God of River Mud: A Novel

God of River Mud is a novel that explores the lives of a family in rural Appalachia who struggle with their innate desires, LGBTQ identity, and gender orientation under the oppressive expectations of fundamentalist Christianity. Told through alternating perspectives, the story follows Berna Minor, her husband Zechariah, their four children, and Berna's secret lover Jordan. As the decades unfold, traditional evangelical Bible culture and the values of rural Appalachia clash with innate desires, LGBTQ identity, and gender orientation, leading to sympathies developing between the characters as they reconcile their faith and their love.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2024
Publisher: West Virginia University Press

In the depths of a family's tumultuous journey, they navigate the intricate web of innate desires and LGBTQ identity, burdened by the oppressive expectations imposed upon them by fundamentalist Christianity. This captivating tale unfolds through alternating perspectives, immersing readers in the lives of Berna Minor, her husband, their four children, and Berna's secret lover. Seeking solace from a life of poverty and abuse, Berna marries Zechariah Minor, a fundamentalist Baptist preacher, and embarks on a journey to embrace his faith, hoping to make it her own. However, as their lives take root beside the serene Elk River in rural Clay, West Virginia, Berna's heart is captured by Jordan, a woman who has known since childhood that she was destined to be a man. Caught in a web of secrecy, Berna battles to uphold her role as a devoted wife and mother, while grappling with the conflicting theology she is taught at home. Her children, too, struggle to reconcile the rigid teachings of their faith with the rapidly evolving world around them. Meanwhile, Jordan faces the arduous task of seeking a community and a life that embrace his true identity as Jay, while also being loved for who he truly is.

As the years unfold and the stories intertwine, the clash between traditional evangelical Bible culture and the values of rural Appalachia intensifies, testing the boundaries of innate desires, LGBTQ identity, and gender orientation. Sympathies emerge, sometimes unexpectedly, as the characters embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and reconciliation. God of River Mud delves deep into the complexities of those marginalized and dehumanized within a religious patriarchy, exploring universal themes of identity, faith, love, and belonging. Through its poignant portrayal of characters and their struggles, the novel sheds light on the complexities of human experiences and encourages readers to embrace empathy, understanding, and acceptance in a world that continues to evolve.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 140 x 210 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781959000020