Last month, I read the book ‘Born a Crime’ and let me just say this – it was an awesome read. Biographies, auto or otherwise, have recently become one of my favorite genres of books to read. Not only because I get to read about (and learn from) people’s lives, how they grew up and how they got to where they are now, but also because it gives me a glimpse into history, what the world was like years and years ago. I’ve picked up a flair for history and biographies help in a way to fan that flame within, as well as novels with historical settings – they have my heart. With that said, let’s talk about Born a crime! Born a crime is the autobiography of Trevor Noah, a renowned comedian and TV host; it shares stories from his childbirth till middle age, punctuated with humor and climaxing with a bitter sweet experience of his mother’s. The book opens up with a narration of a time when he had to run/jump/fall out of a moving vehicle along with his mother and his younger brother in order to save their lives. This was one of the many dangers faced from living in the part of town that he did. He was truly ‘born a crime’, an offspring of a South-African woman and a Swiss-German father, in a time when it was a criminal offence for blacks and whites to have sexual relations in America. This singular act will make him move around different groups while growing up, trying to find a place for himself. Having always been witty from childhood, he was able to navigate his way through different unpleasant experiences– including having an abusive stepfather – with one major stronghold, the ability to speak multiple South African languages, along with other skills which he picked on and off the streets. There were various emotional moments in the book, ranging from heartwarming to heartbreaking. The simplicity of the story helped to pass across strong messages – like how race can divide people – without being too serious and chasing you off. He shared lessons from his childhood experiences, including one he learned about relationships from his deaf dog. His story reiterates the fact that the road to success is not always very straightforward. There can be curves and bends along the way, but ultimately, anyone can be successful in spite of their background. It was a delightful read and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to have a peek into what growing in pre- and post-South-African apartheid, or just wants something to relax with. Have you read Born a Crime? What was your favorite aspect of the book? P.S: Follow me on Goodreads – Ogunyemi Olakunmi to see my reading goal for the year.
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