Penguin Random House, 2019
By Trevor Noah
L was able to do lots of reading during the Covid-19 lockdown and the first book she read was Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. Noah is a comedian and late-night talk show host who was born and raised in South Africa during Apartheid. His book is part history/part memoir of his early life in a clearly segregated country. Having a white Father and black Mother when it was illegal for races to mix meant his birth really was a crime. Not fitting in with either society meant he experienced racism constantly during his childhood along with poverty, injustice and violence. His Mother was his one strong constant during his early life and from reading the book L said his love and respect for his mother is clearly evident.
The beginning of most chapters starts with a brief background on Apartheid which L said was very interesting and informative.
L said Noah is a gifted storyteller and tales of his childhood were very entertaining and written with his trademark wit and humor even though there was an underlying darkness through it all which was Apartheid. She said the tale of a five-year-old Noah confined in the house during a rainstorm with his blind grandmother as she tried to sniff out an 'evil spirit' was outright hilarious in contrast to the horrifying violence Noah and his Mother endured from his abusive stepfather.
Noah has no problem driving home how absurd and ridiculous the idea of segregation is and how harmful it was to its citizens.
L’s verdict: L really liked this book. She said before reading this book she knew about Apartheid in South Africa but had never read much about life within it’s confines. It was an eye-opening reading experience.
Bing’s verdict: As a dog, I just don’t understand Apartheid. People should be more like dogs, i.e,: human’s best friend. If everyone were friends with each other, I think the world would be a much better place.
Rating: 5/5
