Welcome to The Author As A Reader where your favourite authors reveal the books that shaped them. In this series, we dive into their reading lives, from the stories that bring them comfort to the books they can’t stop recommending. They’ll share the novels they’d love to see on screen, the covers they can’t resist, and even the book that made them believe in the power of words. It’s a cozy, behind-the-scenes look at the books that have left a mark and who knows, you might just find your next memorable read.
If you’ve ever heard this author speak about their work, you’d buy a book immediately, the passion for storytelling sells itself. Nnamdi Ehirim is a Nigerian writer whose work tackles the complexities of identity, morality, and societal structures.
His second novel, The Brevity of Beautiful Things, dives even deeper into the messy, beautiful contradictions of human relationships. Written during the COVID-19 lockdowns, it explores themes like polyamory, identity, and queerness, capturing the intricacies of modern love and the moral gray areas we often find ourselves in. His characters challenge our assumptions about right and wrong, making us pause and rethink what we know about the people we love, and maybe even ourselves.
Also worthy of note, Nnamdi Ehirim was the very first author guest on the Something Bookish podcast, setting the tone for the insightful, unfiltered conversations that have become a hallmark of the show. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, you’re in for a treat.
The Author As A Reader | Nnamdi Ehirim
My earliest reading memory: My grandparents lived in Surulere and they kept my mother and her siblings’ childhood library in tact. So, when I was in primary school, I’d read Enid Blyton titles and secondary school textbooks on Nigerian history from that collection.
A book I’d like to see adapted to the screen is: Cyprian Ekwensi’s Glittering City or Jagua Nana.
A book I return to for comfort is: Collected works of Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald or Oscar Wilde. Long live the dead!
The most recent book I’ve seen with the most gorgeous cover: Adaeze Okaro’s cover design of Ifesinachi Okonkwo’s The Tiny Things Are Heavier.
The book I think is most underrated: Yvonne Owuor’s Dust.
If my book had a soundtrack, the first song would be… Matrimony, by Wale and Usher. It literally inspired the title of the first chapter of the book.
The last book I purchased: Aanu Ife by Lara Kareem.
A book that made me recognize the power of words: Wole Soyinka’s Interventions showed me how wit and humour can be the foundation of the most complex arguments and sentences. Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend showed me emotion is best evoked with minimalism.
A book whose author I’d like to go to lunch with: The Most Secret Memory of Men by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
A book with the best opening line: My first book, Prince of Monkeys. “Nigeria in its entirety is a wonder of this world.”
The book I’m most ashamed not to have read: Any Shakespeare at all.
If I could recommend one book to my younger self, it would be: I’m currently looking to see if I can read every book in Heinemann’s African writers series.
Something Bookish Curators are always on the lookout for the next great read to add to your #TBR. Whether it’s a backlist gem, a breakout debut, the book everyone will be talking about next, or a beloved classic, we’ve got recommendations you won’t want to miss. Join the conversation and read along with us on social!
