I’m a reader. I’ve always been a reader.
I decided to create an Instagram account solely to review books. I thus follow Bookstagram. I love Bookstagram, and enjoy seeing people’s recommendations. I also follow multiple authors because I like to keep abreast of when their newest books are released. I usually buy them immediately.
Reading fiction is supposed to promote empathy (see study here). So you might forgive me for thinking that incredible authors might have the ability to feel empathy for multiple people. For example, they might be horrified by the atrocities Hamas perpetrated while also feeling sad for Gazans. And some of them gave lip-service to this point of view, but the vast majority of their posts focused on calling people to rally for Palestine, create for Palestine, condemn Israel for committing war crimes against and perpetrating a genocide against Palestine, and sharing blood libels about Israel (specifically, the lie about the hospital) without ever retracting them.
This list includes but is not limited to Sabaa Tahir, Roshani Chokshi, R.F. Kuang, Shannon Chakraborty, Victoria Schwab and more. (Even though she and I fundamentally disagree, Roshani treated me like a person and wrote me a very kind message, which I appreciated.) There are also some who condemn the death of children on both sides (Rebecca Yarros) but appear to only give to one kind of fundraiser (hint: Gazan children, not Israeli kids.)
Below are examples of what a few of these authors have posted. Let’s start with Victoria Schwab, who wrote possibly my favorite fantasy series (now tainted), the Shades of Magic series.
Schwab has also spent plenty of time promoting that readers educate themselves with various infographics on Gaza, all of which are filled with misinformation. Here’s just one example of many.
Here’s the kind of thing R.F. Kuang, author of The Poppy Wars, Babel and Yellowface, regularly shares:
Note- she never retracted or issued any correction to the post she shared about the Gaza hospital bombing, even when top media outlets all confirmed that it was in fact a missle that had been shot from Gaza that hit hospital parking lot.
And then there’s Shannon Chakraborty. She’s American, grew up Christian, and converted to Islam as a teenager. She likes to add helpful context for why Hamas is attacking us Zionists, and (in a post I regrettably did not screenshot) likes to talk about how she understands why Palestinians would “resist.”
I commented on Chakraborty’s hospital post asking her to correct it. I also tagged her in a story where I noted that her compassion was selective. She didn’t like either of these things, so she blocked me. Yes, a New York Times bestselling author cannot handle criticism or being asked to correct the record. (But then again, neither can Congresswoman Tlaib, so I suppose my expectations should have been lower.)
There’s many, many other examples of authors only supporting one side or informing all their readers to become “educated.” FaeCrate has also put out an infographic which is all about supporting Gaza (and denying Israel’s right to exist.)
If this were just about recognizing the humanity of everyone involved- both Israeli citizens and Palestinians- then I would understand it. But what’s being promoted is a frankly gross, anti-Zionist and often antisemitic narrative in which Israelis (read: Jews) have no right to the land, are part of a settler-colonialist project, and are committing “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing.”
I didn’t understand how any of these highly intelligent authors could believe this, so I looked up the definition of “genocide” by the United Nations. Here it is:
The thing that all of these intelligent authors seem to overlook is that these acts must be committed with intent to destroy.
Israel is not indiscriminately carpet bombing Gaza. Instead, they warn people before they bomb them. They drop leaflets, make announcements and beg Gazans to evacuate. Despite the fact that it is not in their best interests, they permit humanitarian aid to go through via convoys- even though there is a high chance that aid will be misappropriate by Hamas. And yet, despite this, still people believe Israel is perpetrating a genocide.
Everyone should read Debbie Lechtman’s (@rootsmetals) post on 10.7.23. Here’s the link. Share it widely.
Hamas is trying to commit a genocide against us. And yet somehow we, the Zionists, the Jews, are the ones accused of perpetrating a genocide.
This made me realize this is exactly like DARVO.
Here’s what’s happening on social media (especially Bookstagram/ BookTok social media these days.
Denial- Either claiming that the Hamas attacks never took place, or they weren’t as bad as they were made out to be
Attacks- If they do admit Hamas did commit these atrocities, they hold Israel responsible for a “75 year occupation” and “making Gaza an open air prison” and claim that Hamas is justified because “resistance is justified when people are occupied.”
Claiming they are the victim- Israel’s war against Hamas and quest to get their kidnapped elderly, women and children back is actually a “genocide” such that the Gazans are in the role that the Jews were during the Holocaust. (Of all the gall.)
This is a crazy-making situation. And it makes me sad.
Because I thought books were for everyone. I thought books brought us together, and authors were people who loved humanity as a whole.
I’m not sure how many more ways my illusions can die.
Excellent post. I noticed this exact same thing as well from my work with addictions and narcissism.
Luckily, my favorite author, JK Rowling, is saying all the right things.