Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by
Trevor Noah
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
Amazon.in Page
As a rule, I donât read books by celebrities. This is the first one I can remember reading. My reasoning is rooted in publishersâ beliefs that such books will sell no matter what, and anything that doesnât have to be good is unlikely to be.
And yet, Iâm glad I made an exception for this book. Perhaps, because itâs not a book about Noahâs rise to fame, there are only a few off-hand references to his early career successes in South Africa. This book is about his youth in South Africa as a mixed-race child under Apartheid (hence the title, as such interracial progeny were illegal.) The book focuses heavily on race and the bizarre logic of South African governance during those days, as well as how rulers set groups against each other to make their own misbehavior less conspicuous. However, itâs also a very personal story, telling of his close relationship with his mother, the abuse he and his mother suffered from his drunkard stepfather, and the challenges that compelled him to adapt to survive loneliness and the awkwardness of youth.
Given Noahâs comedic merits, it will come as no surprise that the book is humorous, despite the tonal burden of its subject matter â i.e. racism, poverty, and abuse. Often, the subject matter makes the humor dark and bitter, but itâs nevertheless amusing.
If youâre curious about life under apartheid, or in an abusive household, youâll likely find yourself in the grips of this tense and hilarious memoir.
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