Review by Club Member - Ekta Bhandari

The members of Read A Kitaab chose Born a Crime as a read-along book for July 2021. The members read the book in the comfort of their home, and then we had a great discussion on the ClubHouse.

The book is a heartbreaking read with humour as its underbelly. It is a memoir of Trevor Noah and talks about apartheid and its eradication in South Africa. The book takes you to a laughter riot in some instances, while it breaks your heart in others. I laughed and cried at the same time while reading this book.

Trevor Noah’s struggle and journey from a mischievous boy to a flustered man is captivating. He tries to find his lost identity and the whole struggle is relentlessly exceptional. It is a story of a fearless, adorable, rebellious yet religious mother and his son. The book dives deep into the unkind and loathsome aspects of society. It takes you through the cycle of poverty, violence, piracy and abuse and yet the determination to achieve freedom in all contexts of life.

Reading this book has been such an enriching experience that it would always top my recommendations list.

The club members thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading this memoir and it evoked quite a nuanced and fabulous discussion. We talked at length about the genre, the structure and characters of the book. The readers highlighted the superlative narrative and the deep-rooted problems society engraved with. A lot of experiences were shared making the discussion a wholesome experience.