Lauren Graham

Book Review: Someday, Someday, Maybe

/ Kristi / Leave a comment

Someday, Someday, Maybe
by Lauren Graham
Read by the author

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Fiction (minorly historical)

Fanny Banks is only 6 months away from the self-imposed deadline of really getting somewhere in her acting career. But she has no agent, no real connections, and really not much else going for her either. The only forward motion she really has is the upcoming showcase for her acting class, which has a precedence of getting the performers noticed by the right people. But will it be the break she needs?

Set in the 90s, though I’m not sure why, exactly—maybe because that was the time period that Graham herself was trying to break into acting, or maybe the acting scene in NY has changed enough since the 90s that she just preferred to stick to that time—this story meanders a bit more than I prefer. Fanny is fairly unfocused, despite her looming deadline, and it doesn’t really get any better as the book progresses. I’m certain I got a pretty realistic look at what trying to break into acting looks like, and I have to say I’m glad to have never been a part of this scene, or the big-city life in general. Graham unsurprisingly does a great job narrating, I just wish there had been more meat to the plot. Or maybe a slightly more solid ending. Though that may also be an accurate look at what trying to “make it” can feel like—as if one never really knows when one has “made it.” The book isn’t bad, by any means, and I’m sure there are people out there that it is much better suited for. If you think you might be one of them, by all means, check out reviews of those with whom the book resonated more at the link below.

Find out more about Someday, Someday, Maybe

See what I’m reading next.

If you’ve read this book, or read it in the future, feel free to let me know what you think!

Book Review: Talking as Fast as I Can

/ Kristi / Leave a comment

Talking as Fast as I Can
by Lauren Graham
Read by the author

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Memoir

Published around the time that the Gilmore Girls mini-series, A Year in the Life, came out, Lauren Graham talks briefly about what it was like the first time around and in depth about what it was like the second time around, as well as touching on other major projects and influences in her life.

I enjoyed listening to this collection of various stories and essays in Graham’s own voice (since I listened to the audiobook). As a fan and frequent binge-watcher of Gilmore Girls, I appreciated learning a little about Graham’s life and her thoughts about her time on the original show as well as her return for the mini-series. I wish I had liked the mini-series more, but that didn’t dampen my appreciation of that section of the book. It was a little sad, though, to hear about her relationship with Peter Krause (whose last name I have mispronounced for years now), knowing that that relationship has ended in more recent years.

I will say (with some sadness) that this is the kind of celebrity memoir that many people probably read and say that the author didn’t give us the true picture, because it didn’t talk about people she’s worked with in a bad light or go into deep detail on most subjects. I prefer not to expect more from anyone’s memoirs (celebrity or otherwise) than they are willing and able to share. The only detraction from the book, for me, was the recurring joke where Graham says “Hi” to various talk show or news show personalities, assuming they will eventually read this book. It was kinda amusing at first, but it started to feel way too much like unnecessary name-dropping, especially when there were 4-5 all clumped together. But outside of that, I’m really glad I read this book and recommend it for fans of Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, or Lauren Graham in general.

(There are a few pictures throughout the book, so if you borrow a digital audiobook that doesn’t include the pictures, like I did, you’ll have to borrow the actual book if you want to see the pictures.)

Find out more about Talking as Fast as I Can

See what I’m reading next.

If you’ve read this book, or read it in the future, feel free to let me know what you think!