John of John: Patriarchal Matters

An ABCD

Roxane Gay

Jun 23, 2026

Douglas Stuart creates such compelling characters and has a keen understanding of place. As you come to the end of the novel, what are you thinking and feeling about this story? In what ways do both Johns benefit and suffer from patriarchy? How do these men treat (and think about) the women in their lives? In what ways do the women in this novel assert their own agency? Who, on the island is the most free?

We’ll be in conversation with Douglas tomorrow, on the 24th. What questions do you have for him?

Discussion about this post

To me, Grace seems the most free, because she’s freed herself from the concern of being judged by the island, and she runs her household as a result of her husband’s illness. I also think her soap business is another way the author shows her freedom, she isn’t stuck in a job that serves the island or is related to the church, instead she’s making a “luxury” item, when her ex-husband is too afraid to even wear lotion for his allergies.

I'm loving the book so far, but I am only about halfway through. I really loved both Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo though, so I'm not surprised this one is good too. I do enjoy that the women on the island seem to be like, "I am going to do what I want to do, and there's nothing you can do about it."