By Uche Okonkwo.
Uche Okonkwo’s A Kind of Madness is a powerful and beautifully crafted collection of ten stories set in contemporary Nigeria, offering an unflinching yet deeply compassionate exploration of community expectations, familial tensions, and the resilience required for survival.
These stories navigate the intricacies of human relationships—between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, siblings and friends—while capturing the unspoken emotions that shape our lives: desire, longing, fear, shame, and desperation.
Okonkwo’s vivid prose brings Nigeria to life, immersing the reader in richly depicted settings and the social dynamics that bind and challenge her characters. In one story, a young woman and her mother revel in the envy of their neighbours when a promising marriage proposal from a doctor in Belgium seems imminent—only for events to take a darker turn when the offer fails to materialise.
Another story follows a teenage girl caught between loyalty and honesty as her wealthy friend’s increasingly erratic behaviour forces her to confront difficult truths. Elsewhere, a lonely daughter embarks on a poignant journey through her village, grappling with her mother’s mental illness.
Each story is compelling, filled with striking imagery and emotional depth, and together, they invite readers to reflect on the complexities of family, friendship, and the human spirit. Okonkwo’s ability to intertwine universal themes with culturally resonant details makes this collection a standout, marking her as an exceptional new voice in contemporary fiction.
Highly recommended for lovers of short fiction, African literature, or anyone seeking profound and evocative storytelling.
Thank you so much to Lisa and the whole team at Verve Books for allowing me an advanced reader copy!
