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

Witty, funny, and the same Lorelei/Lauren we’ve always loved. It was fun to read where she came from, but really dive into the stream of consciousness as she wanders through the scrapbook of her life.

The letter from Old Lady Jackson was particularly life changing and made me stop and think about my phone usage in a poignant way I’d never seen it before.

Lauren Graham's memoir is an utter delight from start to finish. Written exactly as you'd expect from this charming and quirky actress, the book is a quick and funny read. While there is some content on Graham's formative years, most of the book focuses on her years as an actress with an understandably substantial chunk dedicated to her years on Gilmore Girls, both the initial run and the recent new episodes. A fun and charming read that I recommend to any Lauren Graham fan.

Talking as Fast as I Can has been on my Wish To Read list (high-priority TBR) since November 2016, when it was first published. For whatever reason (#momlife), I never got around to reading it and you know what? I’m kinda glad. Just last month, Talking as Fast as I Can along with a bonus chapter was newly published. Time to pounce!

Please, allow me to start off sharing something… I can be a pretty big fan of memoirs, but only when done right. They need to feel authentic, honest, and extra points for candid. Considering I am already a fan of Lauren Graham’s on-screen work, I had some pretty big hopes for her own personal written work. Between my hopes and other people’s feedback, I ended up setting the bar pretty high on this show more read. I must say, I dove in to Talking as Fast as I Can with some pretty big expectations. So unfair, right?

Well, here’s the deal… You know how you know when a book is good? You know a book is a solid choice when you set your alarm 2 hours early, waking yourself on a weekend before the rest of your house is stirring, just so you can grab some quiet time to be with that book and a coffee. Yes, I did that. That is how much I loved Talking as Fast as I Can. Seriously folks, this book is fabulous. I needed some quiet, alone time with my book.

What made Talking as Fast as I Can so darn great?

Every so often I find myself pressing post-its on the pages of a book because a certain passage feels special or causes me to connect or offers valuable advice or is just so thought provoking that I need to share with a friend. I can’t tell you how many colorful post-its I peppered through these pages and how many emails I sent with quotes and how many times I ran out of the room, book in hand, because I read something so funny or so real or so important that I wanted needed to share with someone else.

Obviously, I expected Talking as Fast as I Can to make me laugh and yes, I laughed! But, I did not expect to really have any big take-aways. Even still, Lauren Graham generously shared her personal wisdom from her own experiences and a special letter from a certain Old Lady Jackson that is just… well, you need to read it for yourself. It’s valuable stuff.

Talking as Fast as I Can is a fast, fun, and gratifying read. I could hear Lauren Graham’s voice in every word. I loved reading about her start in theatre and how she handles the scene. I loved reading about her upbringing and experiences as a young(er!) person. And, of course, I loved reading her reflections and experiences on Gilmore Girls (then and now). Perhaps what I loved most, though, are those little nuggets of wisdom that were so delightfully sincere, yet so unexpected (the best gifts usually are).

I gave Talking as Fast as I Can 5/5 stars
★★★★★

Thank you LibraryThing and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read Talking as Fast as I Can in exchange for my honest review. show less

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. I have also read Someday,Someday Maybe which was flawless.

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 show more 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. I have to say after this all I really want to do is watch Parenthood and I just might do that. show less

I admit to be a fan of Gilmore Girls. Such great writing and such solid acting, particularly by Lauren Graham as Lorelai. This memoir is a delightful complement. Part autobiography, part behind-the-scenes of the reboot, part contemplation on the acting life and Graham's ultra-sensible and self-deprecating responses to its challenges. It is funny and sweet, and never flippant. Also, there is a chapter on how to approach the writing task with wisdom from one of the television industry's great screenwriters (it involves a kitchen timer).

There was such a warmth to this book and to Lauren's writing. It was such a joy to read because it felt both comforting and nostalgic. Her story is full of life, humor, and grace, all things we see reflected in the characters she embodies. I LOVE Gilmore Girls so it was great to see the experience - both the original run and the revival- through her eyes. This was just a great book and a DEFINITE must read for all fans of hers or just people who like being happy.

There are very few books that I believe should be listened to rather than read. This is one of them.

Lauren Graham brings such joy and fun to her own words and I’m so glad she read it herself. It feels like a giant story time with her, where she regales us with her beginnings in life and in acting and all about coming back to Stars Hollow. I got super emotional through the entire Year in the Life portion of the book and it was so interesting to see how quickly and strangely the whole thing came together, from the viewpoint of one of the main actors.

If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, or witty female memoirs, I recommend this!