NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this collection of personal essays, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood reveals stories about life, love, and working as a woman in Hollywood—along with behind-the-scenes dispatches from the set of the new Gilmore Girls, where she plays the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore once again.With a new bonus chapter In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits … chapter
In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and, years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, “Did you, um, make it?” She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood (“Strangers were worried about me; that’s how long I was single!”), the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge on Project Runway (“It’s like I had a fashion-induced blackout”).
In “What It Was Like, Part One,” Graham sits down for an epic Gilmore Girls marathon and reflects on being cast as the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore. The essay “What It Was Like, Part Two” reveals how it felt to pick up the role again nine years later, and what doing so has meant to her.
Some more things you will learn about Lauren: She once tried to go vegan just to bond with Ellen DeGeneres, she’s aware that meeting guys at awards shows has its pitfalls (“If you’re meeting someone for the first time after three hours of hair, makeup, and styling, you’ve already set the bar too high”), and she’s a card-carrying REI shopper (“My bungee cords now earn points!”).
Including photos and excerpts from the diary Graham kept during the filming of the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, this book is like a cozy night in, catching up with your best friend, laughing and swapping stories, and—of course—talking as fast as you can.
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Sort of fluffy and inconsequential, but I still enjoyed listening to the audiobook read by Lauren Graham. I liked the bits about her time on Gilmore Girls and Parenthood more than when she tries to be overly comedic.
As a Gilmore Girls fan, I can’t believe how long it’s taken me to read this memoir, but it was so worth the wait. Lauren Graham is as warm and effervescent and funny on the page as she is on screen, and hearing her stories, both from the set of the show and from her life as a writer, was a true joy and delight. She is one of those people who is endlessly full of light, and I would encourage anyone with a long morning commute to listen to her reading the audiobook, particularly fans of Gilmore Girls who will get goosebumps every time she says “I smell snow”.
If you ever watched Gilmore Girls or Parenthood tv shows and loved Lauren Graham character, then this is the book to read. You only need 4-5 hours for the read, however it’s very informative on her journey in Hollywood. Talking as Fast as I Can
I have not seen a lot of Gilmore Girls (which will be remedied some year of my life but since I currently watch more “Veggie Tales” and “Moana” than anything else, it could be awhile) but what I have seen, I’ve loved. I love the characters of Lorelei and Rory and their relationship and the dynamic of the show. And now that I’ve read this book, I think I may just be a fan of Lauren Graham as a person. I loved this book! It’s lighthearted, entertaining, chock full of the kind of humor that gets me, sprinkled with bits of wisdom, and just really fun! Lauren is delightfully (surprisingly) down to earth and just the kind of person I could see myself being friends with. Let’s be honest, the book is no literary genius, but who cares when it’s this much fun to read?
LOVED this book! If you are a huge Gilmore Girl’s fan (like I am) you must read this book!
This is an essential read for all Gilmore Girls fans but especially for those who love the actress who played Lorelai. I loved the book. Lauren Graham is real and funny and warm. And her OLJ gives some very good advice, IMHO. I’m thinking of adopting the cell-phones-in-the-center-of-the-table when meeting loved ones for a meal out. (And you’ll have to read the book to know what I mean.)
A great book for those who love celebrity memoirs–and a must-read for any Gilmore Girls fans!
Lauren Graham’s Talking as Fast as I Can is a memoir of her life and acting career, with a focus on her days on the set of Gilmore Girls–both the original series and the revival on Netflix. Though her descriptions of her childhood and college years are interesting, she really shines with her reflections on Hollywood. I enjoyed getting her thoughts on diet and health advice, ageing as an actress, and working in the business–especially on the Gilmore Girls show.
There were parts of this book that made me laugh, other parts that made me think, and still other parts where I teared up. As a fan of TV’s Gilmore Girls, I especially loved her sharing the diary entries she wrote while filming the reunion show and learning how emotional she and the rest of the cast were.
For those of you who enjoy Graham as an actress, I highly recommend you give this memoir a shot. In these pages she’s so warm, funny, and approachable, you’ll enjoy spending a few hours with her as your tour guide through Hollywood.
If you are a Gilmore Girls fan, you’ll like this one. Lauren Graham’s fast talking humor shines through in this short memoir. Covering the time from her early childhood, through her first stint as the wacky single mom to the end of the series (or is it?) with the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life mini-series, Graham discusses her life breaking into show business and behind the scene stories.
You definitely get a sense that Graham is very much like her character Lorelai: impulsive, fast talking, quirky, and caring. She’s down to earth and very relate-able. I enjoyed getting to know her through her stories and reading about some of the day to day behind the scenes filming of the 2016 reboot of the show.
Soooo funny, fast paced and witty. Just like Lorelei
After watching the entire Gilmore Girls show on Netflix, I looked forward to watching the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. While the original show was wonderful, I was very disappointed in the four season, A Year in the Life. So, I decided to read Lauren Graham’s From Gilmore Girls To Gilmore Girls, hoping to learn more about the author, as an actress, not a character in a show, and I hoped to learn why I found the reunion show such a let down.
Lauren Graham is a terrific person and, reading her book, I learned more about her, how funny she is, how kind-hearted and caring. An all-around good person. I laughed out loud more than once while reading this book. Biographical, hilarious, revealing, and very witty, From Gilmore Girls To Gilmore Girls fulfilled my expectations in a funny way. Ms. Graham’s own experience, emotional and soulful, is expressed in the pages of her book. By page 140, it is not so funny anymore as she tells about writing her first book while preparing for A Year in the Life.
Her own sadness and disappointment shines through her story, not disappointment in the outcome of the reunion show, but in the fact it was all over. All the relationships she had made while filming Gilmore Girls, and being able to see them all again, was a reunion of the heart and soul she put into her work. So, even though I was disappointed in A Year in the Life, getting to know the author a bit better through her writing, I came to understand why.
