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Life's Short, Talk Fast: Fifteen Writers on Why We Can't Stop Watching Gilmore Girls
The writers in this anthology represent bestselling writers, BIPOC and LBGTQ writers, and a varying age range. This diverse group speaks to the broad appeal of Gilmore Girls. These topics include growing up with a single mother, examinations of motherhood from different ages, the fantasy of small-town America, being a single mother, the self-consciousness the show created for non-white fans, a queer look at Lorelai's parenting that reflects the writer's own parenting choices, the show's comfort and impact during the pandemic, Rory's life path and changes throughout the show and how it did or didn't disappoint fans and how the guy you root for to win Rory's heart actually reveals a lot about you.With essays Anjanette Delgado, Ann Hood, Annabelle Mei, Cathi Hanauer, Erin Almond, Francesco Sedita, Freya North, Joanna Rakoff, Katie Moulton, Michael Ruhlman/Chris Eigeman, Nina de Gremont, Rand Richards Cooper, Sanjian Sathian, Tracey Minkin and Yassmin Abdel-Magied.
208 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2024
About the author
Ann Hood
77 books1,189 followersAnn Hood is the editor of Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting and the bestselling author of The Book That Matters Most, The Knitting Circle, The Red Thread, Comfort, and An Italian Wife, among other works. She is the recipient of two Pushcart Prizes, a Best American Spiritual Writing Award, a Best American Food Writing Award, a Best American Travel Writing Award, and the Paul Bowles Prize for Short Fiction. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
September 29, 2024
I received a free copy of, Life's Short, Talk Fast, by Anne Hood, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Fifteen writers talk about their love of Gilmore Girls. I really enjoyed watching the Gilmore Girls, such a different show for the time. I have not heard of any of these authors before, but it was a quirky read, a Gilmore Girl love fest. Its an enjoyable read.
December 17, 2024
An absolute must for Gilmore Girl fans.
October 18, 2024
What do you have on your bookshelf that is related to pop culture?
Have you watched Gilmore Girls?
How many times have you watched Gilmore Girls?
Did you know there’s an unofficial Gilmore Girls Rewatch Season?
What is the appeal of Gilmore Girls? What is the appeal for you?
What part of Gilmore Girls is the most appealing to you?
Evidently, fall is Gilmore Girls rewatch season! If you’ve watched the Gilmore Girls (GG) TV series or binged it on Netflix, you might find this collection of essays interesting. If you’ve never watched GG, you might find this less interesting.
This essay collection shares fifteen different Gilmore Girls viewing experiences from various perspectives. What is your viewing experience with GG? Do you rewatch the series every fall? This is a thing! Do you occasionally watch an episode? Or have you never watched GG?
My favorite Essay is written by Freya North. Honestly, hers is what I expected from the entire collection. She shares what it was like to watch Gilmore Girls with her son and what he loved about it. Two of the essays I didn’t enjoy at all and didn’t seem to fit with the spirit of the collection. The other essays were OK…some more interesting than others. Because Ann Hood (editor) enlisted top-notch writers, the quality of writing is good throughout. The content varies in its enjoyability and connection to the source material.
A few of the most prevalent reasons which the essays mention include:
* Mother/Daughter Relationships: The heart of the series is multi-generational mother/daughter relationships (grandmother, mother, daughter) which highlight issues such as parenting styles, values, communication, trust, loyalty, belonging, reconciliation, forgiveness, understanding, generational differences, etc. Some of the writers shared positive reflections and others reflected on unhealthy relationships. For me, I loved the relationship dynamics. Truly entertaining and poignant.
* Identification With One Certain Character: Regular viewers often identify most closely with Emily (image-conscious, up-tight grandmother); Lorelai (single, free-spirited mother); or Rory (nerdy, book lover, teenage daughter). Do you have a favorite character?
* Witty Banter: A defining characteristic of the show is its witty banter. The actors comment on how long the scripts were compared with other shows. Not only is the banter witty, it also contains many references to pop culture and literature. This delights nerdy fans.
* Small, Caring, Supportive Community: Stars Hollow could be a set for a Hallmark Movie and is one of the most appealing aspects of the show. I love how the small town comes together to support a single mom and is invested in Rory’s day-to-day life, well-being, and achievements.
* Cast of Quirky Characters: The memorable supporting characters shine throughout the series! Who is your favorite supporting character?
* Books, Books, Books: You will often see Rory reading, talking about reading, or carrying books.
* Slow-burn Romance: Luke and Loralai…..will they finally get together?
* Team Dean, Team Jess, Team Logan: Fans have their boyfriend! I’m Team Jess (they share the book love), although the popular pick is likely Team Logan. Which are you?
* Coffee and Junk Food: IYKYK …. lots of coffee, pancakes, donuts, pizza, frozen food, and junk food consumed! Don’t forget about Sookie’s creations!
* Unpopular Reboot: Some writers mention the problematic and unpopular reboot, A Year in the Life. I did not enjoy it because it veered away from the series in some ways (namely Rory’s life choices).
All of the above is addressed in the reflective essays. Usually, the author of the essay identifies one element of the show to focus on and makes a connection with his/her personal life.
