The original run of Gilmore Girls ended in 2007, but thanks to Netflix's Gilmore Girls revival, A Year In The Life, the spirit of Stars Hollow is very much alive and well. But the revival isn't the only thing that has fans talking: This week, Lauren Graham, who plays Lorelai Gilmore, dropped her highly-anticipated memoir, Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and Everything In Between, a short book about her life in Hollywood and on set the beloved series. But, what is Lauren Graham's book about?
The answer is basically answered by the memoir's title and subtitle – I mean, Gilmore Girls is mentioned twice, and everyone knows Lorelai Gilmore by her "fast talking." Luckily, the title reflects the content of the book; Lauren Graham spends much of the memoir talking about the beloved series in-depth, and she shares secrets from set that even diehard fans will be surprised to learn. In preparation for writing her book, Graham marathoned every single episode. In the memoir, she reveals her thoughts about what's happening on-screen during each season... and what was happening behind-the-scenes. The sections about the revival, however, are taken from Lauren Graham's diary, which she kept faithfully while on set. But while Gilmore Girls plays a huge role in this memoir, the show is not all the book is about.
Graham's story begins in Japan, where she spent some of her early childhood years, then moves to the Virgin Islands, where she lived on a houseboat with her father. Eventually, she and her dad settled into a more suburban existence in Virginia, where she rode horses competitively and discovered a talent for acting. As the years progressed, Lauren Graham worked a lot of odd jobs, took a few detours, and made a few mistakes (some hilarious; other not so much). But she wouldn't do anything any differently.
Lauren Graham's story certainly doesn't begin and end with Gilmore Girls, though the show does play a huge role in her life. She talks about her role on Parenthood, her experiences being single in Hollywood, and the sexism she's experienced as a woman in the entertainment industry. Some of the stories are sad, others are funny, but all provide readers with a poignant, introspective look at life as the star of an iconic television franchise — a star who also happens to be a normal woman who struggles with Hollywood's standards for weight, and love, and everything in between. Lauren Graham isn't Lorelai Gilmore (despite their shared initials), but she does share some traits with the fast-talking mom: a dry wit and vivacious personality that brings any story — especially her story — to life.
Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (And Everything In Between) by Lauren Graham, $16.66, Amazon
