A Kind of Madness - Uché Okonkwo - ★★★★

AUTHOR: Uché Okonkwo

GENRE: Short Story Anthology

PUBLICATION DATE: April 16, 2024

RATING: 4.1 stars.

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!

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.