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schopenhauers_poodle's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
This one is for the artists and Lynch fans.
"Room to Dream" is a hybrid biography-memoir, recounting David Lynch's life, personally and professionally. The chapters alternate between those closest to Lynch, (his family, friends, collaborators, and romantic partners), and Lynch himself discussing key events in his life from their viewpoint. This kind of structure can make for slow, tedious, and repetitive reading, but works best when accounts diverge. Lynch's voice comes through so clearly in his chapters that you can almost hear him speaking in your head.
For creatives, "Room to Dream" should be of great interest. Rarely do we get such a detailed account of an artist's development, not just training or education, but as a way of being in the world. In Lynch's case, "the artist's life" is incredibly sensual and sensory while also demanding all of his time and attention, to the detriment of his relationships. It's art at any cost. I couldn't help but wonder if even Isabella Rossellini in her prime is disposable, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Obviously, most readers will be Lynch fans. I disagree with the review that said "Room to Dream" was useless for unpacking any Lynch film. As a fan myself, I felt like it revealed too much! Lynch explains the origins of images and motifs in his films, often drawing from real-life experiences. What was new to me was how much of his work originates in domestic violence, racial tension, and urban decay. There's a discussion to be had about the ethics of this, Lynch's privileged position, and re-evaluating his work not only as odd, dream logic pieces but nightmares of urbanization and white demographic decline. This is also definitely not the book that will discuss those topics.
Near the end of "Room to Dream", for all Lynch's optimism, it feels a bit like the walls are closing in. Deals go bad, Hollywood no longer seems to have the patience to nurture transgressive auteurs, his relationship with his wife seems to be on the rocks. Lynch has been lucky in his life, his career was essentially the result of having very generous benefactors materialize at the right time, but you have to wonder how long that good luck will last. Even if it doesn't, it was a beautiful, terrifying dream.
"Room to Dream" is a hybrid biography-memoir, recounting David Lynch's life, personally and professionally. The chapters alternate between those closest to Lynch, (his family, friends, collaborators, and romantic partners), and Lynch himself discussing key events in his life from their viewpoint. This kind of structure can make for slow, tedious, and repetitive reading, but works best when accounts diverge. Lynch's voice comes through so clearly in his chapters that you can almost hear him speaking in your head.
For creatives, "Room to Dream" should be of great interest. Rarely do we get such a detailed account of an artist's development, not just training or education, but as a way of being in the world. In Lynch's case, "the artist's life" is incredibly sensual and sensory while also demanding all of his time and attention, to the detriment of his relationships. It's art at any cost. I couldn't help but wonder if even Isabella Rossellini in her prime is disposable, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Obviously, most readers will be Lynch fans. I disagree with the review that said "Room to Dream" was useless for unpacking any Lynch film. As a fan myself, I felt like it revealed too much! Lynch explains the origins of images and motifs in his films, often drawing from real-life experiences. What was new to me was how much of his work originates in domestic violence, racial tension, and urban decay. There's a discussion to be had about the ethics of this, Lynch's privileged position, and re-evaluating his work not only as odd, dream logic pieces but nightmares of urbanization and white demographic decline. This is also definitely not the book that will discuss those topics.
Near the end of "Room to Dream", for all Lynch's optimism, it feels a bit like the walls are closing in. Deals go bad, Hollywood no longer seems to have the patience to nurture transgressive auteurs, his relationship with his wife seems to be on the rocks. Lynch has been lucky in his life, his career was essentially the result of having very generous benefactors materialize at the right time, but you have to wonder how long that good luck will last. Even if it doesn't, it was a beautiful, terrifying dream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Violence
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