A Kind of Madness: A dynamic collection of short stories set in Nigeria exploring family, community and the struggle for survival

by Uché Okonkwo

**An Oprah Daily Most Anticipated Book of 2024**

A searing, unflinching collection of stories set in Nigeria that explores community expectations, familial strife and the struggle for survival.

A one-eyed chicken, a chimpanzee forgotten in a cage, a tormented daughter searching for a link to past lives. Everday madness and monsters are explored against the backdrop of an indifferent Lagos in Uche Okonkwo's dynamic debut collection.

Across ten evocative stories, A Kind of Madness dips in and out of the lives of Nigerians, weaving through their lunacy and longing, unravelling the tensions between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, best friends, siblings and more.

Brimming with vitality, these bites of mundane madness mark the arrival of an extraordinary new talent in fiction and will leave you hungering for more. Perfect for fans of Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola, Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri and Nearly All the Men in Lagos are Mad by Damilare Kuku.

'Steady-handed and gut-punching. I'm in awe of this mad collection, this necessary writer' - NoViolet Bulawayo, author of Glory

'Uche Okonkwo's voice is absorbing. I was immersed in the familiar world of these tender, playfully haunting, darkly funny stories. Okonkwo is a writer to watch' - Chinelo Okparanta, author of Under the Udala Trees

'To read A Kind of Madness is to have an of complex characters grappling with life's many troubles, of a robust culture, of history, of the battle between the domestic and the public, and all the big themes of life woven together. Like Jhumpa Lahiri, Okonkwo's mastery of the form is as rich as some of the short story's best practitioners and deserves every recognition it is sure to get' - Chigozie Obioma, author of An Orchestra of Minorities

'Touched my heart. Uche Okonkwo's stories are among the very best' - Sidik Fofana, author of Stories from the Tenants Downstairs

'Hilarious and heartbreaking... A delightful debut' - Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, author of A Girl is a Body of Water

'Okonkwo has a Chekhovian eye for the tangle of internal motivations and assumptions that steer her characters... Readers will be eager for more of Okonkwo's artful writing' - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

'Surprising, illuminating, and deeply human' - Booklist

'Vivid... Striking a perfect balance between humor and heartbreak, A Kind of Madness shows incredible wiseness on the complexity and at times maddening nature of loving our family, our friends, and our home' - Chicago Review of Books

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Africa, Contemporary, Nigeria, African Literature, Anthologies

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2024

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A collection of stories set in contemporary Nigeria, covering various kinds of “madness”, but not necessarily the one you would assume. I enjoyed the setting, the writing, as well as the content. Much recommended!

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I wouldn’t say that this collection of ten stories took me by surprise. Most OwnVoices African anthologies or story collections I have read have been outstanding, and I am glad that this book continues the positive trend.

There is no introductory or author’s note, but the theme of the collection is quite clear from the title and the blurb. The title highlights how a ‘kind of madness’ is the driving force behind these stories. The primary focus is on relationships, whether familial or societal. Expectations lead people to do crazy things, and that’s the kind of crazy we see haunting the pages of this brilliant book. The emotions behind the characters’ actions come out so well through the author’s pen!

What I especially loved is that the stories are NOT about literal madness. ‘Madness’ as a word has so many meanings: obsession, insanity, temporary craziness, weirdness, unsoundness of mind, foolishness,… The narratives span across many of these meanings, thereby proving how all of us human beings are mad at times. (Probably, most times!) Each story feels distinct in its style and content, because of which there was no sign of the fatigue that usually props up in themed anthologies.

There is a strong flavour of Nigeria in the writing, and by this, I don’t mean the Nigeria that the media shows us or the stereotypical negatives alone. We see the food, the culture, the beliefs, the parenting style, the social norms, and the gender-based requirements. We see the juxtaposition of the traditional with the modern. We see characters caught in tough circumstances, with their response deciding what will happen next. Of course, given the title, the negative features outweigh the positives in almost every story, but there is still a strength to the characters that attaches a sense of hope – often unfounded – even to dire circumstances.

Many short stories are made or broken by their endings. In this set, the endings are partially incomplete but not abrupt; only avid short fiction readers might understand what I mean by this line. The stories stop at the right transitional moment in the life of the characters, the point at which the main topic of the story is either settled or given up on. This isn’t a book you should pick if you want happy endings or settled conclusions. To me, the endings were perfect!

As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the ten stories, only three stories ended up between 3 and 3.5 stars. The rest were all 4 stars and above. These were my top favourites:

🐍 Nwunye Belgium: An impactful take about how counting your chickens before the eggs hatch is nothing but a recipe for disaster. Loved the characters and the emotions in this story. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

🐍 Long Hair: A story that begins with a simple jealousy and explodes into a nightmare. Loved the use of the first person in this one. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

🐍 Animals: Brilliant! Rarely does an author nail a short story written from multiple character perspectives! Loved how complex the characters and their emotions were. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐍 Eden: When two siblings discover some naughty movies, their young minds are filled with queries, forgetting the repercussions of their inquiry. I adored the poignant feel of this story. Never have I seen a story revolving around porn to be so emotionally charged! It also exposes the double standards of adults. Excellent! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐍 Burning: A sad story about a little girl who's caught up in the turmoil of her mother's mental health issues. Heartbreaking! I felt like entering the setting and giving the girl a tight hug. Some adults simply don't see their own shortcomings. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

All in all, this is one of the best story collections I've read in a long while. I love OwnVoices works, and this book shows how brilliantly an authentic voice can elevate our reading experience.

Strongly recommended to all readers of short fiction and all lovers of African or culturally-themed or OwnVoices fiction.

4.1 stars, based on the average of my rating for each tale. (If you are familiar with how mathematical averages work, you will know that this is an outstanding average for a story collection.)


My thanks to Tin House and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Kind of Madness”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.






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[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the description of this book, I was immediately excited and much to my delight it was everything I hoped it would be and then some! I absolutely devoured it, once I started I just couldn't put it down and once I turned the final page the last story had me staring at the wall for a solid 20 minutes just processing it. The stories seem deceptively short and simple, almost minimalist at times, but they linger with a surprising staying power and demand that you sit with them and pick them apart in a particularly unflinching way.

The prose is smooth and Okonkwo's literary skills come across a polished and fine tuned and I'm a sucker for a nice prose so this one delivered the proverbial goods on that front.

This book isn't marketed as horror but I suspect a couple of the stories would appeal to fans of a more subtle and psychological form of horror (there are few things more horrifying than the human mind after all).

Long story short, A Kind of Madness was absolutely delightful.

Many thanks to Tin House Books for providing me a digital review copy of this book.

[lami ♡ [eyes on sudan] · Rating 4 out of 5]

‣ Some days, Kemi is so real to me that I can feel her breath on my back, hear her ringing laughter. Other days, she’s just a ghost haunting the halls of my mind. [page. 184]

—

Unisex names are such an exciting thing to me. Without being conscious of it, they free you of the biases you carry when you pick up a book. When I started reading A Kind of Madness, I assumed the author to be a man, merely because, most of the people I've met bearing the name, Uché, have been men. Of course, the gender of an author has never been of importance to me. But, something about how the stories were written (especially The Girl Who Lied) resonated so much with me. It makes sense that the author is a woman.

A Kind of Madness is a charming collection of short stories, set in contemporary Nigeria, each story featuring a different kind of madness that plagues the characters. From the greed in Nwunye Belgium, to the jealousy in Long Hair, this collection never falls short.

Uché's writing is nothing short of beautiful, each story pulls you in, demanding your full attention and giving you nothing less than what you need. From the prose to the flow of each story, it is evident that she is a talented writer.

Of course, I loved some stories more than others and while every story was good, a few of them hit the spot for me. My favourites were:

•Long Hair : how jealousy and rumours ruin the lives of teenage girls.
•Animals: the turmoil of a family after being accosted by a police officer.
•Milk and Oil: a girl ashamed of her living status and jealous of her rich sickle cell friend who gets special treatment.
•The Girl Who Lied : a girl who suffers from mental health issues, her neglectful mother and a friend who has to choose between getting her the help she needs or keeping her close.

To say I enjoyed this, would be an understatement. To me, this is the standard I expect from just about any book I read. It knows what it is, and while a few stories lingered longer than I think they should have, I absolutely recommend everyone reads this book!

[BookOfCinz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a short story collection and this was no different. Okonkwo brings to life modern day Nigeria in a very real way. Each story offers a richness in character, culture and themes. I loved how immersive and different each story was.

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t think I would enjoy this collection as much as I did, given it was completely different to what I expected after reading the synopsis! A mesmerising collection of short stories, a kaleidoscopic view into Nigerian culture through the author’s gripping writing.

I loved this collection because it gives us a glimpse of a different culture (at least different from mine as an Italian), but at the same time it shows that no matter the background, the human brain is capable of conjuring their own madness out of everyday events, albeit some very distressful.

This is what I found compelling about these short stories, the ability of the writer to make the reader feel what the characters felt: average people like kids, a pastor, a daughter, a brother and a sister and so on, can summon their own madness from their inner processing of their environment and circumstances.

I loved the author’s writing, so colourful, even when painting a dark story, you could picture the different shades of black and grey! And the mental images emerging in my mind whilst reading made this collection so easy to read and at the same time so impactful.

I am so glad I had the chance to read this author, and I can’t recommend it enough!

Thanks to the author and VERVE Books for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC gifted by the publisher

This searing collection tells the stories of madness—the literal type and those private feelings that drive one mad. From familial and societal expectations, the sense of not belonging in one's own family, teenage angst and jealousy, insatiable desire, and the hypocrisy of adults, Okonkwo deftly explores the multitudes of madness via 10 unique stories.

I adored the vivid writing in MADNESS, which, through sparse yet potent prose, provokes a profound sense of grief and helplessness. Each story shares a distinct angle of "madness," and I'm utterly impressed with this collection. My favs are:

• Shadow: a lonely boy finds solace in his childless aunt and plans his "adoption escape"
• Animal: a chasm splits a family in half after a police encounter
• Milk, Blood, Oil: a girl with sickle cell disease, her overprotective caretakers, and her friend who grows jealous of the special treatments
• Eden: two siblings discover their dad's porn video collection
• Burning: a mom takes her daughter to different local shamans to "treat her disease"

[Onemorebook Podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing collection of short stories based in Nigeria that feels like a breathe of fresh air in a muffled room. The stories are simple & short but they still tug at your heart when you are done reading them. To me, these stories are a reminder that everyone is out here looking for something, approval from a distant parent, a quiet mind, an escape from financial struggles, a community…and looking from the outside, we might be hasty in judging this search as a kind of madness, but aren’t we all 'mad' on this quest for the unknown?

Let me sit down & make a list of my 'madness'!

[Cici · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last two or three stories were really strong, but I felt that the rest were tame enough that I was in no hurry to finish them. I appreciated the writing style and Okonkwo’s ability to transport me to Nigeria

[Tanvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a 4.5, but rounding down to a 4 because some stories were amazing and a few didn't fully hit. Overall, the collection was varied, interesting and covered a range of topics and life experiences. When it came to representing a child's point of view, the book was nuanced and encapsulated feelings like the growing pains of coming-of-age, jealousy, and rejection accurately.

[Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I’m not sure what it is, but for me this whole collection went down so smoothly as to be easily forgettable, and much of my time while reading it was occupied in trying to figure out why I wasn’t loving it. It’s not a matter of quality: the writing is strong, the characters and their situations feel real. There’s a good amount of variation in the stories, following a variety of people (primarily but not exclusively children) in contemporary Nigeria and their relationships with family and friends. The subject matter is not especially tame or safe, and yet for some reason the collection doesn’t stand out to me the way it feels like it deserves to. There’s not a single bad story in the bunch, so why do I feel so lukewarm about it?

Some quick notes on the individual stories:

“Nwunye Belgium”: Follows a young woman whose mother tries to marry her to a friend’s wealthy son, who lives in Belgium. This one is effective yet exhausting for just how petty the community is, a trait fortunately less prominent in other stories.

“Shadow”: A young boy prefers his aunt to his immediate family, until realizing how different her view of their situation is.

“Debris”: A short tale of a street boy discovering his power in an unfortunate way.

“Long Hair”: A boarding school story from the perspective of an unreliable narrator, a girl who is a poisonous gossip.

“Animals”: This one is ultimately about power. Four members of a family grappling with the effects of police harassment, and tussling over whether their new chicken is food or a pet. All the perspectives are believable, but the story is a harsh one.

“Milk and Oil”: A girl makes a new friend who comes from a better-off family but has a chronic illness. I liked the rare warm ending, the protagonist experiencing growth without a major loss.

“The Harvest”: A preacher discovers that prosperity gospel only works for the rich. Entertainingly different.

“Eden”: Two young children are punished for getting into their father’s porn. A lot of adult hypocrisy and harshness on display.

“The Girl Who Lied”: Another boarding school story, this from the perspective of a girl who seems to be the only one to realize how much her new friend is struggling—unfortunately, the adults get it even less than the young protagonist does.

“Burning”: A girl growing up with a single mother who seems to attribute her own malaise to something supernaturally wrong with her daughter. Strong, but might’ve been stronger if the young protagonist were a little less wise.

Overall, I did like this collection, although I wish the stories had been a little more powerful for me. While billed as a collection about “madness,” there’s really very little mental illness here, and if I were to name a single theme for the collection I’d describe it as focusing on children trying to survive in an adult world. I’ll be interested to see what this author does next.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars - review coming late lol

To be released April 16, 2024, this upcoming collection of short stories by Uche Okonkwo dives deep into the lives of Nigerian women dealing with all sorts of feelings – from anger and sadness to shame and longing. With ten tales packed in, each story brings its own vibe, whether it's about a broke girl feeling jealous of her rich friend or a daughter wandering through town trying to cope with her mom's mental health struggles. Tackling themes of madness, both literal and figurative, "A Kind of Madness" serves up a poetic ride through survival and the tough stuff life throws our way. I did find that some of the stories were a bit dull (?), which I guess is the point; different levels of madness. It just felt like some of the stories could have been a bit more exciting.

[Conor Daley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I though some stories had a real simple elegance to them. “Nwunye Belgium”, and “Long Hair” were especially great in their direct story telling. “The Girl Who Lied” was easily my favorite because it was a masterclass in show don’t tell.

That’s the great on the other side I thought “Burning” just kind of ambled along, “Eden” never really hit, and “Shadow” was meh….

It was a great start to get a sense of her voice and I’m excited to see what she does next.

[Keletso Mopai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I loved the one story titled The Girl Who Lied; I tried not to cry!

[KCreadsthings · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories included in this collection have the common thread of exploring some kind of “madness”, whether perceived, clinical, obsession, depression, etc. Told from many different prospectives, including adults and children? All set in Lagos, it definitely gave a feeling of immersion. I would give the individual stories ratings between 3-4 stars, but overall enjoyable and interesting reading experience.

[Omayeli Arenyeka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 wonderfully nostalgic and structurally sound. the stories are evocative and clever. I enjoyed most of them, but wanted a bit more, wanted it to tug at my understanding and ideas of the world a bit more (for the ideas in the story to stretch beyond the story)

[J R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and wonky set of short stories about madness and insanity and how people can spiral. Thanks for the arc

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of short stories from a Nigerian writer are strong and powerful. I loved her writing.

[felacutie ₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Kind of Madness is a haunting collection of stories which explore a multitude of expressions of madness existing within contemporary Nigerian society.

Okonkwo takes madness in its most literal sense in stories like ‘The Girl Who Lied’ and ‘Burning’, where we uncover characters grappling with their mental health in a culture where it is often discredited. She contrasts this depiction of madness with a more nuanced understanding, as seen in ‘Eden’, where madness manifests as the leviathan nature of sexual-awakening and shame, which are almost unseemly within the confines of the family unit.

Within a matter of paragraphs, Okonkwo delicately forges characters of depth and complexity, as we see in ‘Debri’. The shortest story of the collection, but left possibly the largest impact on me as a reader. Our protagonist, D’Boy, is raised by the streets, robbed of his childhood D’Boy exists the grey spaces of society - void of childlike innocence yet not quite an adult. He has fallen through the cracks of Nigerian society, disillusioned by the system, and a victim of the socioeconomic hardships millions of Nigerians face today, D’Boy reclaims his agency in a single moment of madness...

A Kind of Madness has earned Okonkwo a seat at the table, having demonstrated her mastery of evocative prose. This is a strong debut from Okonkwo and I am eager to see how her talent continues to evolve.

[Brittany ✨Bookishlyyoursforever✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review! Short story collections are always some of my favorite things to read, especially when the stories are somewhat unsettling. This short story collection was honestly even more than what I had hoped for. Almost all the stories were heart-wrenching, especially the ones that examined the bonds between mothers and daughters. All of the details in this book very so vivid, I honestly couldn't put this book down until I was finished with the whole thing. I applaud the author on her first published work and hope to see many more short story collections from her in the future!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Dima · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories all set in Nigeria, describing mundane everyday occurences in the lives of common people. Each story, in some ways, presents a somewhat moral dilemma, and concludes with the characters realising that there is more to it than meets the eye - whether the dilemma they saw was misrepresented to them, or they could have solved in a way they failed to consider. There is a moralistic tone, therefore, to many of the stories. All told, the stories make up a nice tapestry of what life in Nigeria for average folk feels like, and how they deal with the tensions between tradition and modernity, progress and conservativism, and future vs past.

It really is a lovely experience. The stories are perhaps not super emotive and deep, and fail to reach the emotional and intellectual complexity of Arinze Ifeakandu, but they are still very effective, and among the top quartile of all short stories I ever read. They are well written, the quotidien events are thought provoking despite their banality, and the characters are vivid and well rounded.

Overall, highly recommended to any short story lover, and to those who want to see more aspects of daily life in contemporary Nigeria.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Kiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think religious psychosis was truly a heavy theme in this book from what I gathered. The madness in the first story was subtle, lowkey funny as fuck that the idea of epilepsy can you make an unsuitable candidate bc what if you don’t have epilepsy but somehow your future child does or like somehow you develop it yourself??? And the concept of oneeeee great aunt in the family supposedly going crazy locking you out of marriage is insaneeeee, everybody in these stories generally nosy as fuck, but especially the people in the first story lmao, lowkey I feel like another theme is like putting a lot of energy towards a person and affecting their life, I feel like in shadow bro absolutely subconsciously killed his aunt’s baby. I totally get his logic of like being the cure for her problems but likeee theoretically he could just end up reminding her of everything her baby COULD’VE been and doesn’t have the chance to be. Jennifer was NOT beating the demon allegations cause why the fuck are you so strong???? N I like how this story shows like the one time being light skinned actually wouldn’t go well for somebody lmaoo but again shows how someone putting their energy towards another character affects that character’s life. Ngl the idea of looking up “why won’t my fuck me” is hilarious fr, her husband was a lil bitch fr, literally talked himself out of pussy something INSANEEE, not my girl liked the thicc cop tho, I get that he represented power n authority that her husband didn’t have tho. Lowkey for half a second I thought the sickle cell bitch got hit by a car when they mentioned them playing in the road and the fuckin car suddenly appearing, sis ate UP mocking her friend tho fr, another idea of putting energy into shit though, fully mimicking her friend simply cause she thought they were mimicking her - insecurity to the max. Everybody leaving bros church funny as fuck fr n I feel like if you already knew everybody was broke why the fuck was you tryna make a church anywayyy, you were literally just tryna keep up with the church joneses nigga. Bro I’m still gagged about the idea of having a cassette called pussy palace and being gagged your kids wanted to watch it bruh, I absolutely was hoping they’d be able to get the cassette out in time tho, but like we really should’ve been on the dads necks about it cause be so fucking fr bro idk personally if I would’ve had the balls to let them know I also watched the tapes but all power to sis fr, cami was DEFINITELY men toe lee eel like wtf was her problem fr, she was a lil lying attention whore, she diddd absolutely eat up lying to the preacher dude tho lmaoo, I do totally understand the narrators perspective especially given they were a kid but likeee it infuriated me so bad cause lowkey I would’ve also tried to be friends with cami and helped her but likeee that bitch is crazy and unfortunately like even if the narrator would’ve been older she probably would’ve fell into the same trap. The final story I think very much depicts religious psychosis and how it mixes with mental illness, them people were fully robbing her mom fuckin blind fr, I feel like maybe considering the kids dad died that like maybe she was trying to release the tie to her father in some way through the daughter or felt like maybe the dad was the daughter idk, it was a wild rollercoaster and it just sucks the narrator wanted to get out and had someone who wanted to help her but it just didn’t work out fr, 10/10 book fr banger stories

[Ronnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was this what happened when you weren't taught to believe in anything?

These 10 tales have a built-in exoticness from being set in different parts of Nigeria, where running water, flushing toilets, and reliable electricity aren't always givens. All 10 touch on some version of "madness"--most literally in the final entry, "Burning," in which 10-year-old Adanna's mom is, at best, manic-depressive and, at worst, just batshit crazy. Sometimes the madness at hand is as subtle as jealousy ("Long Hair") or pride and ego ("The Harvest") or even just married life ("Animals," featuring the kind of lunacy that sends the beleaguered husband to Google, asking Why won't wife have sex with me?). It's hard to choose a favorite from this collection (which says a lot about how good it is), but if pushed, I'd go with either "Eden" or "The Girl Who Lied." In the former, 10-year-old Madu and his younger sister find and watch their dad's video porn stash and get beat for it, pretty much ensuring a lifetime a sexual hangups to come. In the latter, the friendship and tension between 11-year-olds Tola (timid, from meager means) and Kemi (reckless, histrionic, from a wealthy but neglectful family) at boarding school is memorable. Considering her friend's mad mix of narcissism and insecurity, Tola thinks at one point, "Kemi didn't just want their attention, she seemed to need it, like it was the only thing keeping her from falling into a dark hole" (which, as it happens, is pretty good foreshadowing). The writing in all of these is consistently rich and atmospheric; here's just a taste:

He had grown accustomed to wading through the pulsating mass that was Obalende, with its countless yellow danfos and molues, conductors wooing passengers to faraway destinations across Lagos, men at the newspaper vendor's stand arguing about headlines they had no power to influence, traders luring passersby with wares from electronics to medicines to fake designer clothes imported from Aba.

Most of these stories do not end with neat resolutions, but with one exception ("Debris") they still somehow feel complete.

First line:
"Udoka was disappointed to find that her prospective in-laws' house wasn't two stories tall, with a uniformed guard and a big gate to keep out prying eyes." (from "Nwunye Belgium")

[books4chess · Rating 3 out of 5]

“He thought about reaching across to take her hand. He knew what it would feel like now; rough and callused from carrying them both, unlike when they were newlyweds, the light of his dreams still burning bright”.

TW: miscarriage, depression

A Kind of Madness reads similarly to a short collection of childhood fables, but with a modern approach delivered through a distinctly Nigerian lens. The stories are succinct, heavy-hitting in nature as they tackle very real everyday challenges and societal expectations, yet highly engaging.

Each theme feels specially selected for the collection, each distinct but linked through the emotive undertones and consistent challenges faced by the protagonists. Despite the overarching awareness of the harshness of reality, Okonkwo singularly presents a beautiful combination of humour, struggle and the strength of human perseverance.

“[He] wondered why it was so much easier to talk to an unseen G-d than to the person beside him, made of flesh and blood, like him. But people were capricious, and prayer was a shield”.

I greatly enjoyed the use of childhood innocence and joy driving many of the tales, especially when contrasted against adults who have become (justifiably) jaded to the world and victims of circumstance. But mostly, as an adult reader, I enjoyed the reflection on the subtly delivered morals at the end of each story, and how unlike Hans Christian Andersen, these were not called out to lecture the reader but baked in organically to lead the reader to the conclusions they must draw themselves.

I’m always a fan of a Verve book, and this gem lived up to the hype. Thank you Verve for inviting me onto the book tour!

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okonkwo's collection of short stories is phenomenal. The attention to detail in bringing Nigeria to life off the paper is stunning, and each character and location feels real and relatable. Okonkwo's style and prose are gripping, and her talent is palpable and consistent across all ten stories. The only falter I could put a finger on was that I couldn't emotionally connect as easily with some stories. While Okonkwo can perfectly paint Nigeria across every page, there are still some things as a white American that I find difficult to connect to, but this is not fully the fault of the author.

A Kind of Madness comprises 10 stories of madness. The reasons for these bouts of madness vary, but they all manifest in similar ways. For me, Okonkwo's stories seemed to feature one major cause though: desperation. Desperation for attention, for food, for love, for forgiveness, for God. For me, that was the story being told. That desperation breeds madness. But the beauty of Okonkwo's writing is I'm sure each person will take their own individual lesson away from these stories. Personally, the story that felt best crafted - and relatable - was Milk, Blood, Oil, but from reading the reviews it seems every person who's read it had a specific story that hit closest to home. I believe that's the beauty of Okonkwo's writing.

I highly recommend this collection of stories, as I was pleasantly surprised by the simultaneous simplicity and depth these stories had to offer. They are grandiose while also being just a drop in the bucket of each of these characters' lives and towns, they are meaningful and insignificant and I find that incredibly real and incredibly human.

[Julie || boogsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This debut collection explores the complicated emotions of family, friendship, and cultural expectations in modern-day Nigeria. From trying to climb the social ladder through marriage or ministry or ignoring the class differences between two young friends, Okonkwo uses grace and care to highlight human error and attempts for progress, even if misguided, that drive so many forward in the pursuit of a better life.

