I was loved from a distance, the safest way to be loved.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

Being regularly excluded, I developed a preference for solitude, one that I wasn’t so ready to exchange for the incessant company of complete strangers.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

We were all so perfectly absurd, so perfectly pathetic.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

I’m participating in the #QueerPalestineReadathon that I’m also co-hosting and I’d love your support!

I am supporting Raed Redwan’s family and I am personally going to donate $50 (USD) to his GoFundMe fundraiser campaign so that his family can evacuate to the safety of Egypt.

I am inviting my followers, friends and family to pledge a donation in support of my participation in this event.

You can pledge to donate as little as $5 to Raed’s fundraiser, or you may decide to match my $50 or set your own donation amount for Raed’s family.

My goal is to raise $500 during this readathon event for Raed, can you help me reach my goal?

I ask anyone who donates to Raed’s family as a pledge for my participation in this readathon to let me know the amount donated to the GFM (if you feel comfortable to let me know) so that I can add it to the total amount raised when I complete the end of event Wrap Up survey.

GoFundMe fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-newborn-baby-marya-survive
More information: https://raedfamily.carrd.co/

Readathon Launch Day post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8HXOJ1g65x/
More readathon resources: http://bit.ly/queerpalestinereadathonresources

I invite you to join me in supporting Baby Marya and Raed’s family during and beyond this event.

Anyone is welcome to join the event, participate however you can.

Participants, I invite you to pledge your donations to this family
for your own reading and participation during this event.

Please continue to support baby Marya by amplifying Raed‘s voice & story @raed_redwan

Every action matters. Please keep sharing & donating to support this beautiful family!

Worse than anger was indifference: her approval was my compass, even when that meant resisting it.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

Without the security of a relationship, longing felt less safe. It felt lonely.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

Maybe one day you’ll learn you can’t treat people with such disregard. Even yourself.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

It was exactly how I felt my own heart had been treated throughout my life - carelessly, callously.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

We (@theritareads, @cats.tea.and.books, @ceallaighsbooks, and @treesofreverie) are so excited to officially launch the #QueerPalestineReadathon. The goal of this readathon is to uplift and celebrate books by and about queer Palestinians and raise funds for families trying to temporarily evacuate Gaza.

If you’d like to participate, you can choose a family to sponsor through organizations like @operationolivebranch, @fundsforgaza, or @coffeesforgaza or amplify a family who has reached out to you. Then, make videos/posts about books you plan to read for the readathon, your personal fundraiser to the family, & highlight the family or families you are fundraising for. Finally, post updates throughout the readathon & don’t forget to post a wrap up with the books you’ve read & donations pledged.

Not in a position to donate? No problem! You can also participate by
• Reading books by and about queer Palestinians and amplify these stories
• Amplifying others fundraising efforts
• Spreading the word about the readathon
• Amplifying other organizations supporting Palestinians
• Staying up to date on what’s happening in Palestine and amplify the stories from folks on the ground
Every post you engage with, repost, share, or boost matters!

For links to fun graphics you can use, book recommendations, a sign up survey, and other resources, see HERE!

We also have a link to a Storygraph challenge featuring Nadia Shammas and Natashah Alterici’s 6-page online comic No Olive Branch for Me. For those with extra busy schedules, this is a great way to participate!

Welcome to the first day of the #QueerPalestineReadathon!

I’m excited! Here’s a little spread I threw together to mark day one of our readathon event, co-hosted on Instagram by: @cats.tea.and.books
@ceallaighsbooks
@theritareads

Wednesday, June 12th, text in journal reads:

It’s the first day of the readathon today, I’m ready to settle down and start my first book of the event!

Some reflection questions in today’s spread:

What actions are you taking from home today? Are you participating in the readathon with us?

What are you doing to mobilise support for Palestine this week?

What are you doing to educate yourself or those around you? Are you sitting down with others to have those important conversations?

Could you ‘skip’ a cup of coffee and donate that money to an evacuation fundraiser for a Palestinian family?

Do what you can.

❤️🖤🤍💚

I’m currently reading I Can’t Think Straight by Shamim Sarif on audiobook! Have you read this one yet? Should I watch the movie adaptation after I’ve finished the book?

Please enjoy Lola 'helping’ and some details from my Hobonichi Cousin journal spreads.

What book or media are you starting with for the readathon?

ALT

Resources for the Queer Palestine Readathon are now available!

The event starts on June 12th, will you be joining us?

Queer Palestine Readathon

Here are the empty templates for the readathon. This event is being hosted over on Instagram but you are welcome to participate on any platform! Some more info to get you started here.

Follow the official hashtag: #QueerPalestineReadathon and check out the other co-hosts of this event for more updates.

Are you planning on participating in the readathon?

“Your worries are like water,” she often said. “The moment one flows out, another floods in to fill the space.”

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

How stupid was I to believe she could’ve cared about me in some way, in any way at all, that I was anything more than just a fleeting thought, an email in her inbox, an occasional lunch date.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

We exchanged a few emails, mostly about writing, and eventually developed a frequent correspondence, delving into what I perceived to be intimate and pointed subject matter, including love.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat