Born a Crime / Trevor Noah - 4****

[Book Concierge]

Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
Book on CD performed by the author.
4****

Subtitle: Stories From a South African Childhood

Born under Apartheid in South Africa, Trevor Noah was born a crime. He had a white Swiss German father, and a black Xhosa mother, at a time when such a relationship was punishable by up to five years in prison. His early childhood years were spent being hidden behind walls so that the government would not take him. This is his memoir of growing up a “colored” boy in a black neighborhood, in a changing South Africa.

The narrative is not strictly in chronological order; at time he relates a story from his primary school days, then goes back to pre-school age. Or he’ll tell a tale of being about eighteen, and in the next episode he’s about eleven. Still the general arc of the story shows how he grew up and was influenced by his mother’s deep faith and insistence on his becoming self-sufficient. He was obviously intelligent, learning several languages, which helped him to fit in even when he did not necessarily “look” like the people he was around. He’s honest about his criminal activity – shop lifting, pirating music, hustling, etc. But also takes a hard look at the episodes that helped to shape him, the influences and decisions that ultimately saved him.

Noah narrated the audiobook himself. I cannot imagine anyone else doing a better job. 5***** for his performance on the audio.


LINK to my review

[annapi]

Loved this book too!

[Jenni Elyse]

I want to read this book. I love Trevor Noah. He's one of my favorite comedians and I've been interested in his life for a very long time. I just haven't gotten around to reading his memoir.