BOOK COMMUNITEA, ISSA UPDATE: CAIT CORRAIN AND MORE HUGO AWARDS MESS...CHILLLLEE [CC]

[@heynonnynonnie9681]

The problem that I have with the censorship at the Hugo Awards is that the emails show that a committee group that appears to be comprised of mostly Westerns decided that materials needed to be censored without any direct instruction to do so by the host country, which led to openly discriminating against marginalized authors in a way that prevented them from participating in a life-changing career award that directly impacts their revenue and platform in the publishing world. The committee assumed they needed to proactively accommodate limitations on freedom of speech and to engage in blatant discrimination in order to appease a host country and made zero efforts to do otherwise. It's true that the event may have been unsafe for LGBT+ authors and authors who have previously spoken out against China's actions to attend World Con, but I think that accepting virtually or sending someone to accept on their behalf could have been accomodated. Regardless, in an industry that has to deal with a rise in book bans, book burnings, and discrimination, this committee did not manage to make a single decision against those trends and instead uplifted limitations on freedom of speech. Love your channel! Thank you for covering this! Hope I'm not stepping on any toes!

[@KittyxKult]

For the premier award in sci-fi to censor and silence diverse voices to cater to the host country is one of the most socially backward and dystopian literary things I can imagine, like something straight out of Fahrenheit 451. Sci fi is inherently political. The Hugo Awards committee quite literally dishonored the entire premise and heart of the award. It’s ironic a sci fi book could literally be written about this type of scenario.

[@coffee8599]

As someone who lived in Asia, their concern is honestly valid. People get shunned or even "disappear" for some time over tiny things. But.. why host in China for a literary award if you are going to censor? Also, how do you know it's anti-Chinese government if you didn't bother to read them, lol.

[@secretlyadragon4723]

This is what I came here to say. Westerners just think it's 'disappointing, we're not moving forward'. Listen, China is a whole other country! I'm sorry this awards had to appear corrupted like this because they were trying to mitigate the possible negative responses to readers and writers, but maybe next time just don't host in a country that might have a problem with the books readers around the WORLD nominate!

[@Marie45610]

I like how it seems that nobody on the committee for the Hugo Awards even read the books up for nomination. (And by like I mean hate with every fiber in my body)

[@KittyxKult]

This this this. How can you accurately judge a work without having read it?? And before someone says “Oh but they were just counting the votes” no they actively disqualified voices of color and queerness based solely on their identities.

[@reneeelich4893]

for real!!

[@mikouf9691]

I paused early in this video to make a comment, so please forgive me if you addressed this later on or if you have addressed it in your real life and are just keeping it private. If there is ANY possibility that your breathlessness is not due to anxiety, please see a doctor. Years ago, I started feeling out of breath-- sometimes just from talking. I got concerned when simple activity started to trigger it (e.g. walking at a moderate pace for a minute). It wasn't until my leg swelled up that I finally sought medical attention (emergency room). It turns out I had blood clots in my leg and they had been breaking off and traveling to both my lungs. They told me I was lucky I came in when I did. Being out of breath can be a sign that something dangerous is going on with your lungs or your heart. If you already sought medical attention for this and are sure that it is not a physical problem, then thank goodness and sorry for being a worrywart. Be well!

[@reginaldfairfield]

Oh wow! I'm glad you're okay!!

[@asimpleworm]

Im having issues with breathing too, mine is directly related to stress/anxiety and the cold weather! Take some time to rest and message your doctor about it, hope you feel better soon~

[@cellotag]

The rant about the NYTimes and ending with "Nigel!" is such a mood. (Also a dog mom, also had A Time unsubscribing from the NYTimes. Also difficult? Architectural Digest. My god.) My anxiety has manifested as shortness of breath in the past - it was always a precursor to a panic attack. Take care of yourself, friend. ❤

[@netogrof]

As a person that watches a lot of Chinese dramas, I’m not that surprised about the censorship. There are a bunch of dramas that haven’t been released but were shot years ago because they have LGBTQ+ themes. Some dramas that managed to slip through the cracks and get released like The Untamed and Word of Honor the actors were heavily criticized and weren’t allowed to be seen in public together afterwards. China’s government doesn’t like anything that will put them in a bad light….so anything that might hint at distrust or unease wouldn’t fly. I’m just not sure why the Hugo’s would choose to have China host if they were going to have to disqualify a bunch of books due to politics.