As viewers, like readers, we can always watch the show or read the book again, but for actors and authors, it is a creative process in their life. Reading From Gilmore Girls To Gilmore Girls taught me not to judge one show or one book, but instead care enough to understand that these stories are part of a process, their heart and soul shared with others. Whether they resonate or whether they fit is not the point. The point is the journey, always moving forward.
I really enjoyed this book, particularly the parts about Gilmore Girls and Parenthood. I listened to the audio version and loved hearing Lauren tell her story. To hear any autobiography in the author’s voice is special and she’s an incredibly talented woman (she even sings a few times). The book went off on some strange tangents every now and then but they were fun (especially since I was listening rather than reading them) and more often than not there was a lesson at the end of them.
Lauren’s wit and self-deprecating humor shines through on every page. I’ve loved her as an actress for years. The insight and behind the scenes to one of my favorite shows is light-hearted and brings out the nostalgia. Lauren’s positive attitude about costars and set teams she’s worked with is endearing.
This is a fast paced and easy read. I read the physical copy and listened to the audio. The audiobook is like having your best friend talk to you about the past and possible (?) future.
I cannot express in words how much I enjoyed this book. Lauren Graham is extremely down to earth and a breath of fresh air. She has not let fame go to her head and she’s very candid about herself and all that she does. It was nice to read about an actress who did not start off in acting easily. She really worked her butt off to get where she is. She even auditioned her butt for a role (so funny!).
My favorite chapter was “What It Was Like, Part One”. Lauren goes through and reminisces about each season of Gilmore girls and breaks it down into sections: Times were different, Fashion and hair, What I love, and Season finale. It was great remembering some of the best parts of Gilmore Girls. Lauren’s chapter on life in show business is quite funny and I’m sure must of it is, almost, close to the truth.
If you decide to read this wonderful book, find a comfortable chair, grab a large cup of coffee and be prepared to giggle throughout it. It’s truly a delightful book.
I used to watch Gilmore Girls, but I only watched a couple of seasons. I knew enough to appreciate this book, and it was fun to get little snippets of how things had gone on without me on the show. I always liked Lauren Graham in that show, and the way she talked, so I had been wanting to read this book. I finally got it but didn’t READ it. I listened, since it was an audiobook, and it was fun that she was the reader. Little did I know anything else in the world about her except that she was on Evan Almighty, playing the mom. But this book gave me little snippets into the rest of her life and her world too, and it was funny and interesting. I especially liked the part about the Hollywood stars’ best diet advice. Exactly. And since I am listening to this during the coronavirus, it was funny just thinking to myself. “It’s the same way with how to navigate life during the scamdemic–just depends on who you ask, and at what time period you’re asking. Basically, whatever you’re doing is just fine–or not.” I would like to go on and read her other books now. I still like her!
I have loved Lauren Graham in Gilmore Girls and could almost hear her voice in Talking as fast as I can or see that Lorelai could have wrote that. I laugh at some point in the book. And like she wrote a couple of time, talking about Gilmore Girl : A Year in a life ending scene…
But that ending. Don’t you think it was more of a cliffhanger?
And yes I think they did talk about a second part of A year in a life. Eventually. I hope.
Love her! She is so smart and fun to read!
Copper Boom!
Talking fast paced went right in-line with the way East Coasters, particularly Nutmegers talk, I’m forever being asked to slow down since I moved from the area because people don’t always listen at my speed.
Thank you Lauren Graham for this peek behind the scenes of Gilmore Girls, Parenthood and your life in general.
This was such a wonderful read, lots of laughter and naturally some tears too. Lauren has such an infectious personality and it shines through her words.
I agree, it really did seem more a cliffhanger! Only time will tell.
Even if you’ve never watched Gilmore Girls or Parenthood, Lauren Graham’s two claims to fame, this book is well worth listening to. At right around four hours run time, this is a quick read, but one that will definitely brighten your day. Lauren Graham adds her usual spunk and witty repertoire to the narration, and so much would be lost simply by reading this on the page. She discusses her childhood on a houseboat with her father, goes into her time living in New York as a mostly failing actress, how she came to write a book and then another one, and of course all sorts of exciting tidbits about her time on Gilmore Girls and Parenthood. The wonderful thing about her story is that it isn’t just for us artistic types – although she gives plenty of advice for that – but she offers life lessons for everyone.
This review first posted on kelseygietl.com.
Fast and Funny. In this memoir, Graham talks about her life in general and some of her more famous/ long-lasting projects: Gilmore Girls and Parenthood. And she does it in what seems to be her style on the shows – fast and hilarious. The chapters are short, and the book overall is a very quick read. If you’ve ever seen any of her projects at all, this is a very worthy read. And if you haven’t, you’re probably not interested in this book anyway – but if you haven’t seen any of her work and *are* interested, go ahead and pick this up. If nothing else, you will be entertained.
Lauren Graham changed my life with her perky, nonstop talking, coffee-loving personality in Gilmore Girls. She was a sassy, wise-cracking actress with a bright personality and a positive outlook on life. I loved her, Rory, and the whole town of Stars Hollow from episode one.
Her autobiography was just the same, and I appreciated her quirky humor, side-tracked extras, and loveable memories. It was such a pleasure to read an autobiography and think, “I’m a little bit like this too!” Or “I agree!” Or “It’s like we were separated at birth!”
Thanks, Lauran Graham, for being an integral part of my growing up years, showing me that moms can be cool on so many different levels, and giving me a mostly good role-model (heehee) to one day emulate when I have kids one day.
Overall, I hope you never change, and thank you for sharing a bit of your life and energy with us. As a fan, I sincerely thank you.