Genre: Memoir
FOUR STARS * * * *
You most likely have heard of Trevor Noah. He's a popular South African comedian and this is the story of his up-bringing in South Africa as a mixed-race child during apartheid. In his comedy and presentation of 'The Daily Show' you probably know him as straight-talking, open and at the same time, funny host. His memoir is no exception. It is a roller-coaster ride of laughs and sheer terror as he paints his upbringing through a series of well-tied together anecdotes. It is shocking and unimaginable how he lived (and survived!) the first few decades of his life. Not withstanding he himself 'being a crime', there's domestic violence, gun violence, clashes of race to name but a few. Amongst the more every day teenage angst, crushes and acne.
Synopsis
Noah was born a crime, son of a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother, at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison in South Africa at the time. Living proof of his parents' indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the first years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, take him away.
A collection of eighteen personal stories, Born a Crime tells the story of a mischievous young boy growing into a restless young man as he struggles to find his place in a world where he was never supposed to exist. Born a Crime is equally the story of that young man's fearless, rebellious and fervently religious mother - a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence and abuse that ultimately threatens her own life.
Excerpt of book description from Amazon.
My thoughts
It's the first time I've read a first-hand perspective of a mixed-race upbringing in South Africa during apartheid. The loneliness and longing for somewhere to belong is the emotion that's left lingering in my mind when I think about what I read. Whether in his own family, at school, among 'friends' and even in jail, it was a constant struggle to know where he would be accepted, where he belonged or sadly, where he would be least conspicuous.
Despite the grittiness of so much of his everyday life, the narration is so smooth and matter of fact that I sometimes had to remind myself that this wasn't fiction. Despite all the hardship he faced, there was always something upbeat shining through each anecdote. I feel a lot of that hope and happiness was centered on his mother, the incredible woman she is and the strength and love of their relationship.
Do note that this book doesn't tell you about how he made his way onto, and in, the comedy circuit. It is centered on his incredible younger years. The anecdotes made me laugh, squirm and feel deep shock and sadness too. It's a great read if you like Trevor Noah the comedian and want to know more about Trevor Noah the person and his journey growing up during apartheid.
About the Author
Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is the host of The Daily Show, an American satirical news program on Comedy Central. Born in Johannesburg, Noah began his career as a comedian, television host, and actor in South Africa in 2002. He has since had several hosting roles with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and was the runner-up in the fourth season of South Africa's iteration of Strictly Come Dancing in 2008. From 2010 to 2011, he acted as the creator and host of the late-night talk show Tonight with Trevor Noah, which aired on M-Net and DStv.
As taken from Wikipedia.
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