[@jenniferh3587]

The difference between that and the Hugos is that China wasn't asking them to do it. They went out on their own and knocked out anything that could even potentially be offensive. It was their choice.

[@typesandtomes]

@@jenniferh3587 I honestly don’t think this point isn’t highlighted enough but not surprised it isn’t.

[@msgeorgejourney]

​@@jenniferh3587I have my doubts that they were not asked. It would not surprise me if this was one of the requirement they had to agree to before signing to have the event there.

[@jenniferh3587]

@@msgeorgejourney The amount of trouble that they are in? I very much doubt they would not have revealed the political pressure they were under to shift the blame.

[@KathyTrithardt]

Nigel ❤❤

[@starkidgirl101]

I just wanted to say thank you for always being so real with us. Always appreciate and love your videos!! Anxiety can be a real motherfer

[@wendynerd1199]

I genuinely don't get how Cait can walk and talk at the same time. The last time she tried to blame her neurodivergence/pills, no one bought it. To have this released doing the exact same thing, not mentioning the Lilly mess, and during BLACK HISTORY MONTH is just... Wow.

[@TiffWaffles]

The fact that she did this during Black History Month isn't lost on me, either. Especially considering the fact that a lot of the authors she specifically targeted in what I consider a sabotage campaign are black writers. I don't see her going after any other white author who is set to debut this year. Cait is vile. That is all I've got to say.

[@Fayth82]

So I was wondering if they didn't put those authors in as a safety feature. If the awards were being hosted in China, having an openly trans person or people who had spoken negatively about China might be dangerous. I could see police presence and maybe even violence being perpetrated against those authors. In any case, it shouldn't then be held in a place where the safety of the authors could be at stake. If its just because they didn't want to "offend" the host country then this is doubly awful.

[@cellotag]

I want to be optimistic and say your first part is correct, but my cynicism is rearing up. I would guess it's more likely not to "offend" the host country.

[@KittyxKult]

That is giving them far too much credit. When asked about the disqualifications, they were dishonest and condescending about it. The emails betray they are trying to “not offend the host country,” not protecting authors. If this was about protecting authors, they could have quite easily received their awards outside of the country, or simply not hosted them in such a controversial place to begin with to avoid these issues. They would have been open and honest about their concerns for safety rather than trying to hide it. You do not honor trans, black, and other authors of diversity by silencing them and ripping well earned awards from them.

[@jenniferh3587]

If that was a concern, they could have rejected the bid and not gone there. Or come out and said that. Instead they have been mean to anyone asking.

[@TheAfroina]

But the authors should get to choose their safety limitations not the Hugo awards.

[@cpickles7495]

Hope you're feeling better! I know my asthma has been going crazy with the pollen.

[@BookinItWithAhtiya]

Nigel was like "Look, ma'am, if I can't give you kisses on camera, you can go ahead and put me down"

[@aspiring_recluse]

Yeah "F-ing Wild" seems to encapsulate things pretty well to me.

[@burnt_samosa]

A bit out of topic but have you checked a doctor to see if you have asthma or sleep apnea? Not sure how difficult it is for you to access healthcare (or how expensive it is) but if you get breathless often, you should definitely check it out! On a side note, why couldn't they do the awards somewhere without government restrictions???? A lot of literature nowadays include "controversial" themes so shouldn't they find a more inclusive location?

[@baddieandabook]

1:51 I loved Ashley’s take. Every part

[@Simply_Sica]

Please get your health checked. I had a similar symptoms which was indicative of a life or death condition. If you’re getting signs, consider taking them. I really enjoy your videos and hope you stay healthy!

[@Hello_Kristie]

I'm dealing with the same symptoms. Do you mind sharing what tests you had so I can point my dr. in the right direction?

[@elianalicheva]

​@ItsmeKristieB heavy breathing is often symptom for high blood pressure, also thyroid problems.

[@amotleyartwkatherine]

I agree about having to subscribe or load an app to everything....no. I don't want to.

[@l.p.5703]

Girl! I felt that labored breathing. I hope you are doing okay!! All of this is enough to give any book lover anxiety and rage. Take it easy.

[@bhsprinkle]

Nigel making things fun. Love his cameo. He such amazing facial expressions. Thank you for further expanding upon the Hugo situation. There's a censorship going on by the people running the awards from what I can see here. I watched Bookish Realm videos as well. It's just pure insanity.

