While other Queer writers are de-gaying their novels–pivoting toward a straight readership, Douglas Stuart stands out. The Booker Prize winning author’s new novel is his Queerest so far. Those of us fortunate enough to have visited Scotland know is as a strikingly beautiful country, with almost phosphorescent green rolling hills punctuated by legendary lochs. In John of John Mr. Stuart takes us beneath that surface, exposing a harsh landscape. The inhabitants of the Isle of Harris are, for the most part impoverished, leading lives of hardship and seemingly endless drudgery. But then Mr. Harris drills down deeper and finds a new beauty; it is the beauty of the tenacity of humanity and the healing power of Queer Love.
The novel begins in Edinburgh where Cal has seemingly failed. His arts degree hasn’t yielded a lucrative job, his credit cards are maxed and he’s been reduced to couch surfing. At the same time, his father is beckoning him to come home. And so he returns–softening the transition with a hit of ecstasy and not a small amount of lager. The “home” we are introduced to gives us some idea as to why he left in the first place. It’s just his father now–his mother left him several years earlier. John’s frustration with his son soon escalates into violence as he punches Cal in the face-leaving his mark for the entire community to see. And, it must be said, this is a very tight knit community. For better or worse, everyone knows everyone here. This is, of course, the other reason why Cal left: he’s gay. And now he’s lonely. He even resorts to answering personal ad. The shadow hanging over all of this is the Church. Though its membership is dwindling this small Presbyterian church holds sway in every aspect of these people’s lives.
It is here that the narrative shifts and we are following Cal’s father, John. Gradually we learn that John has Queer issues of his own. He’s in a long-term relationship with another man–a relationship he is desperately trying to keep secret. This is a just the first plot twist that Mr. Stuart serves up. To reveal any more would spoil it for first time readers. Suffice it to say, this is a Chekhovian tale, yielding numerous surprises to the patient reader.
Douglas Stuart’s John of John is published by Grove Press.