I'm sad to say that I won't be finishing this book. It is an epic of poetry that echoes books like House of Leaves as a man searches for means of coping in the wake of his son's suicide.

I only got through about 10% of this book, which doesn't reflect poorly on it. I simply find books like House of Leaves and this to be unreadable. I read almost purely for my own enjoyment and curiosity. Books like this function more as an art piece that needs to be studied, preferably with a notebook to keep track of what's happening and the changes in the story. They just simply aren't made for readers like me.

When I requested this book, I expected less prose poetry and more traditional poems interspersed with letters/photos. This book seems like it will be nearly entirely prose poetry, broken up by other elements on occasion. Again, this book echoes House of Leaves, so it wasn't what I was looking for.

It's very obvious that the author is an extremely talented individual. The prose poetry I read was interesting to look at on the page and fascinating to read. I hope they are able to continue writing and find their audience with stories like these (or something else). It just simply wasn't for me, unfortunately.

Speak Softly Among Icebergs is one of the most ambitious and unconventional books I've encountered in a long time. While it ultimately wasn't the right fit for my personal reading preferences, I came away deeply impressed by R.P. Singletary's creativity, talent, and willingness to take risks.

At its heart, this is a deeply emotional exploration of grief, loss, memory, and healing. The story follows a man attempting to cope with unimaginable tragedy, but it does so through an experimental blend of prose poetry, shifting narratives, literary references, and genre-defying storytelling. Readers who enjoy challenging, immersive literary works that demand close attention will likely find a great deal to admire here.

The writing itself is striking. Even in the portion I read, the prose poetry was imaginative, evocative, and often beautiful. The pages feel carefully crafted as both literature and art, with the structure and presentation contributing as much to the experience as the words themselves. It reminded me of works like House of Leaves in the way it asks readers to actively engage with and interpret the text rather than simply follow a straightforward narrative.

I went into the book expecting more traditional poetry interspersed with letters and other materials, so the heavily experimental prose-poetry approach wasn't quite what I was looking for. That's entirely a matter of personal taste rather than a reflection of the book's quality. This is clearly a work designed for readers who enjoy dissecting layers of meaning, following unconventional storytelling paths, and immersing themselves in language.

What stands out most is the author's evident passion and skill. Singletary has created something unique, ambitious, and unlike anything else on the shelf. While I wasn't the ideal audience for this particular style, I have no doubt that readers who appreciate experimental literary fiction will find much to admire and discuss.

A bold, imaginative work that showcases a remarkable literary voice.

This read like gibberish to me. That may be harsh but also it’s not far off the mark. I never understood what was going on or what the point was.

I really enjoyed getting to read this, it had that element that I was hoping for from the description and genre and had that element that I was looking for. The characters were so well written and I was invested in what was going on. R. P. Singletary has a strong writing style and was glad I read this.