Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

A story of growing up with oppression that’s equal parts hilarious and heartwarming

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

by Leave a Comment

CBR18 BINGO: Or, because it gave me a much clearer perspective on South African during the apartheid “Run for cover. Run and hide. I knew that as a five-year-old. Had I lived a different life, getting thrown out of a speeding minibus might have fazed me. I’d have stood there like an idiot, going, ‘What’s happening Mom? Why are my legs so sore?’ But there was none of that. Mom said ‘run,’ and I ran. Like the gazelle runs from the lion, I ran.” This […]

“Language, even more than color, defines who you are to people.”

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

by Leave a Comment

I read Born a Crime (2016) by Trevor Noah back in 2017, and it was one of my favorite books of the year. I was already impressed by Noah from watching him on The Daily Show, but I had no idea what his early life was like. I am also impressed by Noah’s ability to see both sides of an issue and understand other points of view. I rarely reread books, but I’d heard that Trevor Noah did a very good job reading his audiobook, and I […]

A Leader of the Social Commentariat

Born A Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

by Leave a Comment

Trevor Noah: Comedian? Cultural Critic? Damn fine storyteller? A leader of the social commentariat? Yes. What really shines in this book is Noah’s skill at structuring a story so that the suspense is consistently taut. Even with the few stories I didn’t like, I could. not. wait. to hear what would happen next. That made this listen very enjoyable, and one I heartily recommend. I also recommend it for Noah’s uncanny ability to treat heavy, complex subjects with a light simplicity and to infuse them […]

The past is not dead, the past is not even past.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

by 1 Comment

Boy was it weird checking off that trio of categories: history, biography, and comedy for a book that opens with Trevor Noah being thrown out of a moving car by his mother to save his life, but they’re all accurate. This is hilarious – Trevor Noah didn’t get the Daily Show for no reason, – and he pokes fun at the absurdities of racism while acknowledging their damage. Discussing a childhood in Apartheid South Africa, race is obviously going to factor in, but he draws […]

The Importance Of Hearing an Author Read His Own Words

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

by 1 Comment

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah My rating: 5 of 5 stars “Born a Crime” is Trevor Noah’s autobiography, up to through the present. I’m a big fan of biography and autobiography, but because this was a book club read and came highly recommended from friends and students, I looked forward to this one. Many of those who had read it and recommended it to me, suggested that I listen to the audiobook; I’m so glad I did. Mr. […]

CBRBingo – Award Winner – Trevor Noah Triumphs!

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

by Leave a Comment

Let’s be honest. CBR Bingo has been a boon, and a pill to swallow. I have read great things that I wouldn’t have because of it, but also maddeningly tried to shoehorn things I planned to read into these categories. Well, I am excited to share a trifecta of sorts! This is a book that I wanted to read, because I had friends rave about it, it is a selection of my local library book club, AND it fits into a bingo square! A number […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo