BORN A CRIME - BOOK REVIEW

Title: Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood

Author: Trevor Noah

Format: Hardcover | Audio Book | E-Book

Pages: 304

Length: 8h44m

Published: 15 November 2016

Publisher: Doubleday Canada

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

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**HIGHLY Recommended On Audio Book! I'm not the biggest audiobook fan. I tend to lose focus on them quite easily. Stories being told aren't exactly like throwing on your favourite tune, and listening without having to pay much attention. So while I'll throw on an audiobook on occasion, I find it can sometimes be hard to stay intrigued while listening to someone else read you the words on a page. However, Trevor has a way of captivating you when he speaks. His mannerism, his expressions, his voice- he brings the story to life in a way that would not be possible in any other format.**

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I have to start by praising Trevor Noah as a comedian first and foremost. I was fortunate enough to have seen him live in January, and he truly is remarkable, even live. Now, the reason I start by mentioning his Stand Up comedy, is simply because his comedy does tend to bring into focus things such as race, white-privilege, police brutality, prejudice, and of course - ultimately, being born and raised as a crime. So if you're not familiar with Trevor, I’d highly recommend sitting back and watching some of his hilarious showcases before reading this incredible memoir.

I'm an avid follower and supporter of his as a comedian as well as as the host of The Daily Show. So the second I found out he was releasing a book, I immediately added it to my TBR pile...but never got around to it. Non-fiction for me can be very difficult to get into at times, so more often than not, no matter how much I want to read one, I constantly put it off.. only to then be bewildered by how I could have done so for so long after finishing and loving it! This one, was absolutely no exception. Whatsoever. Born a Crime literally pulled on every emotional string in me- mind, body and soul! I was left completely mesmerized, astonished and at a loss for words.

Trevor Noah takes us on a journey from his childhood in apartheid South Africa. Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when a mixed relationship was a punishable offence, Trevor was bound by struggles and hardships that were frequented during this time in South Africa, but very much ignored in other parts of the world. This memoir is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never legally meant to exist. It is also the story of that young man's relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother: his "teammate" as he calls her, a woman determined to protect her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life as well.

While I have to give praise to Trevor for everything that he has endured, his mother, Patricia deserves a lot of high end praise as well. This woman is the definition of a bad ass! A strong woman in every sense of the word, an extremely independent powerhouse, and an absolute warrior! So many things that Trevor spoke about her; things that she said, things that she'd done, ended up resinating with me. I admire her courage, and her strength, and her fierce outlook on life.If there's one thing to take away when it comes to Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, is that she will stop at nothing for her family's sake and well being, while never losing site of who she is, what she wants, and what she is capable of. And all the while, making sure that the crown sitting atop her head is never needing to be adjusted! (If I'm honest, I don't think I could have read a better feminist character in honour of International Women's Day this month!)

Trevor has certainly had his fair share of hardship while growing up, and every single situation he endured were life lesson building blocks which he utilized to rise to where he is today. He has used every life experience to his advantage- and that all on its own is incredibly extraordinary! Poverty, abuse, Religious upbringing, chaotic living conditions, a powerhouse one-of-kind mother - Trevor is a thriving survivor! He had me laughing, had me crying and even had me getting angry on his behalf. Slowly but surely, I came to admire Trevor Noah's character and honesty more and more as the story went on. This was an emotional roller coaster behind tears of both joy and sadness, all in his very own comedic way. Highly recommended to everyone looking for an incredibly moving true story!