Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between)

It took me far too many years to get on the Gilmore Girls train, but once I finally did, boy did I become an instant fan for life. As such, I was extremely excited to read Lauren Graham’s new memoir, Talking as Fast as I can. There are so many (wonderful) things I want to say about her book that it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where to begin. Graham’s prose has an effortless, familiar feel to it. Like the soft voice of a friend over a casual cup of coffee. It’s obvious she’s a writer, and an extremely talented one at that. One of the things I was worried about before I started reading was that it might only focus on her life as it related to Gilmore Girls. While that would have still been a thoroughly enjoyable read, fans (at least fans like me) read memoirs to learn about the real person and their real life. In learning about their lives, we feel as though we’ve left the world of fandom and entered the world of friendship. And Graham’s memoir delivers a perfect blend of personal and professional to us. Talking as Fast as I can contains two large chapters where Graham recaps the actual filming experience of Gilmore Girls. The first, positioned near the beginning of the book, covers the original series, and the last, positioned near the end of the book, covers the revival. The remainder of the book follows Graham throughout her life from childhood to present. We learn a little about her family, about her upbringing and education, and, of course, about how she became the actress we love today. She’s witty, inspirational, and utterly entertaining. But it’s more than just a simple sharing of random moments of her life. You can tell that each story, each chapter, each word has been chosen with care and caution. It’s neither too short nor too long; it is just perfect. As her agent had once told her after reviewing her first novel, there are some publishers who will buy and sell anything (whether it’s good or not) a celebrity writes just because they know it will sell. She refers to those kinds of books as “Monkey Doodles.” I can assure you this book is anything but a Monkey Doodle. This is a wonderful book. An eloquently written book. One every fan should read. I came away from the book an even bigger fan. I’ve actually just started binging Parenthood and oh my… what a fantastic show. And I plan on reading her debut work of fiction, Someday, Someday, Maybe, as well as pretty much everything else she writes. Lauren is a warm and engaging woman who hasn’t let her success go to her head. And I’m very excited to see where her career and talents take her next. If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls or of Lauren herself, and even if you’re not, take a few hours a get to know this talented and wonderful human being. If you weren’t a fan of hers at the outset, you will be in the end. FTC DISCLAIMER: This book was reviewed outside of the request of the publisher and/or author.

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. My Thoughts: I was probably one of the last people to come to the Gilmore Girls party, but once I discovered the show on Netflix, I couldn’t stop watching. The term “binge watching” completely describes my experience. Before I found myself a real fan of this show, I had already discovered Lauren Graham in movies and on Parenthood. Now, in Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between) , I liked discovering her personal take on her movies, TV shows, and relationships. Her self-deprecating voice kept me smiling, even as I felt like someone who was having a conversation with her. I liked learning how she came to start writing, and enjoyed her descriptions of her writing process, which included tidbits from someone whose process became part of her writing style. But my favorite moments were the peeks behind the scenes on the sets, especially the ones related to the Gilmore Girls reboot. Special moments involved the connections with the cast who felt like family, and the emotions they experienced as they wrapped up the show. As a reader, I felt like I was part of it all. 4.5 stars.

Entertaining and wonderfully written. Lauren Graham is witty and charming. Will recommend to my book club for a fun read.

As a long time Gilmore girl fan this was such a FUN read! Been reading a lot of heavy reads lately and this was just what I needed 🩷 Finished it in two days was a great read! Would totally recommend!

This was a rather quick and easy paced story by Graham about how she made it in the industry, the hundred odd jobs she did just to support her acting career and her self development throughout it all. I didn't know much about her before besides her role on Gilmore Girls - a show I have watched many times and is one of my "comfort" tv shows to go to when everything else fails. Impressed at her fortitude about the roles she chose and how she educated herself, how she thirsted to develop further in her career and seeked new creative outlets. She shares her thoughts about the making of the Gilmore Girls and the limited series that came afterwards, the bonds that were created during the filming. What the show represented to her and how it affected her life. You'll also get a glimpse into how harrowing the schedule can be when working in Hollywood, even more so when combined with other responsibilities, like writing a book. Graham shares her time management techniques, adapted from the Pomodoro method, that can really help you prepare yourself mentally for the workload ahead. Written with humor and a positive undertone which suggests that everything is possible until you believe in yourself AND work hard at your dreams. Also, Graham mentions how it was other accomplished women who cheered her on and often gave her opportunities to fulfill her dreams. Sounded something dear to her heart since she pointed it out many times. A light and enjoyable read, definitely for the fans of "Gilmore Girls". 📃 "In general, having a plan is, well, a good plan. But when my carefully laid plan laughed at me, /.../ I just made a new one, even if it was one that didn't immediately make sense. /.../ don't let your plan have the last laugh." 📃 "About hopes and dreams/.../ It's coming, just not on your time frame." 📃 "An important tool against self-doubt is just to ignore it. Forge ahead anyway. Just keep going, keep going, keep going."

Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down. I've been a Lauren Graham fan since her first line was spoken on Gilmore Girls (the first series). I anxiously awaited Parenthood simply because that was her next project - though it was a good series, without her I might not have seen it. When the Netflix Gilmore Girl movies were announced, I was among the adoring fans waiting for my beloved girls to return to my living room. Talking as Fast as I Can brings back to me the voice of LG in her series', and the happiness she always exuded on screen. I laughed out loud many times while devouring this book, and it will be worthy of rereads in my eyes. Lauren Graham brings us her memoirs in the form of essays that span portions of her life. Truly she covers much more than I expected her to here, giving us a synopsis of her childhood, then walking us through her education and struggling actress days, before launching into stories from the sets of Gilmore Girls (both times) and Parenthood. My favorite part, if I could name one because I loved the whole book, was her sit down with the first 7 years of Gilmore Girls, calling out what she remembers of herself from that time, what she thought of her character arc, and how times have changed. That's the trick with a show that depends so heavily on pop culture, it's quite obviously dated (Rory's use of a Filofax date planner, Lorelai and her VCR), and yet so much fun to revisit. As a huge Lauren Graham and Gilmore Girls fan, this book is like dark chocolate - a decadent treat. Lauren Graham has a breezy writing style that pokes fun at herself and the world in the most gentle way possible. Her writing style is so natural that you feel like you are eavesdropping on a conversation - and what a conversation it is. Her wit and pacing are reminiscent of any script of Gilmore Girls ever, which tells me that no one else could have ever played Lorelai Gilmore quite like she did. She knows all the right stories to tell, so there's never a dull moment in the book.

