The Phantom Pain

In his debut collection, author Omar Gonzalez examined the personal experiences that defined his life from childhood through his late teenage years—domestic violence, adventure, love and heartache, and much more. Omar returns to his trademark mixture of poetry and prose in this direct sequel, diving into the more mature and stronger themes that defined his early adult years. The result, The Phantom Pain: A Memoir, explores Omar’s journey as a young adult. Whereas The Phantom Struggle saw Omar able to rely on the powerful bonds between him and his mother and brother, here he finds himself alone in a world that has become strenuous and demanding for him to traverse. No small feat given the emotional and psychological scarring from his childhood. Ultimately Omar becomes someone who blurs the line between what’s ethically right and wrong, someone able to justify his actions using his own moral compass, no matter how questionable his actions may be.