The Pornographer's Poem

When I read Michael Turner's novel The Pornographers Poem I was 21 years old. I purchased it signed by the author at a reduced price. I had dropped out of University, talked about nothing but that novel on many drives on 401 Highway. I discovered an open form of writing that has influenced me today, as it had ten years ago. The openess of style, the themes that are presented, children aging and discovering themselves through the act of sexual film orientation. The entertainment of the novel not yet matched or revisited by Mr. Turner. The last novel he has written? Well,I hope not. Maybe sooner than later. A Canadian book that I hope will be republished again, maybe with some author comments.

The narrator, a young boy recently graduated from high school, gives and account of his life to an unnamed interrogator. He tells about his friends, and especially his long standing friend Nettie, and the new friends he makes including Robin who takes a particular liking to him; and the enigmatic Flynn. He also tells of his remarkable elementary school teacher who introduces him to film making; and the new neighbours, an open-minded young couple. When he catches his new neighbours supposedly in the privacy of their own garden enjoying one another, he uses his movie camera, a gift from his school teacher, to get a better view, but he can only use the zoom while depressing the shutter. What he unwittingly captures on film turns out to be quite outrageous, especially when the family dog joins in! It is this film which in turn determines the subsequent events in his life, as the story reveals. The unusual format of the book coupled with the quality of the prose makes for most interesting reading. As the young narrator explains himself we are never quite sure how much is truth, how much is exaggeration, how much is dreamed or just pure invention. Some of his descriptions, reflecting his interest, are in film script format, some are in fact dreams. At times he is very frank and explicit, and here the prose can be quite blue, yet such passages are somehow neutral and detached. The conclusion reveals the true situation, but it is not until the last few pages, if then, that one even has so much as a glimmer of what is really happening. To say more would spoil the story, and if my review seems somewhat vague, please forgive me, but to reveal any more (and there is a great deal more) would be unfair to potential readers.

I stumbled upon Michael Turner's "The Pornographers Poem", while browsing discount bookshelves at a local book store. I purchased the book partly because of the excellent reviews on theback cover including praise from the Globe and Mail.I wasn't disappointed. Michael Turner's writing is very good, almost poetic. He is a master ofcreating time and place, I could see the beach from his words.I won't spoil the story by delving too deeply in the format, which is similar to an interrogation, byan unnamed person. This however is the most effective part of the story and it makes for a mostsatisfying ending. After finishing the book, I have often thought about it and I realize that there could be manydifferent endings and you're never sure exactly which truths our main character has shared or withheld from his interrogator.The book is raw and real in some parts, so it might offend the faint of heart, but those who appreciate serious, fresh writing will find this to be an excellent book.