Lauren Graham’s memoir Talking As Fast As I Can is everything I hoped it would be, and more. As a diehard Gilmore Girls fan, I had high expectations of this book, which was released about this time last year, concurrent with the Netflix Gilmore Girls revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Although the revival was a bit… disappointing? dissatisfying? depressing? Lauren Graham’s book delivers a charming and endlessly amusing narrative of her journey as leading lady, Lorelai Gilmore, and the events in her life that led up to playing this role.
Before reading Talking As Fast As I Can, I only knew Lauren Graham through Gilmore Girls and her interviews on Ellen (seriously, you must see these). Although I really wanted Lauren to talk about Gilmore Girls right off the bat, I was glad she gave her backstory before diving into the world of Stars Hollow.
POP QUIZ:
When Lauren Graham was young, she:
A. Lived in Japan
B. Lived on a houseboat in the Virgin Islands
C. Rocked razor-sharp sideburns
D. Auditioned for a part with her butt
E. All of the above
If you guessed E, you’re right! The story of Lauren Graham’s unusual upbringing and her struggles to “make it” in the world of acting are told with hilarious commentary and deep appreciation for her colorful past. In many ways, Lauren Graham’s sense of humor is not so different from Lorelai Gilmore’s, which makes the book an especially fun read.
Lauren Graham admits that she has never really watched Gilmore Girls, and sits down one weekend to binge the entire series with the purpose of remembering what it was like to film the show when it originally aired. Lauren comments, season-by-season, on memories of making the show and on plot, characters, costumes, and everything Stars Hollow. While filming the revival, Lauren keeps a journal that she publishes at the end of this book.
Between telling stories about her life and recounting her journey to Stars Hollow, Lauren Graham gives honest and sharp commentary about today’s world, particularly in Hollywood. Lauren talks about the two archetypes that women play in movies and on television, and the problem of actresses of a certain age being limited in their roles. Through the wise voice of her made-up character Old Lady Jackson, Lauren encourages readers to live life beyond the screen of smart phones and Apple watches, and questions if these technologies are really progress. She also dishes on the Hollywood secrets to staying thin and looking good (it’s very juicy).
As a reader and writer, the best part of Lauren Graham’s book, for me, was when she recounted the steps she took toward becoming a novelist. She discusses her love for literature (she graduated Barnard with a degree in English) and how working on Parenthood gave her the free time to put pen to paper to write Someday, Someday, Maybe. Most importantly, she explains her method for writing – The Kitchen Timer Method. You’ll have to read her book to learn this secret, but it is a method that I have been using since I first read Talking As Fast As I Can about a year ago, that I now swear by. Lauren Graham is a beautiful and gifted writer whose personality radiates through the pages of Talking As Fast As I Can.
If you can’t tell already, I cannot say enough good things about this book. Since its release in 2016, Lauren has added a bonus chapter to Talking As Fast As I Can, which is available today. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version because Lauren Graham’s uninhibited reading of her book is even funnier on tape.
Rosie Posie 