There really was a Laura Palmer—or, at least, someone like the dead girl found “wrapped in plastic” by the side of a lake.
Growing up outside Albany, Mark Frost heard stories and saw police photos of that tragedy, which haunted the community for years—and, decades later, inspired “Twin Peaks.” The TV show, which he created with David Lynch, attracted a fervent following.
Lately, Frost started writing young adult fiction—most recently, “Alliance,” the latest in his “Paladin Prophecy” trilogy. This time, Frost says, he was inspired by his son, then 7 years old: “He looked up at me one day with a plaintive little frown and said, ‘Dad, why don’t you write a book I’d want to read?’” So Frost did.
Here’s what’s in this writer’s library.
Robert Redford
by Michael Feeney Callan
I met Robert Redford about 20 years ago, at Sundance and was struck by how down-to-earth he was. He’s one of the few who achieved white-hot stardom and came through it a better human being. This is the first authorized biography by a man who knew him, a really good portrait of a guy who’s underappreciated.
The Guns at Last Light
by Rick Atkinson
This is the third in a tremendous trilogy about American involvement in WWII — the first volume won the Pulitzer. This one takes you from D Day to the end of the war. [Atkinson] had access to papers no one had access to before. The scope of it is truly breathtaking. If you care about American history, these are the best three books you can read on WWII.
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
by Ben Fountain
I don’t read a huge amount of fiction, but this is a tremendous book. It’s an extraordinary story of a young American war veteran returning from Iraq and how he and the surviving members of his platoon are presented at a fictional Super Bowl. The contrast between what they did and the excesses of American culture is stunning.
Wooden: A Coach’s Life
by Seth Davis
Wooden was the coach for the UCLA Bruins, arguably the greatest sports coach we ever had. I got to know Coach Wooden at the end of his life. This is the first comprehensive biography about what made him into the man and hero he was — and one of the great role models in my life.