by Douglas Stuart
John of John is the third book of Stuart’s I’ve read, and it’s just as poignant, just as beautifully written as the first two.
Our protagonist, John Callum (Cal), is a young gay man struggling in life, moving from couch to couch, sneaking food, and having one-night stands. During their weekly phone calls, Cal’s father, John, says that Grandma Ella has taken ill and urges him to return home. Cal hesitates, feeling like a failure and dreading his return to the small Scottish Hebrides town where being a young gay man is far from ideal.
Cal returns home with his long, brightly dyed hair and androgynous appearance, exposing himself to his father’s verbal and physical abuse. We wonder if John’s violence stems from his wife’s departure and remarriage, Grandma Ella’s ownership of the property, or his own struggles as a Presbyterian minister, burdened by church rules and secrets his son’s presence brings to light.
Douglas Stuart’s stories overflow with theme and emotion. He crafts characters whose heartache, confusion, and love resonate universally, and captures the honest, heartbreaking bond of father and son. The novel explores identity, lineage, and the tension between pleasing parents and seeking one’s own path.
A beautiful novel, just as I expected. I will always be a Douglas Stuart fan.
Thank you to Grove Press and Netgalley for the copy.
Ink And Spine 