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A review by tabatha_shipley
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
4.0
What I Didn’t Like:
-Content warning: there are abusive relationships and swearing in this book. While that doesn’t bother me, if it bothers you consider yourself warned.
-If I’m being picky, there are a few times, I suppose, when Trevor’s antics as a teenager are cringeworthy. But they read like reflections from an adult on stupid things you did as a kid, so it worked for me.
What I Did Like:
-He’s a storyteller. Of course watching him on his show I feel like I already knew this. That’s what they pay him to do. He does a good job in this book of weaving a story you get lost in. You can see the details of his childhood and get a true understanding of what it was like to grow up in South Africa. I LOVED that.
-History. Trevor has included lessons on the history of South Africa along with his first hand account. They’re delivered in a way that makes them engaging and interesting, almost to the point where you don’t realize you’re learning something new. This book is an AMAZING blend of history of the country as well as a memoir of this particular human.
-Mrs. Noah. Trevor, you already know this but your mother is a gem. Her strength just radiates from the pages of this book. Trevor’s appreciation for her, which obviously has bloomed now that he’s an adult, is evident. She’s a remarkable woman and this is as much her story as it is his.
The Verdict: 4 stars. If you like Trevor’s storytelling style, learning about other cultures, or memoirs in general … you’ll love this book. Personally, I adored it.
-Content warning: there are abusive relationships and swearing in this book. While that doesn’t bother me, if it bothers you consider yourself warned.
-If I’m being picky, there are a few times, I suppose, when Trevor’s antics as a teenager are cringeworthy. But they read like reflections from an adult on stupid things you did as a kid, so it worked for me.
What I Did Like:
-He’s a storyteller. Of course watching him on his show I feel like I already knew this. That’s what they pay him to do. He does a good job in this book of weaving a story you get lost in. You can see the details of his childhood and get a true understanding of what it was like to grow up in South Africa. I LOVED that.
-History. Trevor has included lessons on the history of South Africa along with his first hand account. They’re delivered in a way that makes them engaging and interesting, almost to the point where you don’t realize you’re learning something new. This book is an AMAZING blend of history of the country as well as a memoir of this particular human.
-Mrs. Noah. Trevor, you already know this but your mother is a gem. Her strength just radiates from the pages of this book. Trevor’s appreciation for her, which obviously has bloomed now that he’s an adult, is evident. She’s a remarkable woman and this is as much her story as it is his.
The Verdict: 4 stars. If you like Trevor’s storytelling style, learning about other cultures, or memoirs in general … you’ll love this book. Personally, I adored it.