Travel

In this shocking ‘anti-Christian’ novel, a Jewish American writer accuses God of incest

By Andrew Esensten

Copyright haaretz

In this shocking 'anti-Christian' novel, a Jewish American writer accuses God of incest

oNavigation
Account Details

Haaretz – back to home page

Accessibility

Current section

Art & Culture

In This Shocking ‘anti-Christian’ Novel, a Jewish American Writer Accuses God of Incest

Gift this article
Share to Facebook

Print article

Article printing is available to subscribers only
Print in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribe

Zen Reading

Zen reading is available to subscribers only
Ad-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribe

Author Carolivia Herron. Credit: McNally Jackson Books
After three decades, Carolivia Herron’s debut novel ‘Thereafter Johnnie’ has been sealed in the Book of Life by a reissue. The author reflects on finding new audiences at age 78, integrating a lunch counter and that time the KKK offered their support

Andrew Esensten

Follow04:41 PM • October 01 2025 IDT

Would you like us to summarize articles for you?

Carolivia Herron’s debut novel got mixed reviews when it was published in 1991.

Click the alert icon to follow topics:

Black-Jewish Stories
Jewish literature

In the News

In the News: Israel at War Live UpdatesGaza aid flotilla’New Gaza’ PlanYom KippurIsraeli HostagesIsraelis Dead
Can Etgar Keret Turn a Rabbinical Seminary Into a Laboratory for Jewish Storytelling?
To the Beat of Old Ivrit: How Did Future Israelis Speak Hebrew a Century Ago?
‘Black Moses’: The Man Who Envisioned a U.S. State for and by African Americans
‘I’ve Had an Interesting Life Without Leaving Home’: The Almost-forgotten Israeli Artist
How Horses Became Another Symbol of Israeli Oppression
Learn How to Optimize Your Home Solar System
Paid bySela Infrastructures LTD

‘I Saw the Bodies of Children’: Moral Injury and Mental Strain Breaking IDF Soldiers
Israeli Fathers Return From Gaza, but Can’t Find Their Way Back to Their Children
Israel Has Seen Extremists in High Office. But Nothing Like Netanyahu’s Shin Bet Pick
OpinionOpinion
Turkey Could Be Next in Israel’s Cross-hairs After Qatar. The Consequences? Catastrophic
‘The Most Fortunate Unfortunates”The Most Fortunate Unfortunates’
This Forgotten Jewish Orphanage in the American South Raised ‘Fortunate Unfortunates’
Why I, an Arab Writer, Hesitate to Compare Gaza to the Holocaust

‘I Saw the Bodies of Children’: Moral Injury and Mental Strain Breaking IDF Soldiers
Tom Levinson
I Escaped to a Greek Nudist Paradise, Only to Discover That Israelis Are Hated There, Too
Dani Bar On
Israeli Fathers Return From Gaza, but Can’t Find Their Way Back to Their Children
Netanel Gamss
‘If 1948 Was a War of Independence, the Current War Could Be the One That Ends Israel’
Nirit Anderman
Israel Has Seen Extremists in High Office. But Nothing Like Netanyahu’s Shin Bet Pick
Hilo Glazer
Turkey Could Be Next in Israel’s Cross-hairs After Qatar. The Consequences? Catastrophic
Sinan Ciddi
This Forgotten Jewish Orphanage in the American South Raised ‘Fortunate Unfortunates’
Rachel Fink
Why I, an Arab Writer, Hesitate to Compare Gaza to the Holocaust
R.F. Georgy
‘Soon No Liberal Will Be Able to Live in Israel. The IDF Has Already Fallen to Messianism’
Ayelett Shani
U.S. Firm, Eastern European Drivers, Israeli Link: Who’s Behind Getting Aid Into Gaza

Thousands of Israelis Marched to Gaza – Not to Free It, but to Renew Jewish Settlement
Eden Solomon
The Nightmare Scenario for the Day After the AG’s Dismissal Is Already Here

After the Missiles: Is Haifa on the Path to Becoming Israel’s Next Tel Aviv?

Concentration Camp, Illegal Orders and War Crimes: Israel’s Madmen Have a Grim New Plan
Dahlia Scheindlin
Would You Like a Killing Field in Gaza With Your Overpriced, Israeli-cool Pita?
Etan Nechin
‘Dirty Zionist, We Won’t Listen to the Song Because of You’

500 Missiles, 200 Interceptors, $1.5 Billion: Behind Iran’s Attacks on Israel

Israeli Mothers Allowed Their Children to Be Sacrificed for Generations. No Longer
Emilia Perroni

Haaretz on Android
Haaretz on iOSDownload App

Newsletters

AccessibilityReport an issueAccessibility manifest

Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cancellation of digital subscriptions

Newsletters
Accessibility
Advertise on Haaretz.com
About Haaretz

Israel News

Middle East
Jewish World

Life and Culture

Archaeology

Travel in Israel

Converting to Judaism
Columnists and Opinion

Chemi Shalev
Allison Kaplan Sommer
Anshel Pfeffer
David Rosenberg

Haaretz Editorial
Haaretz Cartoon
Letters to the Editor
Special Coverage
Haaretz Hebrew and TheMarker

גוגל כביש 1
חטיפה בגרמניה
שמות החטופים

סדרות מומלצות
סרטים חדשים בקולנוע

יהודה משי זהב
הסכתוס – פודקאסט לילדים
Partnerships

Haaretz Labels
Home for Sale in Israel
Haaretz.com, the online English edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, gives you breaking news, analyses and opinions about Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.
© Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. All Rights Reserved

Black-Jewish Stories

Jewish literature

Your Perspective Belongs Here

Want to reply? Subscribe to join the conversation

Already signed up? Log in

Display Name*

Remember nickname

Enter the commenter display name

By adding a comment, I agree to this site’s terms and conditions