A KIND OF MADNESS

'These stories feel rich and alive, embodied and uninhibited. Emotionally resonant and atmospheric. Okonkwo's ability to immerse us in the concerns of her young characters is astounding. I can't wait to see what she does next'
- Jonathan Escoffery, author of If I Survive You  

'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  

'I was utterly beguiled by the playful voices, wandering minds and complex lives of the richly drawn characters in Okonkwo's debut. A Kind of Madness is an adeptly crafted, highly expressive, arresting collection'
- LaToya Watkins, author of Holler, Child  

'Uche is one of my favourite people writing about Nigeria. With elegant prose, A Kind of Madness slyly plunges us into the turbulence of psychology that we find difficult to articulate. These humorous and trenchant stories give words to the young and weary and desperate, taking surprising turns until we see our own selves around the corner, elementally altered'
- ‘Pemi Aguda, author of Ghostroots  

'[Uche's] style and storytelling expose the tensions and unspoken desires that shape-and unravel-intimate relationships.'
- Brittle Paper, 100 Notable African Books of 2024  

'This debut short-story collection features 10 stories set in present-day Nigeria, all concerned with madness-both the literal madness of mental illness as well as the unruliness of outsize emotions like envy, shame, and desire'
- Oprah Daily (A Most Anticipated Book of 2024) 

'Set in Nigeria, this collection explores how relationships, traditions and hardships can drive us to different kinds of madness. Be it mental illness, broken promises or unmet expectations, life's complexities are the main characters in these striking and insightful stories'
- Ms Magazine (Best Books of the Year) 

'Okonkwo's stories are a testament to her abilities as a Nigerian. Nothing feels forced here, yet we particularly find ourselves noticing the correspondence of these stories with everyday Nigerian life, from scenes of seemingly calm domesticity to the chaos of human interactions in urban sceneries'
- Afrocritik (Notable Books From Africa in 2024) 

'Intense and masterfully evocative... In delicately chiselled prose, Okonkwo successfully reveals the intricate contours of humanity and the Nigerian life. Using this collection to nail her name to the wall of blazingly promising literary talents, Okonkwo has given us stories that settle in the pits of our stomachs like they belong there. How gorgeously absorbing'
- Republic 

''Okonkwo's debut book showcases some of the best qualities of short fiction: immersive world-building, taut suspense, and endings that leave you questioning... The sparse but unflinching prose bears witness to Okonkwo's masterful blending of African and western literary sensibilities. Her stories are tense from beginning to end, full of turmoil, and always deeply human.''
- Electric Lit  

'Throughout the book, Okonkwo's signature style of humor, and cinematic detail come alive. There is also a deliberateness in the use of language, a lightness of tone, and a deep psychological engagement with the characters and their life's struggles... In terms of language, the Nigerianness of daily life, and how the characters speak, underscore a truly authentic voice. As a Ugandan, Okonkwo's stories read very familiar to my lived experiences, and yet they are fresh and gripping'
- Ber Anena, Brittle Paper  

'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 

'Written in beautifully evocative prose, Okonkwo takes readers down some dark paths - surprising us with humour in the most unexpected of places. Heartbreak and joy, grief and hope, acceptance and denial, each story sheds a particular light on myriad of strands that together make us human'
- Usma Malik, The Manchester Review 

'A Kind of Madness is both generous and discerning, with clear-eyed pragmatism and a masterful, often hilarious, use of irony. Marvelous'
- Lesley Nneka Arimah, author of What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky  

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

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

'To read Uche Okonkwo's A Kind of Madness is to have an experience: 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  

'Uche Okonkwo's A Kind of Madness is full of vivid, unforgettable characters and rare insight. This is a book that pulls you in, with its fierce undertow, and once you start reading, you won't want to stop. Okonkwo is one of the most exciting young writers working today, and these stories are brilliant'
- Elliott Holt, author of You Are One of Them  

'Uche Okonkwo's stories, set in contemporary Nigeria, have a gentle allure, drawing us into the intimate lives of characters and their worlds with elegant, assured prose and a deep understanding of the complex machinations of human manners and sentiment. A striking debut!'
- Kwame Dawes, author of Sturge Town  

'2024 has been a fantastic year for short stories, and Uche Okonkwo's debut collection belongs squarely in the conversation. Through ten vivid stories set in modern Nigeria, Okonkwo unravels the knot of tension found in many familial and romantic loves. In addition to 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'
- Michael Welch, Chicago Review of Books 

'Throughout Okonkwo's short story collection set in Nigeria, readers will get an intimate look into the relationships between amazingly written characters in unforgettable settings. Okonkwo's writing is transformative. The ten stories are striking and hit with such force that readers will not soon forget them'
- Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful 

'A suspenseful and clever collection of stories that touches on the isolation, absurdities, and dilemmas of contemporary social life.'
- BookBrowse  

'Okonkwo's writing is both lyrical and direct, capturing the nuances of emotion with honesty and compassion. A Kind of Madness invites us to confront our own biases, question societal norms, and ultimately recognize our humanity'
- OneStory 

' The stories are deceptively short, demanding instead that you linger with them; that they be remembered.'
- 'The Most Exciting Debut Short Story Collections of 2024', Electric Literature