes wide enough. I loved, loved, loved his story. It's incredibly well written and flows so sweetly with grace and wit, and I I highly recommend it.
I'm going to admit right off I think TN is adorable. And hello accent! Yes, please! I don't really watch his show - I have a few times, but I just don't watch much TV especially at 11pm (Zzzzzz). What I do know is that he's exceptionally smart, and equally funny. And well, that's about all I care about. This story follows him throughout his life in South Africa. We all know where he ends up, and there's just a tiny snippet of him just getting his start at the end, but who cares about Hollywood? What is the most riveting part of his life, is right here in this book.
He was "Born a Crime" because his mom is black and his dad is white. And that in itself was a crime at the time - his mere existence was illegal. His parents took painstaking actions to keep this a secret - even living apart - although his looks were a dead giveaway. Aside from having this struggle through most of their life (if caught - his mother would have most definitely been sent to prison), it was hardly the only struggle. Poverty, hunger, abuse, violence throughout the whole country - was a daily theme. But Trevor's mother, tirelessly religious, was fierce and determined. And Trevor himself, a curiously naughty boy with big ideas and an ample sense of humor, was loved unconditionally by her.
From eating caterpillars, to being thrown from cars, shot in the face, jail time, beatings ... you wouldn't think this was a funny book. But from tragedy, comes comedy - at least in Trevor's case. The book is a series of storied from childhood, thoughtfully constructed and put together so, so well. Snippets of South African history pepper his narrative, and I couldn't open my eyes wide enough. I loved, loved, loved his story. It's incredibly well written and flows so sweetly with grace and wit, and I I highly recommend it.