“Goodreads Book Cancellations: Unraveling the Controversial Practice”

Goodreads, a popular social media and book review site, has become a platform where authors can be targeted and books can be canceled even before they are published. This phenomenon has been attributed to the rise of cancel culture and the influence of the “woke mob.” While Goodreads has the potential to promote new books through strong reviews, it has also become a breeding ground for review-bombing campaigns and targeted attacks on authors.

Cancel culture on Goodreads often involves authors being targeted with one-star reviews by people who haven’t even read their books. The case of JK Rowling’s “Robert Galbraith” mystery novel “Troubled Blood” is a prominent example of this. Many one-star reviews with derogatory comments about the author’s personal beliefs remain on the site, dragging down the book’s average rating. The ease of creating an account on Goodreads, requiring only an email address, makes it challenging for the platform to identify and remove bogus reviews.

This cancel culture phenomenon is not limited to established authors like Rowling. Even authors with progressive viewpoints can fall victim to targeted attacks from the mob. Elizabeth Gilbert, best known for her book “Eat, Pray, Love,” experienced negative ratings on Goodreads for her forthcoming novel, “The Snow Forest,” which hadn’t even been released. The criticism centered on Gilbert’s choice to set the book in Russia while Russia was at war with Ukraine, with reviewers accusing her of insensitivity to the plight of Ukrainians. Gilbert ultimately postponed the publication of her book in response to the backlash.

Other authors, such as Keira Drake, Amélie Wen Zhao, and Kosoko Jackson, have also faced similar criticism on Goodreads and Twitter, leading them to postpone publication or cancel their novels altogether. This trend highlights the fact that the content of the book itself and the author’s politics often become irrelevant once the cancel culture mob is activated.

Some authors have suggested implementing measures to prevent reviews on unpublished books. This simple change could help protect authors from unfair attacks and ensure that reviews are based on actual reading experiences rather than ideological bias. The case of Gretchen Felker-Martin, a transgender author whose debut novel received an organized campaign of negative reviews on Goodreads, illustrates the urgent need for such protective measures to be implemented.

Additionally, authors have also expressed concerns about personal safety when they’re targeted by cancel culture campaigns. The story shared by an author who received a one-star review shortly after publication and faced unwanted contact from the reviewer demonstrates the potential threats authors may face in these situations.

Cancel culture thrives on social media platforms like Goodreads, where individuals can quickly band together to attack authors and their works. The ease of forming digital mobs and the inherent power that comes with it create a false sense of righteousness among participants. However, this behavior is far from conducive to thoughtful discourse or good civic behavior.

Furthermore, cancel culture on Goodreads differs from book banning in libraries or schools. While the removal of a book from a library or curriculum can limit access to certain audiences, the book itself still exists for those who wish to read it. In the case of authors whose books are canceled on Goodreads, the audience never gets a chance to read or order a copy. This represents a significant loss for both the author and potential readers.

Goodreads, once a platform for book enthusiasts to share and discover new reads, has become a battleground for cancel culture, where authors can be targeted and books can be canceled even before publication. While it’s essential to protect free speech and maintain open dialogue, it’s equally important to foster empathy and understanding. Perhaps it’s time for platforms like Goodreads to implement stricter policies and safeguards to differentiate between genuine reviews and targeted attacks, thereby allowing authors to express their creativity without fear of unwarranted cancelation.

Cancel culture, in its current form, threatens not only authors and their works but also the broader literary landscape that thrives on diversity, innovation, and different perspectives. Striking a balance between free expression and respectful engagement can create a healthier environment for authors, readers, and the literary community as a whole.