[@stepha7822]

I'm glad those emails got leaked! Where did you get your Barbie sweatshirt??

[@WMGSO]

Check your local library! I have access to the Washington Post and NY Times with my library card. I just have to log in either daily (NYT) or weekly (WaPo).

[@cls3282]

I feel like ever since I got covid my breathing has been off and I can't take full enough breaths anymore. I especially notice it when I'm singing, but sometimes I notice it randomly like you in this video. Maybe something similar with you? I love your coverage of book drama so much 😂

[@jennderqueer]

I've been following this in one of my (non bookish!) discords. It's wild.

[@afriendinsweden]

❤ hope the sond half of this week was better than the first. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this TEA! And I agree, Ashley’s video Said it all!!

[@andeeharry]

big hello to King Nigel

[@madison_brooke]

My puppy is named Nigel too 💕 he has a Mohawk 😂

[@JJ-rx8ym]

Someone said if you can’t figure out why you’re trying to catch your breath, you might be dehydrated. Stay hydrated and stay excellent

[@andeeharry]

I must say, Cait is getting worse. Instead of leaving it alone, she now has a huge press conference spotlight, the same one who pushed other would be authors out of the way to get a long winded sob story...appparently now, she is autistic and comes from a family with autism. I been following her a lot and her story changes constantly. For someone who had 'blackouts' while doing this stuff, she seems to be remembering quite well.

[@TiffWaffles]

If I was in Cait's shoes, I wouldn't have done the interview at all. I would be too focused on the fact that in an attempt to sabotage the careers of countless other authors that I destroyed my life in the process. No publishing company will touch her or her books and if she self publishes, even under a different name, nobody is going to buy her books. She should be spending more time focusing on herself and figuring out what she wants to do now that she no longer has a career as a writer, and you know what? She even destroyed her career as a fanfic author? If she deletes everything and comes back under a different penname, people are going to know through her writing that it's her.

[@akossiwak]

I hope you're feeling better by now. I'm very familiar with the day job anxiety...😔

[@Ceruleansquid-lo3iv]

These people are so educational! I should never write anything incriminating down. I guess I have to go delete some emails where I explicitly say some stuff. who would have guessed!?

[@readingnov3lsbymoonlight]

Absolutely love your sweater ✨️

[@wistfulwriter7]

Just as an aside, I would test for Covid. Shortness of breath is a symptom and also could be part of Long Covid. It blows and I hope you feel better soon!

[@yallratripbye9570]

I have asthma and high blood pressure that affects my breathing if I'm anxious or stressed.

[@arimcphail4124]

Thanks for covering this, very interesting and unsurprisingly sad. Censorship always ends up being about targeting politics surrounding freedom and human rights when it comes to books. Also, the breathing thing could be anxiety, but it could perhaps be to do with allergens in the air like certain types of pollen being present on certain days/months. Not sure if you have any asthmatics in your family but that could be something to look out for. Hope you feel well soon, I have had freak outs from breathing problems, it is so uncomfortable.

[@dancesbyk251]

I've been binge-watching and loving your videos lately

[@octaviaragland]

Sis post something and let us know you alright 😩 please!!!!

[@kbird6208]

Nigel's eyes when you're talking to him 😂

[@jayfalcon-rw3qc]

So. I think they got him to censure and take the fall via indirect implications. They should never have held the convention there

[@TruthWordMezmur]

About the hugo award thing, i cant belive the people who were disqualifying these works were by people who didnt even read the works. Non-readers making these decisions just made the award worthless, because the actual content of the books dont matter....other criteria matter instead. Just shameful

[@iFlutterbye]

Try forcing your jaw, shoulders and arms to relax. Breath in for three, hold for 3, exhale for 4 and repeat that three times. I hope you feel better soon. 🫶🏻💗

[@jeans4108]

I’ve been following the Hugo thing on Bluesky. It’s wild 😂

[@joyface]

Those emails are reminiscent of that Sony(?) leak about not casting Denzel Washington because Chinese people are racist. ??? I hope you're feeling better 💙

[@eBookHoarder]

You had me at Nigel. Subscribed

[@hitsugiluva]

Nigel is so cuteeeee ok now I'll watch the video.

