From the Bookshelf of MCLS Reading Challenge

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
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Why we're reading this
Amy Discenza read this too -- January 2017

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What Members Thought

Amy Lafleur Meyers
Eye-opening memoir about growing up in South Africa under apartheid. Trevor Noah, current host of the Daily Show, describes how he was born half white and half black, "born a crime" as relationships were forbidden between black and white people of South Africa during the years of apartheid. His existence was thus proof of a crime committed. We get lots of insight in Noah's early life, which is sobering but has Noah's signature humor (which is offensive at times), injected at times. I read the bo ...more
Robin Benoit
Mar 15, 2017 rated it really liked it
Honestly, I've never watched Trevor Noah on TV. I read this book because it was recommended to me as a survivor's story. It is a gripping coming-of-age story, a history lesson, an unblinking look at racism. The fact that Noah is now on TV is not relevant to this book at all. His childhood and teen years were affected by a dysfunctional society and a loving mother in ways that Americans will never experience. ...more
Lee Ann
Dec 12, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Listened to the audio book read by Trevor Noah. So interesting to hear about his childhood in his own voice. Amazing story!
Suzanne
Aug 22, 2022 rated it it was amazing
Listened the the audiobook on Libby.
Annalise
Jun 04, 2017 rated it it was amazing
One of the best memoirs I have read in a long time. I highly recommend listening to it. Trevor is an amazing narrator. His story is incredible. Highly recommended!!
Katie
Feb 06, 2019 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: non-fiction, humor
I enjoyed Treavor Noah's stand-up so i wanted to listen to his audiobook. The best part was that he narrates it himself.
While his audiobook narration is less animated than his stand-up, his humor & storytelling skills are clear and present. I really enjoyed listening to stories of his childhood to early adulthood, as hard as some of it was to hear. I learned a lot about life in South Africa and its history.
If you are a fan of Treavor Noah, don't let this gem slip by you.
...more
Em
Jan 31, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Alicia
Sep 05, 2018 rated it it was amazing
Amy Discenza
Jan 31, 2017 rated it really liked it
Emily
Oct 18, 2023 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Becky
May 27, 2017 marked it as to-read
Robyn
Jan 06, 2018 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: audiobooks
Sarah Haller
Feb 26, 2018 marked it as to-read
Colleen
May 19, 2018 rated it it was amazing
Alicia
Nov 19, 2018 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Alison Helms
Mar 09, 2019 rated it it was amazing
Maria
Oct 20, 2019 rated it it was amazing
Emily Kleykamp
Jan 03, 2020 marked it as to-read
Sarah Bowers
Dec 14, 2021 rated it really liked it
Mary Ann
Dec 30, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: audio, non-fiction
Grace
Jan 17, 2021 marked it as to-read