Title: Ghachar Ghochar
Author: Vivek Shanbhag
First published January 1, 2013
130 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.91
Overview
Vivek Shanbhag’s Ghachar Ghochar is a captivating novel that delves into the intricate dynamics of a close-knit Indian family. The narrator, a young man who remains unnamed, along with his sister, parents, and uncle, experiences a sudden shift in their fortune after their uncle founds a successful spice company.
With newfound wealth, the family moves from a cramped shack to a larger house, and their relationships begin to transform. As marriages falter and alliances shift, unseen conflicts brew in the background, and the world around them becomes ‘ghachar ghochar.’ Shanbhag’s clean and urgent prose is punctuated with unexpected moments of warmth and humor, making this a quietly enthralling and deeply affecting novel about the consequences of financial gain in contemporary India.
Editoral Review
David Lynch is a well-known American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and occasional actor. He is best known for his surrealistic and avant-garde works such as Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks.
However, he is also an enigmatic and private figure, who rarely gives interviews or talks about his personal life. In Room to Dream, Lynch and journalist Kristine McKenna co-write a unique and unconventional memoir, that alternates between Lynch’s own voice and McKenna’s narrative.
The book is part autobiography, part biography, as Lynch shares his memories, dreams, and creative process, while McKenna provides context, research, and interviews with Lynch’s family, friends, colleagues, and critics. The book is divided into short chapters, with one side recounting Lynch’s memories and the other side presenting McKenna’s commentary.
The result is a fascinating and insightful portrait of a visionary artist, whose work is often misunderstood and underestimated. The book covers Lynch’s life from his childhood in Montana, to his student years in Boston, to his early films in Los Angeles, to his iconic TV show, Twin Peaks, to his recent works in music and visual art.
Along the way, Lynch touches on various topics such as his love for painting, his meditation practice, his collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti, his affection for coffee and cigarettes, his relationships with actors like Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern, and his struggles with censorship, funding, and critical reception. One of the strengths of the book is its honesty and intimacy.
Lynch opens up about his personal demons, such as his anxiety, depression, and infidelity, without seeking sympathy or excuse. He also reveals his artistic process, which involves a mix of intuition, experimentation, and collaboration, rather than a preconceived plan or message.
Similarly, McKenna does not shy away from asking tough questions or presenting conflicting opinions, but she does so with respect and curiosity. Another strength of the book is its innovative format, which reflects Lynch’s own aesthetics and philosophy.
The book is like a puzzle, where the reader has to piece together the different voices and perspectives to fully grasp the whole picture. It also leaves room for interpretation and imagination, as Lynch invites the reader to see beyond the surface and into the depths of his imagination.
However, one weakness of the book is its lack of chronological order or clear timeline. While this may be intentional, it can also be confusing or repetitive for some readers, who may struggle to follow the threads and themes.
Another weakness is its limited diversity or representation, as the book mostly focuses on white, male, and privileged experiences, without exploring the wider social or political context of Lynch’s work. Overall, Room to Dream is a fascinating and inspiring book, that reveals the inner workings of a creative genius and challenges the reader to think differently about art and life.
It is a must-read for Lynch’s fans, but also for anyone who is interested in the human psyche, the creative process, and the power of dreams. I would give the book 4.5 stars out of 5, based on its originality, depth, and impact.