[@secretlyadragon4723]

So here's why I don't think you all fully understand what happened here or why the Hugo awards so obviously over reacted, particularly yu'all Americans and to an extent Canadians as well. Unless you're from a country or have some other reason to look at the local news that comes out of there, you just won't know about the details of the political climate. I think most people understand the wider scope of China's politics, they're communists, we get that, but it's the little things that go unnoticed that are scary. In China, in the past decades it has been commonplace to lock up ANYONE who makes media that makes the Chinese government look bad. We know this, but it has graduated to also include anything that they just don't like. They will not *just* censor you, .i.e. delete your existence and your art (movies, books, online content, art, commercials) off 'their' internet, you may also just end up in a detention centre for a few days, weeks, months, depending on how severe they think the transgression is. I have read news articles from China about actors who are currently in hiding because the Chinese government didn't like a movie they made, like they can't work anymore, and others who went missing and turned up months later only to realise they were locked up for something they wrote or said and others still, who years have passed and we don't know what happened to them. If they're still even alive. So, did the Hugo awards overreact, OF COURSE, but I get it. You think it's wild, yeah, IT IS! And that's why when a certain Chinese actress said what she said about the Hong Kong riots and police years back and Ms. Xiran basically said the actress was an awful person, sure... but also, 'Girl, hush, in the safety of your life in Canada, where you can say anything, protest freely and not be locked up over it.' We have no idea what the artists in China have to do in order to keep working and not piss off their government. Unfortunately, the Hugo awards were not interested in even tiptoeing into this. They were like, 'we're not even coming into the room unless we're sure shit will not hit the fan because we might just f**k around and find out.' I kinda wished they did though. Let the nominations be what it was and let China be the one to show their dirty hand to the world, now they look corrupt and stupid for being overcautious. Like you said, it's Wild! It really is.

[@CM-qj2lp]

Thank you for the video

[@EvieM1]

What on earth is that Hugo awards nonsense?

[@melissalisea]

I am also tired of having to subscribe/make an account for everything! Tell me why I had to make an account to take a covid test!! I've run out of passwords 😔 I'm over it

[@jinxminx55]

one of the things about babel is although it criticizes the UK and colonialism, china probably wouldn't want any parallels drawn with their takeover of tibet, etc. that said, it's completely disheartening that the people working on the hugo awards are falling all over themselves to do the chinese censorship work for them. it is not a good look at all. octavia butler won hugos in the mid-80s - if the awards had been hosted in apartheid era south africa, would she have just been disqualified? if the nominees can't be freely based on the fan vote qualification, then don't have the awards in that country. it's up to the hugos, as small as they are in the international scheme of things, to say "sorry china, we want these awards to be able to be given to authors who may be critical of any government. that doesn't sound like it will work for you, so get back to us if things change and we'll be happy to hold the hugos there."

[@lr2ldn]

LOL Nigel's so grouchy. 😂

[@dwdillydally]

Haven't finished the video yet, but I adore your Barbie sweatshirt. Can you drop a link for it? P.S. Nigel is absolutely precious!

[@blair94]

They didn’t even get Xiran Jay Zhao’s book title correct. It’s Iron Widow not Iron Giant 😅

[@apocalypso3427]

The big question for me is...why host the award (or anything similar) in a country where you're afraid to fairly allow authors to participate due to restrictions (perceived or otherwise) of that country? If a country mandates (or you fear repercussions of said country) that you not allow an award to be fairly competed for, it's the responsibility of the committee or whoever is responsible of maintaining a level of honesty and fairness to HOST IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. How hard is that? This is insane. In my opinion, this incident completely depletes any respectability of the Hugos.

[@rgaijin]

Okay but crying after the milk was spilt doesn't make it go away so. Also why have these people not read any of the books and just going off their assumptions??? Wishing you all the best breathing and anxiety wise!!!

[@onlyonGraceXM]

I’m worried for your breath! feel like you’ve been making so many Book CommuniTEA videos where bad stuff just keeps happening and I totally understand the anxiety 😥 Get lots of rest!! 💕

[@azhairving]

Woman?! I have been waiting for you on ALL this 👀🙄😏

[@margaux4466]

I think it's insane how they say "this author is non binary, good for them" only to turn around and cut them out for being non binary. Do they hear themselves? Do they think saying good for them absolves them from blame?

