Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

Born A Crime is a fantastic book about what it was like to live in South Africa under the laws of apartheid. The author, Trevor Noah, is now a famous comedian and hosts a TV show. This book is particularly interesting as it is based on the life of Trevor Noah as a child, this helps to show different perspectives of apartheid as you don’t find many children’s views on apartheid let alone in a book! The book is a thrilling read and unexpectedly even though it is about a serious topic it makes you laugh so much in places that you have to stop your self from falling on the floor and collapsing with laughter. The book has lots of stories to tell, some of which are sad and others that are happy, showing the contrast between lives in apartheid South Africa. The book teaches us that however hard that your life maybe you should never give up as there is always a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. The people in this story are very unique and to me the person that stands out the most is Trevor Noah’s mother as she is the most resilient of all the people in the book. All of the other characters are also unique like Abel who has a flaring temper, Trevor Noah who is very bright but also naughty and crafty, and lastly all the old grannies who live in the neighbourhood. The grannies are particularly entertaining as when they think there is a demon in a house they all go to the house and do some strange dancing and singing lots of strange songs and praying to God. The story of Trevor’s mother is a very interesting one as Trevor always talks about her being very religious and being a devout Christian whereas he, even though he was bought up like his mother, is not at all Christian and the only part he likes in church is where people who are possessed by the devil are tackled by the priests! I would recommend this book to anyone from the age of eleven through to the ripe old age of one hundred and eleven. I think this is a book that is easy to read, factual, but also very humorous to read! THIS BOOK IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ SO I THINK ANYONE ELSE WHO LIKES A GOOD BOOK WILL ENJOY IT TOO!!!

Amazing book that takes you through laughter & tears. Wonderfully written. Such resilience. Truly enjoyed the book and couldnt put it down.

Laughter, family, love & grace. Snapshot into South African living. Unprecedented. Who knows what life can bring . Strength of family as the armour

Imagine a world where being born of mixed heritage of a white man and a black woman – means you’re born a crime. Trevor Noah’s mother loved him deeply but also perhaps loved God just as much. He grew up in a world of apartheid, where nothing made sense and nothing was fair if you were black. Yet, he wasn’t black; he was coloured, another crime. It’s a difficult world to imagine, but Trevor Noah lived it, and his story is truly remarkable. He also narrates the audiobook, and there were moments when I laughed so hard it hurt. What a brilliant and amazing story! - During Trevor’s childhood in South Africa, people could be accused of witchcraft quite easily. For example, if someone was struck by lightning, people would look around and accuse someone of causing it, leading to a trial for the person accussed. One scene in the book depicts a black security guard killing a cat because he believed it was a witch. However, the entire South African white community was upset about this incident, despite Trevor pointing out that they never reacted similarly when they saw a black person being burned to death, like tire burning. - I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It tells a fantastic tale about an ordinary boy and his extraordinary mother growing up in South Africa. Trevor grew up to become a famous comedian and talk show host on American TV, but I certainly gained a newfound respect for him after reading his childhood story. - Or parents could look at historical events and famous people in history and thus name their child Hitler – not aware that this is a very unpopular person. The bit where Trevor plays as a DJ with his dancing king – named Hitler – in a youth club will have you crying. - The ending of the book left me truly reeling, and I’m so glad I read it. I highly recommend it to anyone. On the audiobook, Trevor narrates the story himself, and it’s greatly enhanced by his narration.

We grew up singing along to Free Nelson Mandela, boycotting Outspan oranges, Cape grapes and got thoroughly cross with Queen for playing Sun City. We knew that apartheid was a Very Bad Thing, but did any of us stop to think what living under such a cruel, ludicrous and oppressive regime was actually like? Trevor Noah grew up in South Africa during its final years. Needless to say there are some mind-boggling, upsetting and downright anger-inducing episodes in his memoir Born a Crime. It's not all gloom and doom though and he tells his story however with warmth and a self-deprecating wit. It's an eye-opening and fascinating account of how this little baby - his very birth proof of the crime of his parents' relationship - became the intelligent, perceptive and very funny young man we see on our tv screens today. It's all down to Noah's mother - she comes across as a formidable and amazing woman, determined to forge her own path against all the odds and equally determined to give her children all the opportunities she could never have. It's a great read - well-written, never self-pitying, and really gives the reader an insight into another world. Highly recommended.

Trevor has provided us with an extremely entertaining, but also informative book on life in South Africa, especially while he was growing up. I highly recommend it.

Trevor knows how to depict sad situations with comedy. Most of the stories told really resonate with the typical African society. Values are instilled in children at an early age. Trevor did you finally meet Zaheera again?

I just devoured this book. Funny, moving, interesting. An amusing biography, beautifully written, with a sense of humour typical of the comedian Trevor is. Also, I didn't know much of the reality before, during and after Apartheid and this book reveals a lot about it from the point of view of the oppressed. But it is also a story about what true education is, about the importance of freedom and Independence. It's a hymn to life and motherhood

Captivating memoir that seamlessly weaves humor and heart, offering a poignant glimpse into the complexities of growing up in post-apartheid South Africa. Noah's storytelling is both witty and insightful, creating a narrative that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. His ability to navigate serious subjects with humor makes this book a delightful and enlightening read, leaving readers with a deep appreciation for resilience and the power of laughter in the face of adversity. Noah's unique perspective and storytelling prowess make "Born a Crime" a must-read that resonates long after the last page is turned.

This book engages the reader heads on, just as Trevor Noah does as the host of the popular “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central in the US. Trevor Noah was born in the apartheid regime and grew up during the transition years of South Africa to a rainbow nation as we know it today. The stories in the book are of his childhood and early youth. From the stories one gets an insight into the practical working of the apartheid and how it affected the life of people who did not ‘belong’, like Trevor Noah who was born to a Xhosa mother and a Swiss German Father. Through his stories he brings out how colour and language became tools of separating people during the apartheid. Noah also shows through amusing and enterprising personal anecdotes how these very tools could be used to overcome the very barriers of apartheid set to create. The stories Trevor Noah tells of his life are intense, colourful and humorous. At times he comes out smartly at times he is the silent accomplice who watches his friends get caught. There are many situations he unwittingly gets into and some because he cannot resist the temptation of his mischievous mind. At times he reminds of Tom Sawyer. Even though he had to struggle with poverty and suffer due to his mixed colour he comes across with clarity and humor. His writing is direct and peppered with nuggets of wit and turn of phrase. The bond between feisty Noah and his independent and self made mother is the most forceful aspect in almost all stories. Despite his mother’s discipline and severity; his angst and rebelliousness the two share an enduring and touching relationship. The book is a collection of stories not a chronological biography, at times the switch between childhood and youth can be confusing and also leads to some repetition. However, it gives the author more liberty in bringing out various facets of his life of a mixed child in apartheid ridden South Africa. It would have been fascinating to know how of Trevor Noah's journey to US and the successful position he is in today. Maybe, that is for another book. For now we have this readable, lovely and humorous book.