This small hard cover isn't exactly a serving of garmonbozia, but more like a slice of cherry pie to go. Catching the Big Fish is a collection of Lynch's thoughts, spanning only a page or two at a time, describing how he "dives within" to "catch" his delicious salmon-like creativity. Sometimes it may be a mischievous minnow or only a cunning guppy, but fishing is more about the experience rather than the haul to be gutted and cooked by reviewers such as myself. Lynch conveys the importance meditation has in generating ideas, fleshing them out, and bringing them into the real world be it film, painting, or otherwise. It all begins with the story of how his sister introduced him to Transcendental mediation and then how this technique allowed him to reduce and even eliminate much of the anxiety, anger, and depression that existed within him.

Some thoughts are inspiring, some just silly, but an entertaining read in any case. I must confess it was nearly impossible not to imagine Lynch narrating, more like yelling, as the character Gordon Cole he portrayed on Twin Peaks. My only complaint is that the stories aren't more in depth and though his films are mentioned throughout, he doesn't give the amount of insight into them I was hoping for. For example, there's an entire page dedicated to the blue box and key from Mulholland Drive, which I could go on for hours about, but all he writes is "I don't have a clue what those are." That's it?! I was a tad crestfallen, but I understand the point is for ME to explain it, not him. Get out the ol' fishin' pole and catch my own ideas. Usually, I only catch weeds and plastic 6-pack rings.

Enjoy this book with a cup of black coffee to lure enlightenment from the rough waters of your mind. Oh, and do remember to wash your hands after handling your ideas.

Guest review by Michael Wayne Smith, a mechanical being from outer space enjoying and extended vacation on Earth.

There are no comments yet. You could be the first!