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delaneysue's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Excrement, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, and Antisemitism
lectrixnoctis's review against another edition
5.0
"Born a Crime" is the tale of a prankish young boy who grows into a wandering young man as he strives to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to live in. Additionally, it is the story of that young man's connection with his fearless, rebellious, and highly religious mother—his teammate, a woman settled to save her son from the circle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would eventually threaten her own life.
The narrative was written in the first-person point of view by the author himself, and it was said in the past in South Africa.
Moreover, the motives of this book, in particular about racism and how apartheid, one of the worst crimes committed in South Africa, has affected the country and its people, although the system never truly worked at all. By casting black people away from white people and having no room for mixed children, who by law did not exist. I am a massive advocate for constantly educating yourself, especially racism, even more, if you are white. For me, a woman who has never lived outside of Germany and is broad, it is important to recognise my privilege and think about the system my ancestors have created and how I stop thinking that favours the system and even breaking out of it.
Not to forget to mention the love of Noah's mother was impeccable, and although I disagreed with her tough love method, I know it came from the heart, and I know she only wanted to do the best for him, which she enviably did. I loved reading about the relationship between the author and his mother throughout his whole childhood and his early 20s. Although I do not know these people personally, I felt connected with them because of the writing style, which hit me very hard and was witty at the same time.
A friend bought this as a gift for my 19th birthday, and I cannot be happier to read this book finally. I did not imagine it to hit that hard but in the best way possible. I laughed out loud because of it, and I cried at the end of the book. I did not think that autobiographies could make you feel something this deep like this one does. I highly recommend this book to anyone. You're probably going to cry, but you will love this book, and it will give you extreme joy.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Antisemitism, and Fire/Fire injury
purplelake's review against another edition
5.0
While novel centers around Noah’s childhood in South Africa, he and his mother are a binary star system, revolving around each other. The amount of respect Noah has for his mother, for all her strengths and weaknesses, charms and faults, is apparent in every word. And Noah’s mother is truly an incredible woman, providing wisdom and opportunity even during apartheid.
The story unfolds through witty vignettes, weaving the timeline back and forth, both non-sequential and somehow the way Noah’s tale is best told. Noah’s candid and irreverent voice is what truly puts this book over the top, guiding his audience through the race struggle of post-apartheid South Africa with grace and humor.
It comes as no surprise that Born a Crime is a comedic masterpiece, but it is the heart of the novel that makes it worth the read.
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Blood, and Medical content
emberlesage's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt
jessicayoungdesigner's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma