What does it mean to live in a world that constantly questions your sanity? In her debut short story collection, A Kind of Madness, Nigerian writer Uche Okonkwo dives deep into this question—and the result is a haunting, hilarious, and heartfelt body of work that readers won’t soon forget.
Published by Tin House Books on April 16, 2024, this collection of ten gripping short stories explores themes like mental health, family dynamics, identity, and societal expectations—all set against the vibrant, unpredictable backdrop of contemporary Nigeria.
Why This Book Matters
In A Kind of Madness, Okonkwo writes characters that feel like people you might know—or be. There’s Udoka, whose failed engagement sets off a chain of scrutiny and shame. Kemi, an 11-year-old storytelling prodigy masking deep loneliness. Adanna, a girl grappling with a mother battling manic-depression while trying to hold her home together.
The collection asks: Who gets to define sanity? And more importantly: What happens when society is the one that’s unwell?
What Critics Are Saying
Critics and readers alike are raving:
🟢 Brittle Paper calls it “words that grip, haunt, and humor” and praises the way it makes “madness feel more universal than we think.”
👉 Read full review
🟢 The Coachella Review highlights its emotional depth, noting how it explores trauma, silence, and survival.
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🟢 In another piece, Ainehi Edoro of Brittle Paper reflects on the collection’s themes with the essay In Defense of Madness
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What Fellow Writers Are Saying
Acclaimed authors are also cheering her on:
“Absorbing… darkly funny… a writer to watch.” — Chinelo Okparanta, Under the Udala Trees
“These stories touched my heart… among the very best.” — Sidik Fofana, Stories from the Tenants Downstairs
“Rich, alive, uninhibited.” — Jonathan Escoffery, If I Survive You
Themes that Resonate
Each story in A Kind of Madness is anchored by themes that hit close to home:
- Mental health and how it’s misunderstood
- Familial obligation vs. personal freedom
- Societal pressure to conform
- The complexity of being human in a world that expects perfection
Uche Okonkwo explores these issues not with judgment, but with empathy and insight.
Where to Buy the Book
Want to read A Kind of Madness? You can grab your copy from:
You can also find the audiobook version on Storytel
Get to Know the Author
Uche Okonkwo is a Nigerian writer whose stories have been published in multiple literary journals. With A Kind of Madness, she cements herself as one of the rising stars of contemporary African literature.
📱 Follow Uche:
Final Thoughts: Why You Should Read This Book
If you love Chimamanda’s storytelling, Lesley Nneka Arimah’s wit, or Petina Gappah’s sharpness, then A Kind of Madness belongs on your shelf. Okonkwo captures the absurdity, humor, and heartbreak of Nigerian life with stunning clarity.
Whether you’re Nigerian or just curious about modern African fiction, this book will challenge, entertain, and maybe even heal you a little.
Read it. Gift it. Talk about it.