Attention all Gilmore Girl/Lorelai/Lauren Graham fans who can't get enough of the fast talking, movie quote referencing, sarcastically humorous, self- made gal we've all come to adore: this book is for you! Take a break from those high brow, based on a true story, serious dramas you know you've been reading, (nothing wrong with that), sit back, take a break, and quit taking yourself so seriously. Enjoy life! If laughter is indeed the best medicine, then take a heaping dose of Lauren Graham! This book contains a delightful series of essays written with humor, sensitivity, emotion, and some real life Gilmore Girl lessons along the way. At just a little over 200 pages—13 chapters with an intro—it's a short, easy read that satisfies. A bit of decadent chocolate in a world with too many serious entrée's on any given day. Believe me when I say, Lauren Graham is the antidote for what ails you! And in case you're still wondering... no, Lauren didn't have a ghost writer, and yes, she actually did write it herself. And yes, not only can she write as well as act, she's actually Gilmore Girl funny! "Don't let your plan have the last laugh, but laugh last when your plan laughs, and when your plan has the last laugh, laugh back, laughing!" —Lauren Graham, Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls "In my experience, there's no secret to accomplishing almost any goal worth pursuing. ... You have to find what works for you, not what works for someone else." —Lauren Graham, Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls "Life doesn't often spell things out for you or give you what you want exactly when you want it, otherwise it wouldn't be called life, it would be called vending machine." —Lauren Graham, Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls "Writers: how therapists buy summer homes." —Lauren Graham, Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls "Let's keep lifting each other up. ... ignore the doubt—it's not your friend—and just keep going, keep going, keep going." —Lauren Graham, Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls "[In] learning a new way to be thankful for the past ... it's just as important to welcome and embrace the future. ... Rather than morn the loss, ... be thankful for the time we had together. ... Then ... let it go!" —Lauren Graham, Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls

What person does not know the song lyrics to “Where you Lead” the theme song to one of my all time favorite shows, The Gilmore Girls. When the reunion was finally announced I could not be more excited to finally see closure to a show that left so much up in the air. I mean, did Luke and Lorelai get together? What happened when Rory left? Did she become famous!? So many questions left unanswered and the world needed to know. Was I impressed by the reunion yes and no. Some of the story lines I found a bit hard to believe yet the beloved show still warmed my heart with each season. When Lauren Graham announced that she would be releasing a book that opened the world of The Gilmore Girls and her journey as Lorelai Gilmore I knew I needed to read it. Talking As Fast As I Can is one of the best autobiographical books in a long time. I loved that while reading the words on each page I heard her voice reading them to me and I could see her big gestures and see her laughing. Obviously some of it was a little annoying, like when she says hello to the entire cast of the Today show but that is her. I could see her fake waving as she is telling me this story from the comfort of my living room. Not only was it very interesting to see where she came from and what led to her famous role but the advice she received and gives along the way is something I will take with me forever. The two pieces of advice I will never forget is when James Patterson told her to “Keep going, keep going, keep going”. I mean that is so simple but such good advice. Whenever you feel overwhelmed just keep going because once you stop there is no telling if you will finish or not. She uses this line of encouragement in multiple aspects of her life and I think after you read her novel, you will too. She also advises our generation to “look up”. “If you never look out the window of the subway car, how will you see the boats gliding by on the East River, or have an idea that only you could have? Just look up for no reason, just for a moment here and there, or maybe for an entire day once in a while. Let the likes go unchecked and the quality of sleep go unnoticed.” I mean we all could use a good walk outside or car ride or whatever with out an electronic device or without anyone else to distract us. Amazing things can happen if we take the time to let them. I hope you consider reading this funny, informative, easy and wonderful book by Lauren Graham.

Scorrevole, divertente, sembra di parlare a tutti gli effetti con Lorelai Gilmore. Per i fans della serie TV, direi che è un must have :)

A great experience! Vivid, fast and brilliant. An immersion on Lauren’s career, a view of actors life, and a full experience for all gilmore fans.

Lauren Graham ist nicht nur eine talentierte und bezaubernde Schauspielerin sondern auch eine großartige Schriftstellerin. Das Buch ist witzig, unterhaltsam und geschrieben mit viel Herz und Verstand. Ich kann das Buch wirklich jedem empfehlen, der Fan von ihr und den Gilmore Girls ist. Ich hoffe sehr, dass sie noch weitere Bücher schreiben wird und kann es kaum erwarten. ******* Lauren Graham is not only a talented and charming actress but also a great author. The book is funny, entertaining and written with lots of heart and mind. I can really recommend the book to anyone who is a fan of her and Gilmore Girls. I hope very much that she will write more books and can't wait for it.

If you are a Lauren fan, I highly recommend. She has written it like she is in your kitchen telling you the stories. Amazing book!

It came fast and in perfect condition. I haven't read it yet but peak a bit... Love it has pictures so you don't need to just imagine. It is written as she talks, so seems to be easy and fun to read.