OCTOBER Book Club - Monthly Get Together

PLEASE NOTE: Date change. NOT 21st but 28th instead.

Our book for OCTOBER has been chose by Rosie:

John of John
by Douglas Stewart

(Author of Shuggie Bain)

John of John is a 2026 novel by Scottish-American author Douglas Stuart. Well received by critics, it is a finalist for the 2026 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction and was longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize

The novel is set on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland during the late 1990s. It follows John-Calum "Cal" MacLeod, a 22-year-old art school graduate who returns to his family's croft after four years away in Edinburgh.

His father, John, a sheep farmer and weaver, has summoned him with news that his maternal grandmother, Ella, is seriously ill.

In reality, Ella—a Glasgow native who refuses to speak Gaelic and clings to her profanity-laced English—remains relatively vigorous, and the call serves another purpose.

Cal's return is complicated by the strained relationship between father and son.

A big welcome to all
The Phoenix Monthly Book Club is for everyone to enjoy - seasoned 'book clubbers' and those new to the idea - all will be made very welcome

Come and join our relaxed, friendly group

Our aim is to choose some really good reads and have lively times together discussing the chosen book of the month in a respectful manner

The reading list will be compiled from members' suggestions and will reflect our differing tastes. It will be great to challenge ourselves with genres or writing styles we may not usually think to go for - we won't all like every book, but it will be fun to discover

You'll be responsible for sourcing your own copy of the monthly book - borrow from the library, buy second hand, download or Kindle etc - whatever works best for you