A muscular narrative with scrupulous technique. It’s his finest work yet ... Stuart’s prose is gorgeous and his plotting strategic; nothing is lost. A throwaway item in an early chapter loops back like a boomerang hundreds of pages later ... [A] nuanced tapestry ... [A] generational talent.
Superb ... Intriguing in its particularities but timeless in wisdom, John of John offers hope that relinquishing shame creates freedom to be true to oneself. It's irresistible and an instant classic.
Ruminative ... In the contemplative, reverberating novel John of John, the outwardly simple family dynamics of a religious Scottish family are questioned and reevaluated.
Slowly but seamlessly, relationships are revealed, secrets divulged. As always, Stuart’s prose is a joy to read and get lost in. He conveys both the beauty and the isolation of the Hebridean setting while illuminating the lies we tell ourselves in order to cope.
