A wowser of a recent book I've read is Tomorrow Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. The book is both brilliant and compelling. When I rhapsodize thusly with friends, some ask why. Many reasons--fascinating characters, gaming as a metaphor for work and yes life, family, choices, physical disability, creativity, S&M, collaboration, success, caring, ambition, maturity and lack thereof, and of course it's a multifaceted love story. But that's not the point. The author's been outed by anti-semites for being a Zionist and thereby an oppressor of Palestinians.
Having liked the book so much, I wondered how she had earned the asses's ire, so I asked my useful new friend, ChatGPT, about it. Here's its, her, his, their answer:
"Gabrielle Zevin, the author of the best-selling novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, has recently been added to antisemitism lists and has faced backlash due to accusations of being a "Zionist." These accusations largely stem from her Jewish background, her participation in events organized by Hadassah (a Zionist organization), and the inclusion of an Israeli character in her novel. Some have taken issue with her association with these aspects, leading to social media campaigns and efforts to have her works boycotted, especially within communities critical of Israel. For example, her book was removed from a Chicago book club's poll after participants expressed discomfort with her perceived political stance, prompting further controversy. The situation reflects the broader tensions in the literary world where authors with any perceived connection to Zionism or Israeli topics have faced scrutiny and attacks online [oai_citation:3,Chicago store removes novel from book club because of ‘Zionist’ author - The Jerusalem Post](https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-811560) [oai_citation:2,An effort to track antisemitism in the literary world launches amid widespread anti-Israel sentiment there – The Forward](https://forward.com/fast-forward/583530/an-effort-to-track-antisemitism-in-the-literary-world-launches-amid-widespread-anti-israel-sentiment-there/) [oai_citation:1,Gabrielle Zevin | Hadassah Magazine](https://www.hadassahmagazine.org/2024/07/26/gabrielle-zevin-targeted-as-a-zionist-author/gabrielle-zevin/)."
Gee, being Jewish, having worked with Hadassah, and having a character in a book who's Jewish makes her a Zionist oppressor with her foot on the neck of Palestinians? Everywhere?
By bringing this up, I worried that some among the vast readership of my blog might say, 'Golly, maybe I shouldn't buy her book if she's bad'. But Zevin has over 100,000 rave reviews on Amazon. The book's on bestseller lists everywhere, and sales remain very very brisk especially for a novel that was published over two years ago. Bottom line she's bulletproof unless someone accuses her of drowning kittens.
So why am I bringing this up? Well because it's nasty. Read the link to The Forward article above. I'm an author, a lowly but fellow author, and even though I don't feel I'm in much jeopardy of being outed, trashed, or doxxed by having my name address and phone number posted on the side of a van, or having my books boycotted, I am an Israeli, a Jerusalamite, a Zionist, as well as a supporter of almost all Israeli Palestinians and the Palestinians in the West Bank, who wish peaceful coexistence. But I'm also unequivocally in favor of harsh reprisals on Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, Houthis, and West Bank terrorists, (also curated Iraqis, Syrians, Jordanians) and all others who plan to eradicate and kill Jews. Like me.
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