This collection fits the tradition of other Nigerian fiction I’ve read. The culture does shine through in practice, though I would have liked a stronger sense of the environment. Based on the title and description - hinging so heavily on madness - I went into this expecting a collection going for the fringes while exploring the raw elements of humanity. You know, one of those "weird" story collections that's a wild ride. This is not that. The “madness” is light and subtle.

The majority of the stories are driven from the perspective of children and I found this an interesting choice. I had a harder time getting into their narratives. There’s something that is almost too precious with them. The stories that weave in adults and their more complicated problems are more memorable.

I’m happy to have experienced Okonkwo’s as a new literary voice and look forward to her future work, hopefully with a bit more meat on the bones. I do think plenty of readers will find this collection enjoyable. If you vibe with books that take a more tender approach to tension and trauma, like PURPLE HIBISCUS, consider picking this up. Thanks to Tin House for the ARC!

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories were delightful and clever. Uche Okwonko has written stories about Nigerian society, and manages to make them both feel Nigerian and universal. We follow several characters - a young woman and her mum, excited by an impending marriage proposal from a friend's son who has moved to Belgium to become a doctor; two little girls in boarding school, little Kemi who has incredible stories to tell but seems lonely; a preacher who despairs at his empty church and doesn't understand why everyone is going to the new megachurch that Daddy-Too-Much has opened next door; a brother and a sister who find their father's adult movies; a little girl worries for her friend with sickle cells; a little boy who grows very attached to the one-eyed chicken that his mother intends to kill and cook in her pepper soup... They all felt different but warm, they all talked about expectations and navigating the world meeting these - or the consequences if you don't. I liked that many of the characters were children, it can be difficult to write characters that are both very young but feel developed and deep enough to be interesting, but Okwonko has written beautiful stories that were moving and intelligent.

Free ARC sent by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Uche Okonkwo, Tin House, and Netgalley for the digital ARC copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This book will/should publish April 16, 2024.

This collection of stories was unlike anything I have ever read. I was engrossed from the very first story. These stories each so unique in themselves and collectively to the different manifestations of madness. I loved the characters and cultural emersion with each story. So different yet relatable and easy to follow. The way in which each story had a different family relationship highlighted and the struggles within that relationship and pull. To question what we wouldn't do for our relationships and just how close we all are to 'madness'. It seemed to me, these stories were hovering on the edge of horror and had me eagerly turning the next page.

The writing was beautiful and there were some beautiful quotes. There were some odd capitalizations and formatting errors that were a bit distracting but didn't take away from the stories. I will keep an eye out for further works from this author.

[Zoester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought the collection based on the endorsements from some of my favorite writers: Fofana, Bulawayo, Holt, Arimah, and Obioma. And their praise is justified. The characters in Okonkwo's stories contend with enormous pressure in the form of community expectations, familial strife, and the raw struggle for survival—and yet their inner worlds are realms of imaginative expansiveness and emotional depth. Okonkwo writes with great wit and insight of the machinations of people who are trying to hold their heads up in a society that can be quick to judge but slow to help those in need. She excels in portraying the love and tension of intimate relationships—between mothers and daughters, siblings, school friends, and spouses. In particular, she writes with a special compassion for children, attuned to the sensitivity with which they experience the world. Despite the high stakes, there are plenty of moments of tenderness and humor. A well-rounded, superb set of stories from a writer with a bright future!

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of mostly realistic stories set in Nigeria, where it seems the rural village life is mostly supplanted by urban living, but not entirely. Nearly all of the stories, maybe all, are centered around kids, somewhere between 7 and 12, and I'm not usually a big fan of stories about kids; I don't find innocence all that interesting. But these stories rarely leave the kids alone-- most of them are about I guess you'd call it generational strife, conflicts between young people and the adults in their lives, which turns out about as well as you'd expect. There's some arbitrary displays of power, which definitely jives with the way I think about childhood.

The best stories are at the end of the book-- "The Girl Who Lied" and "Milk and Oil" deal a little more than the others with how kids respond to each other, and that had some spark. "Burning," the last story here, does lean a little into the suffering of innocence, but in the context of parental mental illness, which was striking and terrifying.

A decent collection, just not totally my thing.