John of John - a powerful story about a young man who returns home to a remote area of Scotland.

Set in the late 1990s in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, John-Calum “Cal” Macleod is returning home after attending art college in Edinburgh, on the mainland.  He claims that his return is based on his maternal grandmother Ella's failing health, but the truth is that he has been unable to find work and is out of money.  Cal's father, John, is a sheep farmer, tweed weaver, and deacon of their local church. The community awaits Cal's return, expecting him to work for his father, marry one of his neighbors' daughters, and become a respected member of the church. However, as a closeted gay man, this is definitely not his plan. Cal's mother, Grace, left his father years ago to start a new life, while her mother stayed to help raise her grandson alongside John, a man with significant anger issues. Cal's relationship with his father continues to deteriorate, as he fears that he will never be able to live authentically.

Douglas Stuart's John of John is a beautifully written story about a group of people living in a remote community, facing a multitude of family issues. With limited familiarity with this region of Scotland, the setting vividly comes to life. The unspoken words are as powerful as those said. There is tension between most of the complex and flawed characters with a prevailing hope that they will eventually see one another, with the exception of the wonderful Ella, who seemed to know it all from the beginning. It's a longer read than usual, especially when conversations include Scottish terms and Gaelic phrases. But it's well worth the time. 

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Literary Fiction.

Publication Date: May 5, 2026.

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