Have I Told You This Already?

October 15, 2022
The lovable actor returns with another lively set of personal essays. Best known for her role as Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, Graham writes with humor, authenticity, and humility. She gracefully tackles topics ranging from her first car in Los Angeles--a rusty, "1991 lime-green Honda Civic" with "a spot on the driver's side where you could see through to the ground below"--to the nuances of talking about emotionally difficult subjects, like growing up without her mother present. Graham, the author of a novel and two previous essay collections, presents a charming and candid depiction of life as a celebrity that reminds us they are, in fact, just like us, with their own struggles, triumphs, and insecurities. Recounting one interview with a magazine journalist, she writes, "I talked about the years I spent studying acting, what it was like to leave New York, my hopes and dreams for the show. At the end, I asked her if she had gotten what she needed and she said she had, but she also seemed a little disappointed. 'I guess--I thought you'd be funnier, ' she said." Graham doesn't shy away from seemingly taboo topics, including aging in Hollywood, which she discusses with her characteristic humor and warmth: "This change sneaks up on you, and like any sneak, it gives you a bit of a scare." When discussing her early attempts to land an acting gig and her job as a Barney's sales clerk, where she occasionally saw famous people, she is equally charming. "These...sightings," she writes, "taught me that famous people are always much tinier and even more depressingly beautiful in person, and it seemed impossible that I'd ever go from demonstrating a family card game or recommending an appropriate level of workplace blouse sheerness to becoming one of them." Graham's own celebrity status feels incidental in a collection that can stand on its own wit. Fun, candid tales of Hollywood make for entertaining reading. (n/a) (n/a)

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November 1, 2022

While best known as the quirky Lorelai Gilmore on TV's Gilmore Girls, Graham has developed a strong second career as an author; her first essay collection was 2016's Talking as Fast as I Can. This foray into personal reflections is a charming glimpse into the life of a relatable and extremely likable actress, complete with struggling to find work, navigating the illogical Hollywood hierarchies, and leaning into new experiences. Graham's tales of waitressing at the Improv, working for (and accidentally shoplifting from) Barneys, and being forced to embellish the story she'd waited years to share on her first appearance on The Tonight Show showcase her gift of humorous storytelling. Her essays on filmmaking provide sage advice, and her tribute to New York is a beautiful love story. Woven through the tapestry of her stories is a thread of sadness, a woman in her fifties still grieving her mother's abandonment, a lifelong struggle that reappears as she faces the end of a lengthy relationship and relinquishes the dog she knows she can't care for. VERDICT Graham's down-to-earth stories are funny and touching; a surefire fourth best-seller.--Lisa Henry

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November 1, 2022
Graham is back and once again seems to be talking as fast as she can in her latest book of essays. Her breezy, stream-of-consciousness style allows her to tell stories as if she's talking to a friend, and for fans of the actress, it probably feels that way. Whether she's making Daniel Craig laugh backstage at the Golden Globes, planning a podcast with her bestie and Parenthood costar Mae Whitman, or reminiscing about the time she accidentally stole a sweater from Barney's, Graham keeps a self-deprecating but not overly modest tone, poking fun at the things in her life that deserve poking fun at, and treating serious topics with both humor and pathos. A must-read for Graham fans interested in what she's been up to since Talking as Fast as I Can (2016), and a good pick for anyone who likes behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories. Recommended for those who enjoyed Sharon Gless' Apparently There Were Complaints (2021) or Carrie Fisher's memoirs.

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