Plot Twists, Scandals, and Soul-Searching – A review of Nnamdi Ehirim’s The Brevity of Beautiful Things

Title: The Brevity of Beautiful Things

Author: Nnamdi Ehirim

Year of Publication: 2024

Number of Pages: 151

Category: Fiction

Is it a short story? A novel? A collection of short stories pretending to be a novel? Honestly, it doesn’t matter because whatever label you slap on The Brevity of Beautiful Things, one thing is certain: Nnamdi Ehirim is brilliantly unpredictable.

The way his mind twists, turns, and teases out meaning across these pages will leave you mesmerized. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on his style, he pulls the rug out from under you again. And again. Prepare to have your mind blown repeatedly.

The title alone is magnetic. The Brevity of Beautiful Things sounds poetic, profound and it sets the tone. But the moment you crack open the first chapter, the emotional weight hits. It’s overwhelming. You might feel a mix of worry and excitement. Should you lean in or hold back? That tension? That’s the point.

Ehirim doesn’t just tell stories, he constructs them with deliberate care. The way the opening storyline threads itself through the rest of the book is proof of that. Each connection feels intentional. What looks chaotic on the surface is actually a masterclass in control.

And yes, there’s sex. A fair amount of it. But don’t be fooled. Beneath the sensuality lies a deeper current of thought-provoking themes: identity, memory, trauma, love, and loss. You’ll find lines that stop you mid-sentence, sentences that beg to be reread because they say so much with so little.

Then there are the scandals. Everywhere. Just when you’re catching your breath from one reveal, Ehirim drops another quietly, subtly, as if daring you to miss it. It’s messy, it’s dramatic, and at times, almost too much to take in over just a few pages. But honestly? That’s part of the thrill.

One of the book’s most striking elements is how the characters are introduced, chapter by chapter, each one arriving with their own storm of madness and trauma. Maybe it’s meant to give you space to understand them. Or maybe that’s just Ehirim’s signature style. Either way, it draws you in. And suddenly, you’re not judging them. You’re rooting for them, hurting with them, seeing parts of yourself in their chaos.

You can also tell that Ehirim is a true lover of books. Throughout the story, he casually drops book titles. And it doesn’t stop there. His music taste sneaks in too, with song titles scattered across scenes, layering mood and meaning. At some point, you start to wonder: is Ehirim one of his own characters? Because this kind of writing, raw, intense, and all-consuming feels lived.

Nnamdi Ehirim is not just a writer. He’s a force. A wild, imaginative, deeply thoughtful force. The Brevity of Beautiful Things is messy, beautiful, and unforgettable, just like the best parts of life.

About the reviewer

Titilade Oyemade is a business executive in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the Publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives. Email: [email protected] Social: @tiipreeofficial