Publishing date: 22.08.2024
Thank you to Netgalley and RDS Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

The book as a meal: I ate my meal in the dark and I am still unsure what I ate
The book left me: Confused

Negatives:
Formatted a little strangely
Colorful language that subtracts more than it adds

Positives:
Themes I haven't really read before

Features:
Two books combined into one, long form poems, themes of existentialism, dread, and how beautiful our worst nightmare can be

Why did I choose this one?
Horror poems can be really hit or miss, and I thought I should see which way this went

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Ehhh, put-down-able. I think this is more of a me issue, but long-form-poems aren't really my cuppa. I feel like they drag quite a bit, and the language starts to blend in a lot. I end up more so staring at the page thinking that I am reading, but really I am just staring and not processing anything

What was the vibe and mood?
Do you feel dread because of the universe and everything we don't know about it? Ever read that dread manifested, but more so in an existential way? Well, here is your opportunity

Final ranking and star rating?
2 stars, D tier. This was not for me at all. I really wanted spooky and deep poems, but this water was a little too deep for me. I wanted to understand what was happening on the page ... but I was too lost. The poems felt a little too long. I didn't connect with anything.However- The writing is not bad. I see a lot of potential, but I will not be the first in line to see it blossom. A miss, sadly

Maxwell I. Gold’s Tiny Oblivions and Mutual Self Destructions are two collections that delve into the gritty, raw edges of human existence with a dark and poetic flair. Gold's writing is unflinchingly honest, pulling no punches as he explores themes of love, loss, and the inevitable decay that accompanies life’s most intense experiences.

In Tiny Oblivions, Gold presents a series of vignettes that are as haunting as they are beautiful. Each piece is a glimpse into a world where the mundane meets the macabre, where everyday moments are tinged with an underlying sense of dread and melancholy. Gold’s use of language is both sharp and evocative, creating tiny universes of emotion that linger long after the last word is read.

Mutual Self Destructions, on the other hand, is a study in the fragility of human connections. The poems and stories in this collection are darker, more introspective, and carry a weight that’s palpable. Gold examines the ways in which we hurt ourselves and others, often in the name of love or survival. There’s a brutal honesty here, a recognition of the cyclical nature of pain and the sometimes destructive consequences of our desires.

Together, these collections offer a powerful, if somber, exploration of the human condition. Gold's work is not for the faint of heart; it demands introspection and a willingness to confront the darker aspects of existence. However, for those who appreciate literature that challenges and provokes, Tiny Oblivions and Mutual Self Destructions are compelling reads that leave a lasting impact.