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leahegood's review against another edition
3.5
The title is kind of all the summary this book needs. It tells the story of one boy with mixed parentage growing up in South Africa in the aftermath of apartheid.
My Thoughts
I read this book to fit a prompt in a reading challenge. "A funny memoir." Other reviewers had tagged this book as funny, and for sure there were funny moments (as one might expect from someone with a career as a comedian), but "funny" is not the first thing that comes to my mind immediately after finishing the book. There was a lot of insight and soul to this book. A lot of swearing too, unfortunately. And a lot of very complex relationships--the complexities artfully articulated. So yes. It was funny. As in, it had funny moments and often a comedic tone in the writing voice, but it was also sad and informative and hopeful.
Content
As mentioned, there was a good deal of swearing, including f-bombs.
There was mention of s*xual activity (not involving the author) and the threat of SA, but none of it is graphic or "on screen." Individuals dance in a provocative manner. Noah's mother also intentionally decided to have a child out of wedlock.
Violence and the threat of violence surround Noah throughout most of his childhood and young adult years. Though not described graphically, this is present throughout.
Noah's mother is deeply religious throughout the book. Noah seems skeptical, perhaps even dismissive, but is not derogative ... even ending the book with a begrudging acknowledgement of a miracle.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Racism, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal cruelty and Suicidal thoughts
izzirizzo's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and War
sarahb919's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment
linnylionheart's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, and Pregnancy
Others: minors consuming alcoholjravelar's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Rape and Suicide
mausekuchen's review
4.75
While I found the timeline a bit confusing at times, this memoir showcases true intelligence in humour, emotions and social commentary.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, and Violence
tehstorm's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
tflinn98's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Police brutality
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
jstarshine16's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
cbingen520's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, and Antisemitism