A couple of the essays are written by men who watch the series in an attempt to understand the appeal for their wives, girlfriends, and/or daughters.
Book Nerds Unite! Rory is a book nerd extraordinaire! Do you know that there is a Rory Gilmore Reading List?! (every book mentioned in the series)
What Would Your Essay Reflect? If your essay were included in this collection, what would you write about? What aspect of the series is the most appealing or meaningful to you? I think I would write about the complicated and multi-layered mother/daughter/grandmother relationships.
I’m recommending Life’s Short, Talk Fast for die-hard fans of the Gilmore Girls series. With any essay collection, some will be memorable, and some will be forgettable (two in my opinion). Overall, it’s an enjoyable collection. The writing is good, but the content varies depending on your reading tastes. As I’ve mentioned the Freya North essay was my favorite.
Thanks #NetGAlley @wwnorton for a complimentary e ARC of #LifesShortTalkFast upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.ReadingLadies.com where this review was first published.
Have you watched Gilmore Girls?
How many times have you watched Gilmore Girls?
Did you know there’s an unofficial Gilmore Girls Rewatch Season?
What is the appeal of Gilmore Girls? What is the appeal for you?
What part of Gilmore Girls is the most appealing to you?
Evidently, fall is Gilmore Girls rewatch season! If you’ve watched the Gilmore Girls (GG) TV series or binged it on Netflix, you might find this collection of essays interesting. If you’ve never watched GG, you might find this less interesting.
This essay collection shares fifteen different Gilmore Girls viewing experiences from various perspectives. What is your viewing experience with GG? Do you rewatch the series every fall? This is a thing! Do you occasionally watch an episode? Or have you never watched GG?
My favorite Essay is written by Freya North. Honestly, hers is what I expected from the entire collection. She shares what it was like to watch Gilmore Girls with her son and what he loved about it. Two of the essays I didn’t enjoy at all and didn’t seem to fit with the spirit of the collection. The other essays were OK…some more interesting than others. Because Ann Hood (editor) enlisted top-notch writers, the quality of writing is good throughout. The content varies in its enjoyability and connection to the source material.
A few of the most prevalent reasons which the essays mention include:
* Mother/Daughter Relationships: The heart of the series is multi-generational mother/daughter relationships (grandmother, mother, daughter) which highlight issues such as parenting styles, values, communication, trust, loyalty, belonging, reconciliation, forgiveness, understanding, generational differences, etc. Some of the writers shared positive reflections and others reflected on unhealthy relationships. For me, I loved the relationship dynamics. Truly entertaining and poignant.
* Identification With One Certain Character: Regular viewers often identify most closely with Emily (image-conscious, up-tight grandmother); Lorelai (single, free-spirited mother); or Rory (nerdy, book lover, teenage daughter). Do you have a favorite character?
* Witty Banter: A defining characteristic of the show is its witty banter. The actors comment on how long the scripts were compared with other shows. Not only is the banter witty, it also contains many references to pop culture and literature. This delights nerdy fans.
* Small, Caring, Supportive Community: Stars Hollow could be a set for a Hallmark Movie and is one of the most appealing aspects of the show. I love how the small town comes together to support a single mom and is invested in Rory’s day-to-day life, well-being, and achievements.
* Cast of Quirky Characters: The memorable supporting characters shine throughout the series! Who is your favorite supporting character?
* Books, Books, Books: You will often see Rory reading, talking about reading, or carrying books.
* Slow-burn Romance: Luke and Loralai…..will they finally get together?
* Team Dean, Team Jess, Team Logan: Fans have their boyfriend! I’m Team Jess (they share the book love), although the popular pick is likely Team Logan. Which are you?
* Coffee and Junk Food: IYKYK …. lots of coffee, pancakes, donuts, pizza, frozen food, and junk food consumed! Don’t forget about Sookie’s creations!
* Unpopular Reboot: Some writers mention the problematic and unpopular reboot, A Year in the Life. I did not enjoy it because it veered away from the series in some ways (namely Rory’s life choices).
All of the above is addressed in the reflective essays. Usually, the author of the essay identifies one element of the show to focus on and makes a connection with his/her personal life.
A couple of the essays are written by men who watch the series in an attempt to understand the appeal for their wives, girlfriends, and/or daughters.
Book Nerds Unite! Rory is a book nerd extraordinaire! Do you know that there is a Rory Gilmore Reading List?! (every book mentioned in the series)
What Would Your Essay Reflect? If your essay were included in this collection, what would you write about? What aspect of the series is the most appealing or meaningful to you? I think I would write about the complicated and multi-layered mother/daughter/grandmother relationships.
I’m recommending Life’s Short, Talk Fast for die-hard fans of the Gilmore Girls series. With any essay collection, some will be memorable, and some will be forgettable (two in my opinion). Overall, it’s an enjoyable collection. The writing is good, but the content varies depending on your reading tastes. As I’ve mentioned the Freya North essay was my favorite.
Thanks #NetGAlley @wwnorton for a complimentary e ARC of #LifesShortTalkFast upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.ReadingLadies.com where this review was first published.