[@emmal7510]

Given the length of the video, I'm guessing you're only scratching the surface on the Hugos mess. Currently, it looks like most of the people who made the shortlist shouldn't have, because they just copied and pasted a bunch of western authors over a bunch of Chinese works. And someone from a congressional committee has reached out to one of the disqualified authors. And they're probably registered as the wrong kind of nonprofit with the IRS. And there's a whole bunch of other stuff that's come up. (Like McCarty not knowing the difference between Nepal and Tibet.)

[@muriel6843]

My word, I haven’t even read the book, but even I know it’s Iron Widow. All of these people who were responsible for making the decisions here couldn’t even be bothered to do the bare effing minimum, when that was literally their job. Ffs.

[@truthhurts5448]

Hey Jess. Firstly, Nigel is so stinking cute it's criminal. Completely unjustifiable. Second. I think if you turn off Javascript on your device you can read any article on any website without subscribing.

[@sirens990]

It would probably be a good idea to have a doctor check out your breathing 💕

[@YesHelloHiGoodbye]

the hugo awards drama has just made me aware what loser authors are, Their books just didn’t get in bc they didn’t like them that’s all the emails were. I’m convinced some of yall think reposting stuff makes you a political activist 😂 it doesn’t. These authors have no political affiliation and just needed an excuse to whine bc they felt entitled to an award. There was literally so many other authors, who didn’t get nominated and didn’t care because they’re actually successful, and not losers, seeking validation.

[@Justcetriyaart]

It seems kinda like they didnt want the writers to inspire that the west is open to the chinese diaspora and thst they can flyshibg being exposed to our ideas vs needing to live under strict sensorship or in fear of they leave the country?

[@trianenopenottrian9108]

I hope all is well maybe see a doctor if the breathing thing keeps up

[@balletbookworm]

Aww, Nigel giving kisses

[@PoorPersonsBookReviewer]

I honestly get your point about censorship, but it’s not china fault Hugo sold out , and I wouldn’t want someone from china coming over to America talking shit about all the awful stuff we do. We should all just stay home and read a book. Love your videos

[@StarSquishie]

I mean this super kindly, but I really hope you get your breathing checked out - I have watched maybe 4-5 of your vids by now, including some a year or two back, and it seems like you're a bit short of breath in all of them. It could just be something like anxiety manifesting as breathlessness, but it could also be something with your blood oxygen level or something more serious! Please take care of yourself. :)

[@knigoholik9946]

I am constantly getting dissapointed by humanity, why are people so awful!! But about that breathing issue, sometimes i also have it and not that you have to have the sam thing/condition, but i just wanted to say that you might trouble with breathing enough oxygen in becase of deviated nasal septum, check that out.

[@MetallicGlitterPagan]

Seriously please go get your breathing checked out. I honestly don’t care about the book drama as much as I want to know if you’re doing ok since the filming of this video. But also, fuck the Hugo awards for this.

[@TiffWaffles]

To be honest, this month has been rough for a lot of people with their breathing. There is apparently a new virus going around where it causes breathing issues (not related to COVID), and it's horrible. It starts off as a sinus infection and gets worse over time. I know quite a few people who have had it and it knocks you out if you don't stay on top of the symptoms, and usually people don't know they have it until symptoms worsen. However, even without the virus going around, people seem to be having a lot of difficulty breathing. I have asthma and for some reason, my asthma symptoms have worsened this month and now I am having difficulty swallowing food which I thought was somehow connected to the asthma. Now I have to go figure out what is going on because I don't think it is the asthma causing other difficulties.

[@dieorwrite9460]

Also the hilarious way he assumes Babel is about CHINA as if it is a bad thing. GUESS WHAT?? Babel is translated into Chinese and Chinese people fucking love it. It has a 8. 2 out of 10 rating on Douban (Chinese equivalent of Goodreads but much more harsher). THE BOOK FUCKING RESONATES WITH CHINESE READERS IN CHINA. BECAUSE IT is about the fucking UK and the imperialism and colonization of UK against China that led to the opium war because uk wanted porcelain and tea while China doesn't need anything from uk so the uk literally hooked China ON OPIUM to get the trade deal they want.

[@Tarasreadingnook]

Going backwards for sure

[@StarSquishie]

ugh, all this political stuff w/ the hugo awards is just gross. maybe? don't celebrate writing and hold a convention for an international award?? in a place where censorship is so heavy??? maybe support personal liberties????? maybe just be good people??????

[@LauraGomez-bl2so]

Don't the Hugos bring us some new idiocy every single year?

[@pries7217]

*Promo sm* 🤘