Room to Dream

Three stars for David Lynch's contributions and the photographs you probably won't see elsewhere, and two off because I had a painful time getting through Kristine McKenna's writing; it reads like a college recommendation letter. I have no idea what the two's relationship is like, but her narrative is pushy and awkward in how quaint it tries to be. I really wanted to like the book, but McKenna's segments are really tough to read, just seems a bit phoney. I'd recommend Lynch on Lynch or watching "The Art Life" instead.

I am startled and dismayed at the negative and cynical reviews on here. This does not match my experience of the book at all. It is true to say there is no scandal or critical dissection of either the work or the man here. However, it is NOT hagiography in any way, shape or form. Equally, Lynch does not dissect his films or art here- again, I would never have expected that. What you do get is biography as dialectic. In alternate chapters, you get a conventional biography by Kristine Mckenna, then Lynch's own personal perspective on the events described by McKenna. He sometimes agrees. sometimes contradicts, sometimes goes off at a tangent: I found this both fascinating and charming. The book does not dissect the work, rather it sheds light on events by well-researched interviews and comments from collaborators, producers, actors and friends, then reflected through Lynch's own idiosyncratic lens. This is extremely enjoyable to read, remarkably unpretentious and full of small details which you can then use to link with the work,. It's not a tabloid cut and paste hack job, not is it a pretentious cahiers du cinema opus. I loved it and really felt it gave small but vital insights into the man and the work. I would recommend this to anyone with an open mind, providing you remember it is neither a critical dissection nor a muckraking gossipmongers delight. Time enough for these when Lynch the man is no longer with us. A delight, and strongly recommended! .

I loved reading this book about David Lynch, particularly given the unusual format. Each chapter is written by the author and the following chapter by Lynch, dealing with the same content but in his own words. It's a very interesting way to not only understand the man better, but to get a feel for the events of his life, both from outside and within the individual themselves.I was already a Lynch fan (of course I was, otherwise why bother reading a large autobiography on him, right? lol) and though it does tend to focus more on the positives whilst brushing past the more problematic parts of his personality, I felt like I was saying goodbye to a great friend as I finished the last page.If you are intrigued by his work, be it TV, film, painting or music, there's a lot to love within these pages. I highly recommend giving it a go: it's addictive and inspiring stuff!

A very readable book, well enough written BUT: so absolutely uncritical of the man that at times it reads a bit too much like a fan's excited essay. We're told for example he's been married 4 times, each breakup preceded by the start of a new relationship. But hey, he's an artist so it's all okay. Lynch's own sections are interesting but read very much like what they probably are: transcriptions of recorded interviews.For anyone who, like me, love his work but weren't aware of the chronology, it's amazing to learn that Elephant Man was only his second movie (and that Anthony Hopkins is such a nasty diva), and Dune his third.So, yeah. A good read, but I think there's a more definitive work out there, or should be.

This is a very good biographical sketch of Lynch very worth reading. The style is unusual in that each main chapter by the Author is followed by Lynch offering his memories on each chapter, and this works really well. Most of Lynchs life and work is covered fairly well, particularly how the movies were made. Lynch, as ever, refuses to offer analysis on his work, but speaks candidly about his personal life and business dealings. Very enjoyable.