Review: A soap opera parody tale told with spectacular relish: The genius of Gordon Osmond
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 25, 2014
For those familiar only with the radio broadcasts, plays, lectures and dissection of English Language abuse from the mind of Gordon Osmond, this new novel will surprise and satisfy. Though it is established that Osmond writes well (his plays have been viewed across the country, his enormously popular book "So You Think You Know English--A Guide to English for Those Who Think They Don't Need One" has both instructed and titillated readers, and his `Wet Firecrackers' - his `unauthorized autobiography' - has a special place of honor in certain niches), none of that will prepare the reader for the skill he displays in this dark romantic suspense comedy. He writes with turns of phrase, witticisms, insights and polemics that are equal to the best of today's writers.Though the pure enjoyment of this novel is not dependent on having read Osmond's preceding SLIPPING ON STARDUST (the characters and past history are shared), for those who are catching onto Gordon Osmond's uniquely facile writing style try reading the other book also. TURNER"S POINT opens with Eileen Brockway driving form Johnson Ohio to Hollywood, California, and to give the reader a brief soupon, the following is directly quoted from Osmond's introduction to this story: `She knew, of course, when and how it all started, but, in retrospect, it was difficult for her to believe how the presence of a real life inhabitant of the silver screen in her breakfast nook, discussing elbow to elbow, shortly to be cheek by jowl, how the two would work together in bringing theatrical enchantment to the culturally unwashed members of the Johnson community could have led her so quickly to sharing barely stirring sheets with former matinee idol Adrian Conway, thereby bringing to an end a twenty-year period of marital fidelity to her husband, Dan. As for the faded and jaded Hollywood star, who had begrudgingly performed his star turn in Johnson entirely because of the disappearance of demand for his services elsewhere, he had simply, as was his wont, sought sensual comfort with the best available-- in Johnson with Eileen and Kyle Brockway-- without the slightest understanding of or concern for the devastating effect that conduct was having on the star-struck members of the Brockway family. After all, what was Adrian to do given that he was, as an economy measure, billeted with both beauties in their own home during the run of `Come Back, Little Sheba' at Johnson's very own Benign Albino Theater? Eileen's punishment for her sexual indiscretion had been swift and fierce in coming.'And so to Hollywood - Dan moved to San Diego to start a new law firm with his partner Raul Fiorivanti while starting a new life with his new and much younger girlfriend Erin O'Malley, the former girlfriend of his son Kyle. Kyle, reeling from losing Erin to his dad, had, like his mother had, an affair with Adrian Conway, likewise flees Johnson for Hollywood and Osmond reconstructs this fractured little family in a little restaurant aptly serving as the title of the book - Turner's Point. But that only touches on a few of the myriad sidebars the author sprinkles into completely entertaining and successful book. Gordon Osmond succeeds again! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, April 14