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A review by bookedupandbusy
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
5.0
childhood stories told by comedian Trevor Noah from his time in South Africa, growing up as a mixed race boy during Apartheid. Born to a black mother and white father, interracial relations during Apartheid were punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Comical, educational, enlightening and inspiring, this book is a well written and fantastic memoir by Trevor Noah who is a genius.
I have read many stories of Apartheid from the views of black and white people but to read a mixed race person’s experience during this era was so needed. Trevor highlights the difficulties African families endured during Apartheid but the focal point is his life journey as a mixed race boy to adulthood which consisted of Trevor hiding in the house for the first few years of his life due to his race.
Trevor is very charismatic so his stories are very very funny coupled with the fact the narrative is very chatty and conversational, made the book a light and easy read but this does not take away from the hardship and physical abuse endured by both him and his mother, which at most times were very sad. His mother is the true hero of this book!
Trevor is a hustler - he knew how to make money living in poor conditions. There are a few business lessons in the book.
For years Trevor was his own company and didn’t fit into any group, he learnt to find joy within himself (reading the bible, playing games etc).
Trevor’s mother is badass, she stood against the apartheid government, chose to have her son and she lived the way SHE wanted and not how the government wanted her to live.
Comical, educational, enlightening and inspiring, this book is a well written and fantastic memoir by Trevor Noah who is a genius.
I have read many stories of Apartheid from the views of black and white people but to read a mixed race person’s experience during this era was so needed. Trevor highlights the difficulties African families endured during Apartheid but the focal point is his life journey as a mixed race boy to adulthood which consisted of Trevor hiding in the house for the first few years of his life due to his race.
Trevor is very charismatic so his stories are very very funny coupled with the fact the narrative is very chatty and conversational, made the book a light and easy read but this does not take away from the hardship and physical abuse endured by both him and his mother, which at most times were very sad. His mother is the true hero of this book!
Trevor is a hustler - he knew how to make money living in poor conditions. There are a few business lessons in the book.
For years Trevor was his own company and didn’t fit into any group, he learnt to find joy within himself (reading the bible, playing games etc).
Trevor’s mother is badass, she stood against the apartheid government, chose to have her son and she lived the way SHE wanted and not how the government wanted her to live.