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A review by pharfaite
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
Trevor Noah has led a life of both epically tragic and hilarious proportions, and this book is the perfect blend of the two. He writes with such a distinctive voice, it was as if I could hear him sharing these stories on The Daily Show as I read. Not only did this book literally make me laugh out loud, it made me think and feel deeply too. The impact of sharing his unique lived experience of apartheid and its immediate aftermath cannot be understated. And his mom is such a powerhouse. The kind of woman you would want to sit down and have dinner with to soak up her wisdom and fiery spirit. The book was definitely a tribute to her, and it is clear as day why she is so loved by her son.
My only gripe with it is that it felt a bit chaotic with the changing timeline. I would say it reads more as a series of personal essays than the usual memoir, which made some of it a touch repetitive and confusing on where exactly in his life we were at. While it is an easy and quick read, the chapters might benefit from a little space between them to find your bearings to counteract this effect instead of the ever-tempting page-turning binge. Nonetheless, I would consider it a real gem. Highly recommend.
My only gripe with it is that it felt a bit chaotic with the changing timeline. I would say it reads more as a series of personal essays than the usual memoir, which made some of it a touch repetitive and confusing on where exactly in his life we were at. While it is an easy and quick read, the chapters might benefit from a little space between them to find your bearings to counteract this effect instead of the ever-tempting page-turning binge. Nonetheless, I would consider it a real gem. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Police brutality, Racism, and Domestic abuse