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Notes from the Bookhouse Babes

“I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.”-Special Agent Dale Cooper

 

Hello to all you gifted and damn fine readers of 25YL! This is the inaugural column for the Bookhouse Babes!  We are excited to spend our Saturday nights with you.  Let us start off with introducing ourselves.

I am J.C., one half of the Bookhouse Babes. My love for Twin Peaks started at the very beginning.  After watching the pilot I was hooked.  I was familiar with David Lynch and Kyle MacLachlan from Dune (god, Kyle’s hair was a scene to behold as Paul “Kwisatz Haderach” Atredies).  Of course, that means I was immediately taken with Special Agent Dale Cooper.  I have been ever since.  His and Harry’s bromance was one of my favorite interactions in the original.  The opportunity to connect through social media and Twitter this time around definitely made the experience of watching Twin Peaks more a sense of community.  Which is exactly how I found my partner in crime, Amanda.

Amanda: It was a happy accident indeed! I remember how determined I was ever since high school to convert my friends and family into fellow Peakies since I didn’t know very many folks who had seen all of Twin Peaks.  The presence of social media this time around for Twin Peaks: The Return has been amazing for the community! Being able to meet so many damn fine folks from all over the world and share our passion for Twin Peaks (and discover the new Twin Peaks together) has been fantastic.  From the Twin Peaks blogs and podcasts to the fan art, social media has allowed us to have a Peakie experience like never before and I am so happy to be a part of it.

When thinking about what we wanted this column to be, we went back and forth.  Did we want to uncover more theories about Twin Peaks?  Did we want to share stories of other Babes that showcase their art, writing, or inspirations of Twin Peaks?  Did we want to talk about community and charity causes?  The answer to all those questions is yes.  We want this space to be many things.  Just like our group is.  We are all a bunch of passionate Peakies, looking to retain a sense of community, fun, and fan-ship even though our Summer of Peaks has reached 2:53, the time of completion.  With the ending we were given, there is quite possibly another 25 years full of speculation, so who knows what the future may hold?

As a group of dedicated fans, we know a lot of us have very strong feeling on many things Twin Peaks.  We will uncover these and many more opinions and feeling about Twin Peaks.  We will delve into the beauty that is the Lynch/Frost combination.  The point is we want your input as well.  Is there anything you have been thinking of that you want us to dive into? A theory that has bothered you that we can maybe shed some light on?  Is there a certain Peaks community group you want us to interview?  We want your feedback! A big part of how the Babes was started was due to the overwhelming kindness and support we were given by the Twin Peaks fan community.  So I hope you will join us here every Saturday.  Grab a damn fine cup of coffee and doughnut or piece of pie. It does not have to be cherry.  J.C.’s personal favorite is Dutch Apple.  Though, we want you to sit back and enjoy the lively conversation around the Bookhouse table because there will always be a seat saved for you.

a cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie on a counter

Written by J.C. Hotchkiss

J.C. Hotchkiss is a Office Manager by day and Managing Twin Peaks Editor for 25YL Site the other 16 hours of the day. When she isn’t writing of her love of FBI Agents with a penchant for doughnuts, coffee and pie, she enjoys getting lost in a good book, sipping a damn fine glass of wine among friends, chatting with her "TB's" about Cevans and Fleabag's Hot Priest, and trying to keep up with the latest cartoon craze via her 6 year old. She lives smack in the middle of the Big Apple and Beantown, so for a girl with many different interests and tastes it's the perfect place to be.

2 Comments

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  1. I sure hope someday I’ll be a real Bookhouse Babe. I grew up in the real Twin Peaks country around Fall City, Snoqualmie, and North Bend. We knew we were going to get engaged if our boyfriend took one of us out to dinner at the Salish Lodge (the Great Northern). The Salish Lodge’s reputation in the Pacific Northwest is that it is the most superb example of Pacific Northwest culture, as it sits by The Snoqualmie Falls.

    David Lynch perfectly captures the natural beauty and sounds of the Pacific Northwest (everything in Washington State west of the Cascade Mountain Range), especially the large trees that sway in the wind, and make lots of noise. The waterfalls from the Cascade and Olympic Mountain Ranges too. Lynch captures the “small town” culture that exists in the Pacific Northwest, where everyone knows everything about everybody, yet people still have secrets and surprises.

    I know Mr. Lynch spent a long time in Spokane, and perhaps got familiar with the culture in the Pacific Northwest. Kyle Maclachlan also has a good grasp of the culture that exists in the Pacific Northwest, witness his absolutely perfect portrayal of the mayor of Portland. Portland was so proud to be party of Kyle Maclachlan’s mayor portrayal; the real mayor of Portland played Kyle’s assistant. Portland loved Kyle and Lorne Michaels for Portlandia.

    Somehow, once again, the very weird small town culture that exists in the Pacific Northwest was perfectly captured in Portlandia by Kyle’s “totally spaced-out” and impractical mayor constantly proposing one positive, although ridiculous thing, after another like a Portlandia song or baseball team. The mayors of towns in the Pacific Northwest really do this kind of thing. Also, the mayor’s “disappearing” acts into a Reggae Band and a “man’s retreat” were pure Pacific Northwest. Additionally portrayed in Portlandia, the great wealth that’s been created by companies in the Pacific Northwest like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing. Remember Kyle’s parents “paying” for all of Portand’s improvements? That happens for real in the Pacific Northwest, especially with Paul Allen, who will suddenly “buy” or “create” something very gigantic. He will suddenly donate about $50 million dollars out of the blue to someone or some organization.

    Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam used to rock at the little Crocodile Cafe in a tiny neighborhood in Seattle, even when they were absolute super-stars to the rest of the world–they were just one of us because of this “small town” culture that exists in the Pacific Northwest. I think Alaska also has this weird Pacific Northwest small town culture. Sitka, Alaska, is a true alternate universe..My girlfriend is a federal fisheries scientist in charge of Sitka Bay, and it’s wild up there. Everyone knows exactly what everyone is doing at all times. Weird! Hope to be a Bookhouse Babe myself one day!

  2. I wholeheartedly agree that this has been truly amazing and wonderful to connect with so many other fans of Twin Peaks. I also watched the original when it first aired and tried to seek out other kindred spirits of the show. It was slim pickins’. Anyway, I thank you J.C. and Amanda for being so warm and welcoming to all.
    I still wish the Bookhouse Babes could get an interview with Kimmy Robertson. I want to know how she felt when she found out that she would be the one to pull the trigger on Mr. C. That is one of my favorite scenes in the show and I’ve always been a fan of Lucy. When the show first aired, I remember telling the few friends that watched that I wanted Lucy’s job. Imagine how exciting and interesting that would be.
    There is so much more to explore and not a day goes by that I don’t think about the show and its’ many strange and wonderful characters.

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