John of John (Oprah's Book Club)

In "John of John," Douglas Stuart, the Booker Prize-winning author of "Shuggie Bain," depicts the poignant journey of John-Calum Macleod as he returns to his native Isle of Harris after struggling to find his place in the world. Confronting the weight of his father's expectations and the tumultuous dynamics within his family, particularly with his spirited grandmother, Cal grapples with his identity and desires amid the harsh beauty of his homeland. As the community faces its own unspoken tensions during the seasons of lambing and shearing, the novel explores themes of duty, truth, and the complexities of belonging. This richly layered story solidifies Stuart's status as one of today's foremost literary voices.