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Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood

Trevor Noah

Start date: March 1, 2017

Finish date: March 31, 2017

Discussion: Monthly Group Reads

Why we're reading this: March's topic/theme is ethnicity/race. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah …more
[close] March's topic/theme is ethnicity/race. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

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What Members Thought

Nov 16, 2016 Barbara rated it really liked it

4.5 stars

Trevor Noah, a comedian and the current host of 'The Daily Show' is a very funny guy.....and I expected this memoir to be full of witty jokes. It's not. The book is about Trevor growing up in South Africa when apartheid was coming to an end. Apartheid and it's aftermath left the impoverished black population of South Africa with hard lives and few opportunities. Nevertheless, Trevor infuses his story with hope and humor.

Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah (Trevor's mother)

Adult Trevor Noah with ...more

107 likes · Like · see review

Jul 03, 2017 JanB rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook

I confess I didn't know who Trevor Noah was, but I began seeing his book on many "best of" lists and in my Goodreads feed. When I found out the meaning of the title, that he was literally born a crime in South Africa under apartheid because his mother is black and his father is white, I knew I had to read it.

It was illegal to be "colored", the term used in SA for a person of mixed race. His very existence was a crime. His mother often pretended to be his maid so she could take him out in publi ...more

93 likes · Like · see review

Nov 08, 2019 Wendy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: this-is-why-i-read, 5000-2019, nov-19

This book was recommended to me by a friend and I am indebted to her for that. I loved listening to Trevor Noah narrate his own story Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood.
And he was born a crime. During that time in South Africa, under apartheid, it was illegal to have a black mother and a white father.
He walks us through growing up in a abusive family, in poverty and his many times in trouble as a teenager. His mother is a force to be reckoned with and I adore her. She was dete ...more

19 likes · Like · see review

Jul 06, 2017 Shomeret added it · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir, my-reviews

I am ambivalent about this book. I am interested in Trevor Noah's liminal status under apartheid in South Africa. I was also moved by the story of his mother and Trevor's relationship with her. On the other hand, I could have done without the history of his dates as a teenager and his other more typical adolescent experiences. There is also a highly controversial chapter whose title is a spoiler for the controversy. So I'm going to use spoiler tags. (view spoiler) ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 02, 2017 Kathleen rated it really liked it

Shelves: memoir

A really good read with some powerful lessons. It makes me like Trevor Noah even more.

5 likes · Like · see review

Nov 27, 2016 Melissa Rochelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ebook, library, memoir-biography, read-2016

Both a memoir of Trevor Noah's life and a brief history of apartheid in South Africa. Each chapter begins with information about life in South Africa -- the many languages spoken, the mix of tribes and settlers, societal norms in South Africa -- and Noah then connects his story to that history/information. The book does not discuss his current life or rise to fame, it is very much about his roots, his childhood, and, most importantly, his mother. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2017 Katrisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audible-owned-but-read

I am glad that I got this as an audio book because hearing Trevor Noah read it definitely added to the story. This book had me laughing out loud more than any book I've read in a long time, but is also touching as well as a no-nonsense look at the after effects of apartheid and racism. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 05, 2017 Kris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: five-star-books

I loved this so much. I especially recommend the audio format. He talks so much about language and what an amazing tool it is, and I think I would be missing out not hearing him speak all of these different languages.

Also, I am woefully undereducated on South Africa and apartheid. This book is the beginning of changing that.

This book is funny and educational and insightful and emotional. Just read it (or listen!) already.

2 likes · Like · see review