I think that mediocre authors tend to get famous because their books are written simply and non readers tend to be drawn to that so they blow up. Tik Tok helps that for sure, and when an author becomes so good they develop a huge cult following, who tend to be very very protective of said authors, which in turn starts to really grate on people, so more people become vocal about this dislike and it becomes more about the annoying fans then the actual authors.

In the end I do not understand why anyone would judge a person based on a book they are reading.

I don't know if I get anything out of it really other then happiness. It connects me to people, it gives me a place to imagine and loss myself in, it relaxes me anytime I sink in. And when I do go for a non fiction book it fills me with knowledge.