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gslife 's review for:
The Secret History of Twin Peaks
by Mark Frost
The Secret History of Twin Peaks is a tour-de-force in conspiracy theories of the 20th century. Starting with the Lewis and Clarke expedition into the Louisiana Purchase, the book summarizes theories about the Freemasons, the Illuminati, Native American curses, UFO sightings, the government’s subsequent coverup of UFO knowledge, and even, briefly, the JFK assassination.
So what does this have to do with an early 1990s TV show about the murder of a prom queen in a remote logging town in Washington State? Lots.
In mid-1990, a TV show by David Lynch and Mark Frost began airing on ABC that would influence television for years to come. Yes, it was about the murder of a prom queen in the town of Twin Peaks, Washington and the strange surrounding events uncovered by FBI agent Dale Cooper’s investigation into that murder, but even more so, it was about the humanity that continues to exist in places that seem to be stuck in time. The mysteries, and the dark secrets, and the ancient enigmas, those draw the viewer in, but it’s the characters and relationships that make people continue to visit this small TV town over twenty-seven years later.
The book has only a slight tie-in to the new season of Twin Peaks being produced twenty-five years later (something unheard of in television). In fact, you don’t need to be a Twin Peaks fan to read this, though the references to a wide assortment of characters are probably ineffective without that knowledge. In fact, the subtle references peppered throughout the novel to the show are my favorite bit, such as the continual reference to a small jade ring (in the show, the ring is associated with the spirit world), or to the bits and pieces of MIKE’s chant that ends “fire walk with me”.
What is perhaps most interesting is the way that the personality of Frost and Lynch are revealed into the characters of Milford and Briggs, respectively. Milford says mysteries create within us a desire to seek both intimate and ultimate truths, while Briggs disagrees, saying mysteries are their own truth, ultimately unknowable, and faith must bridge that gap. A conversation, I’m sure, that happened often both in the writer’s room twenty-seven years ago and over the last few years of development for the new season.
I love this book. The design is outstanding. Mark Frost’s ability to warp history around his own narrative is amazing, for it’s hard to tell where reality ends and his narrative begins. I’d highly recommend this for any Twin Peaks fan. For anyone else, maybe start with episode one? You won’t be disappointed.
Lines I loved -
- Moving forward in time, it is important that we learn to distinguish between mysteries and secrets. Mysteries precede humankind, develop us and draw us forward into exploration and wonder. Secrets are the work of humankind, a covert and often insidious way to gather, withhold or impose power. Do not confuse the pursuit of one with the manipulation of the other.
- And good thing he knew how mechanical stuff worked, ‘cause when it came to the human heart, the poor bastard didn’t have a clue.
- It’s better to know than not know, that’s what you always said, right? Someday I’ll probably agree with you…
- To my eyes, he now seems about as stable as a soufflé.
- Storytellers don’t run out of stories, they just run out of time.
- This is ‘now’, and now will never be again.
So what does this have to do with an early 1990s TV show about the murder of a prom queen in a remote logging town in Washington State? Lots.
In mid-1990, a TV show by David Lynch and Mark Frost began airing on ABC that would influence television for years to come. Yes, it was about the murder of a prom queen in the town of Twin Peaks, Washington and the strange surrounding events uncovered by FBI agent Dale Cooper’s investigation into that murder, but even more so, it was about the humanity that continues to exist in places that seem to be stuck in time. The mysteries, and the dark secrets, and the ancient enigmas, those draw the viewer in, but it’s the characters and relationships that make people continue to visit this small TV town over twenty-seven years later.
The book has only a slight tie-in to the new season of Twin Peaks being produced twenty-five years later (something unheard of in television). In fact, you don’t need to be a Twin Peaks fan to read this, though the references to a wide assortment of characters are probably ineffective without that knowledge. In fact, the subtle references peppered throughout the novel to the show are my favorite bit, such as the continual reference to a small jade ring (in the show, the ring is associated with the spirit world), or to the bits and pieces of MIKE’s chant that ends “fire walk with me”.
What is perhaps most interesting is the way that the personality of Frost and Lynch are revealed into the characters of Milford and Briggs, respectively. Milford says mysteries create within us a desire to seek both intimate and ultimate truths, while Briggs disagrees, saying mysteries are their own truth, ultimately unknowable, and faith must bridge that gap. A conversation, I’m sure, that happened often both in the writer’s room twenty-seven years ago and over the last few years of development for the new season.
I love this book. The design is outstanding. Mark Frost’s ability to warp history around his own narrative is amazing, for it’s hard to tell where reality ends and his narrative begins. I’d highly recommend this for any Twin Peaks fan. For anyone else, maybe start with episode one? You won’t be disappointed.
Lines I loved -
- Moving forward in time, it is important that we learn to distinguish between mysteries and secrets. Mysteries precede humankind, develop us and draw us forward into exploration and wonder. Secrets are the work of humankind, a covert and often insidious way to gather, withhold or impose power. Do not confuse the pursuit of one with the manipulation of the other.
- And good thing he knew how mechanical stuff worked, ‘cause when it came to the human heart, the poor bastard didn’t have a clue.
- It’s better to know than not know, that’s what you always said, right? Someday I’ll probably agree with you…
- To my eyes, he now seems about as stable as a soufflé.
- Storytellers don’t run out of stories, they just run out of time.
- This is ‘now’, and now will never be again.