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Book Title: David Lynch: His Work, His World
Year: 2025
Author: Tom Huddleston
ISBN: 9781836005971
ISBN10: 1836005970
Synopsis: Without David Lynch, our world would have been a much more ordinary place. As a filmmaker, screenwriter, designer, musician, visual artist and living avatar of all things uncanny, his influence pervaded every corner of our culture.
Alongside his game-changing TV series "Twin Peaks", Lynch also created big-screen masterpieces such as his DIY debut Eraserhead and unconventional mystery thrillers Blue Velvet, Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive. But Lynch was also a cult figure in his own right, releasing albums under his own name, staging art shows, photography exhibitions and design showcases from LA to Milan, and sharing his spiritual philosophy and love of Transcendental Meditation with audiences around the globe.
I figured that synopsis would do more justice than me recapping it in setting up what this book is about. I luckily received a critic’s copy of this and it is beautiful, that is the first thing that struck me. I’m excited to display this amongst my collection. This is a large, coffee table book that comes with a slip cover as well.
Now that I’ve set up what it looks like, this is an in-depth retrospective to the career of a filmmaker who truly changed the landscape. My first foray into his works was through Eraserhead. That was one I watched in college. I didn’t return until after seeing Blue Velvet when broadening my horizons.
What I like here is that this is broken up into different sections, starting with his humble beginnings and with his student project, Eraserhead. It then uses major projects to describe what Lynch was doing, working with and how his films from there where then made. It is interesting that some of my favorite directors, Lynch included, tended to have issues with studios wanting to give them money. They need to have their input if they do. Seeing how it affected things he created like Dune, The Elephant Man and “Twin Peaks” is eye opening.
I’ll also say that I didn’t necessarily realize different things about his career until reading this. Certain people that he met and would continue to work on. Projects he was attached to and didn’t come to fruition. There is just a wealth of knowledge and information that help to truly appreciate someone like Lynch.
Then to circle back to talk about this work. I love all the pictures that are included. This could just be shots of Lynch during that era. There are also behind the scenes ones of him as well as actors. There are also images of things that Lynch would reference as an inspiration, whether it was another film or work. It also could be that of actors that he was a fan of. The time and care that went into curating this something would be a daunting task. It just added something to it for me so I wanted to give that credit.
In conclusion, this is a fantastic and comprehensive look into the life and career of a truly unique artist. From its stunning visual presentation to its in-depth exploration of Lynch’s creative process and influences, this book offers a rich and rewarding experience for both long-time fans and those new to his enigmatic world. It's a testament to the enduring impact of his work and a beautiful addition to any film enthusiast's collection.
My Rating: 8 out of 10