Elizabeth Gilbert has decided to pull her upcoming novel, The Snow Forest, from its scheduled release date. The author, known for her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, made this announcement on Monday, just a week after revealing the publication date for the book, which was slated for February 2024. In a video shared on her Instagram page, Gilbert explained that the novel, set in Siberia during the last century, tells the story of individuals who chose to separate themselves from society to resist the Soviet government and protect nature from industrialization.
However, over the weekend, Gilbert received a significant amount of feedback from her Ukrainian readers, expressing their anger, sadness, disappointment, and pain regarding the timing of the book’s release. The readers were particularly concerned about any piece of literature set in Russia while the ongoing war with Ukraine continues. The war began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has carried on for over 400 days. In response to these valid concerns, Gilbert decided to move away from her original plans and remove The Snow Forest from the publication schedule.
In her video, Gilbert acknowledged that she had heard and understood the messages from her readers, emphasizing her respect for their perspectives. She stated that she did not want to contribute to the harm already being experienced by a group of people who had been deeply affected by the conflict. Expressing her regret, she declared that it was not the appropriate time for her book to be released. Gilbert concluded her message by mentioning that she was currently involved in other book projects, which would now receive her full attention. She made sure to reassure those who had pre-ordered the novel that they would receive full refunds.
Riverhead Press, the publishing company behind The Snow Forest, confirmed that the book has been indefinitely delayed in response to Gilbert’s decision. When contacted for further comment, a representative for the publishing house pointed to Gilbert’s statements on social media. Gilbert’s previous novel, City of Girls, published in 2019, garnered praise for its refusal to let the protagonist’s sexuality define her fate, setting it apart from other literary works. With her upcoming projects, Gilbert is expected to continue offering readers captivating and thought-provoking stories.