I admire the thoughtful way you arrived at your decision, which you describe so well without minimizing the pain and stress of being a Jewish writer who does not pass "the litmus test." I am so glad to have read your article -- and was drawn to it initially for a very personal reason. The book in your hand in the beautiful author photograph that accompanies the article is my novella, "Sarra Copia: A Locked-in Life" (WTAW Press 2023). I am delighted to know you have read it -- and of course would be honored if you chose to review it. Be that as it may, thank you for your important and necessary piece about being a Jewish writer and reviewer at this time.
Hi Nancy! I am so delighted to read your comment and have wanted to reach out for a while now. We were on the same JBC Author Network session in May, but it was impossible to chat with other authors then. The story behind your book (which I absolutely love!) appearing in my author photo was that I was getting new photos taken last November and was reading your book at the time. When the photographer asked me what I was going to use the photos for, he asked if I could take out the book in my bag. It was your book! And it went so well with my red coat, but if I can advertise it far and wide, it's certainly an added bonus! Thank you for reaching out!!
Thanks so much for writing back. It looks great in the photo and complements your red coat beautifully. I can't wait to read your book; I was so nervous about the JBC Author Network session that it was hard for me to focus on some of the other wonderful books being introduced. Thanks again and hoping our paths cross again soon.
I hope our paths cross again soon, too! It all worked out so well with the photo because that day in Chicago was overcast and the red from your cover and my coat really stand out. I was so nervous that day, too! I only remember you because I took this photo!
I am really torn. For my entire life, I prided myself on being able to relate to people whose views I disagreed with. I loved Dostoyevsky who was a rabid antisemite. I admired several SF writers who glorified communism. I wrote essays quoting Mein Kampf. But now I hit my limit. If you justify October 7, you are the enemy. I do not help or promote people who want me dead. Though, if you do the world a favor by dying first, I may review your book, after all.
I have felt so torn, too! Literature is supposed to bring us together and to teach us empathy. I don't know why these authors who try to ban Israeli and other Jewish authors think that's okay. And I think the difference here is that deciding to read something else is not preventing other people from reading what they want. We all make choices, but it's not right to make choices for others, all based on a hatred of a people.
Good for you to make this decision. I don't get how these people don't see they're demonizing Israel ...these are educated, well read people.....shame on them....it's like the world has turned upside down...
Thank you! It really has. I just wish people would understand that the things they're saying are old tropes that have been recycled for the contemporary era. It's also ironic that most Israeli writers are the very people others can learn from. Without their books and stories, there's even less of a chance of coming together.
Thank you so much!! And I am certainly only interested in buying Jewish books now because I worry that someday soon we may not have many if these trends continue. And I want to show booksellers that Jewish books are in demand.
Thank you for saying this out loud. I feel this so hard as a freelancer who has to see this drivel and hate online as part of my job. It hurts. It makes me feel torn also when I have to make decisions that are supposed to be objective. But how can we be objective now? Anyway, thank you for your important words. They are a comfort.
Thank you so much, Joanne! It is such a difficult decision and we certainly don't want to stoop to the level of the people calling for author bans. I don't want to tell other people what to read and what not to read, but on an individual level there are so many books to read and review and we have to decide how best to spend our time. Sending love and light!
A courageous and principled person. It is one thing when people publicly take an unpopular stand, it is something else (and worth so much more respect) when someone does it knowing that they are possibly putting their livelihood on the line by doing so. So, in one word, RESPECT the way the great Aretha z"l used to say it.
Kol hakavod for this excellent piece. I'm so proud it's here.
Agreed!!!! 💯💯💯
I'm so honored to be published in JUDITH! Thank you!!
Great article! You're amazing, Susan! I'm so glad this is out there.
Thank you and thank you so much for hiring me as a book reviewer so many years ago!!
I admire the thoughtful way you arrived at your decision, which you describe so well without minimizing the pain and stress of being a Jewish writer who does not pass "the litmus test." I am so glad to have read your article -- and was drawn to it initially for a very personal reason. The book in your hand in the beautiful author photograph that accompanies the article is my novella, "Sarra Copia: A Locked-in Life" (WTAW Press 2023). I am delighted to know you have read it -- and of course would be honored if you chose to review it. Be that as it may, thank you for your important and necessary piece about being a Jewish writer and reviewer at this time.
Hi Nancy! I am so delighted to read your comment and have wanted to reach out for a while now. We were on the same JBC Author Network session in May, but it was impossible to chat with other authors then. The story behind your book (which I absolutely love!) appearing in my author photo was that I was getting new photos taken last November and was reading your book at the time. When the photographer asked me what I was going to use the photos for, he asked if I could take out the book in my bag. It was your book! And it went so well with my red coat, but if I can advertise it far and wide, it's certainly an added bonus! Thank you for reaching out!!
Thanks so much for writing back. It looks great in the photo and complements your red coat beautifully. I can't wait to read your book; I was so nervous about the JBC Author Network session that it was hard for me to focus on some of the other wonderful books being introduced. Thanks again and hoping our paths cross again soon.
I hope our paths cross again soon, too! It all worked out so well with the photo because that day in Chicago was overcast and the red from your cover and my coat really stand out. I was so nervous that day, too! I only remember you because I took this photo!
I am really torn. For my entire life, I prided myself on being able to relate to people whose views I disagreed with. I loved Dostoyevsky who was a rabid antisemite. I admired several SF writers who glorified communism. I wrote essays quoting Mein Kampf. But now I hit my limit. If you justify October 7, you are the enemy. I do not help or promote people who want me dead. Though, if you do the world a favor by dying first, I may review your book, after all.
I have felt so torn, too! Literature is supposed to bring us together and to teach us empathy. I don't know why these authors who try to ban Israeli and other Jewish authors think that's okay. And I think the difference here is that deciding to read something else is not preventing other people from reading what they want. We all make choices, but it's not right to make choices for others, all based on a hatred of a people.
Good for you to make this decision. I don't get how these people don't see they're demonizing Israel ...these are educated, well read people.....shame on them....it's like the world has turned upside down...
Thank you! It really has. I just wish people would understand that the things they're saying are old tropes that have been recycled for the contemporary era. It's also ironic that most Israeli writers are the very people others can learn from. Without their books and stories, there's even less of a chance of coming together.
YES.
Strongly relate!!!! Good on you. 🙌👏 I am now pretty much only reviewing books by Jewish authors as a way to amplify silenced Jewish voices.
Thank you so much!! And I am certainly only interested in buying Jewish books now because I worry that someday soon we may not have many if these trends continue. And I want to show booksellers that Jewish books are in demand.
Absolutely!!!! Buying all the Jewish books, twice! They make great gifts. 🎁🎁
They do!! For others and for ourselves!
Thank you for saying this out loud. I feel this so hard as a freelancer who has to see this drivel and hate online as part of my job. It hurts. It makes me feel torn also when I have to make decisions that are supposed to be objective. But how can we be objective now? Anyway, thank you for your important words. They are a comfort.
Thank you so much, Joanne! It is such a difficult decision and we certainly don't want to stoop to the level of the people calling for author bans. I don't want to tell other people what to read and what not to read, but on an individual level there are so many books to read and review and we have to decide how best to spend our time. Sending love and light!
A courageous and principled person. It is one thing when people publicly take an unpopular stand, it is something else (and worth so much more respect) when someone does it knowing that they are possibly putting their livelihood on the line by doing so. So, in one word, RESPECT the way the great Aretha z"l used to say it.
Thank you so much! This really means a lot!