The Manhattan bookstores that wouldn't host her: Lihi Lapid on what October 7 did to Israeli authors
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Israeli novelist Lihi Lapid faced significant challenges finding Manhattan bookstores willing to host her debut novel's launch, with one offering only a private signing in a storage room.
- Lapid's experience highlights a broader trend of the literary world's difficult reception of Israeli and Jewish authors following the October 7th events.
- Her book, a family story with no political content, was ultimately picked up by a small Jewish publisher and found success, prompting discussions about how Israeli creatives navigate a challenging global landscape.
The Jerusalem Post shares a deeply personal and revealing account from Israeli novelist Lihi Lapid, illustrating the chilling impact of the post-October 7th climate on Israeli artists. Lapid, whose debut novel "On Her Own" was set for a major launch with HarperCollins, found herself ostracized by the Manhattan literary scene, unable to secure a single bookstore for her event.
This experience, where even a non-political family drama was deemed too controversial, speaks volumes about the pervasive anti-Israel sentiment that has seeped into cultural institutions. The fact that a prominent publisher could not find a venue for her launch underscores the uncomfortable reality faced by many Israeli creatives, who are increasingly finding their work rejected or sidelined, regardless of its content.
A lot of times, the most horrible things are quiet. It just vanished.
Lapid's subsequent success with a smaller Jewish publisher, and her candid reflections on the need for solidarity between Israelis and Diaspora Jews, offer a powerful counter-narrative. Her story, and the broader questions she raises about the world's perception of Israel versus its own lived reality, resonate deeply within Israel. It’s a stark reminder of the unique challenges Israeli storytellers face in a global arena that often misinterprets or unfairly judges their experiences and perspectives.
Why, Lapid asks, does the world insist on casting Israel as Goliath when Israelis see themselves as David?
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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