July 28, 2024
Got an advanced copy. Have no idea who any of the writers are in this collection, though Ann Hood faintly rings a bell…
Essays vary in interest, which is how it usually goes, and they’re fast and easy, which is merciful of them. Most are mini-memoirs tied into an aspect of the show while appreciating Gilmore Girls (which is an ingenious, cozy, insane show). My favorite essays are the saddest essays.
Essays vary in interest, which is how it usually goes, and they’re fast and easy, which is merciful of them. Most are mini-memoirs tied into an aspect of the show while appreciating Gilmore Girls (which is an ingenious, cozy, insane show). My favorite essays are the saddest essays.
October 5, 2024
Too many of the essays had little to do with the show.
January 17, 2025
Ok so I must confess when I am depressed, I do watch a few episodes of Gilmore Girls to make me feel better. Something about that show, heals me. I began watching it when it started streaming on Netflix, so I am a late bloomer. It's like a drug...one or two episodes and I've had my fix and can move on.
I have also recently met Lauren Graham who plays Lorelai Gilmore who in real life talks just as fast as her character. And of all the questions I could have asked, I blurted out "who's the father?" If you know, you know! She looked at me and I thought here it comes! And she said, "I really don't know." Dang!
So, when I saw Ann Hood, who is the editor of this book of essays, her brainchild, who also wrote an essay for the book, I ran home and pre-ordered it. What I must tell you though is the book has not been sanctioned by anyone from the show.
For those who love Gilmore Girls, this group of essays will be a delightful treat. Some humorous, but others, quite deep. So, let's get to some of the essays...
The first essay is written by Ann Hood herself. It is her confession to her and her teenage daughter, Annabelle's obsession with the show, to this day. They started watching it together at a very low point in Ann's life. So many things were going on and when she and Annabelle moved to the loft they live in now in Rhode Island, she was depressed and overwhelmed. Enter Gilmore Girls. Once discovered it was a show she and Annabelle watched together while eating dinner on boxes as they began their new life. Sort of like Lorelai and Rory! They loved the deliciousness of Lorelai and Rory's relationship! The show helped soothe their fears. To this day they still watch episodes and continue to be on opposite sides of the team Logan or team Jess controversy.
Author Nina de Gramont writes an absolutely hysterical essay on the many coats and their colors in which Lorelai wears. She made it her mission to count them. Now, that's a fan! She also ponders where they all went. Were they donated? Why did she have so many??
One of the most difficult essays to read was Anjanette Delgado's essay entitled Guilty Gilmores of a Parallel Universe. This essay compared Delgado's not so happy/troublesome relationship with her own mother throughout the years and wishing? perhaps it could have been more like the Gilmores, and how with her own daughter she tried to have a better relationship, as she did not want to base her own mother-daughter situation on her mother.
Ann Hood's husband, Michael Ruhlman (as does Ann's daughter Anabelle Mei) have essays in the books as well. Ruhlman's titled Digger and Me talks about his total lack of interest in the Gilmore Girls but because he knew this was something Ann and her daughter bonded over, he tried to use the show to get closer to Annabelle and just what it took to get there!
They essays are wonderfully different with very divergent perspectives, and some will even make you wonder about certain situations which occurred. Who would have ever though a show such as Gilmore Girls would have had such an outpouring of interest. If you are a fan, this book of essays will not disappoint!
And by the way, I have once again started the series over again from scratch, just because.
Published by W.W. Norton & Company
I have also recently met Lauren Graham who plays Lorelai Gilmore who in real life talks just as fast as her character. And of all the questions I could have asked, I blurted out "who's the father?" If you know, you know! She looked at me and I thought here it comes! And she said, "I really don't know." Dang!
So, when I saw Ann Hood, who is the editor of this book of essays, her brainchild, who also wrote an essay for the book, I ran home and pre-ordered it. What I must tell you though is the book has not been sanctioned by anyone from the show.
For those who love Gilmore Girls, this group of essays will be a delightful treat. Some humorous, but others, quite deep. So, let's get to some of the essays...
The first essay is written by Ann Hood herself. It is her confession to her and her teenage daughter, Annabelle's obsession with the show, to this day. They started watching it together at a very low point in Ann's life. So many things were going on and when she and Annabelle moved to the loft they live in now in Rhode Island, she was depressed and overwhelmed. Enter Gilmore Girls. Once discovered it was a show she and Annabelle watched together while eating dinner on boxes as they began their new life. Sort of like Lorelai and Rory! They loved the deliciousness of Lorelai and Rory's relationship! The show helped soothe their fears. To this day they still watch episodes and continue to be on opposite sides of the team Logan or team Jess controversy.
Author Nina de Gramont writes an absolutely hysterical essay on the many coats and their colors in which Lorelai wears. She made it her mission to count them. Now, that's a fan! She also ponders where they all went. Were they donated? Why did she have so many??
One of the most difficult essays to read was Anjanette Delgado's essay entitled Guilty Gilmores of a Parallel Universe. This essay compared Delgado's not so happy/troublesome relationship with her own mother throughout the years and wishing? perhaps it could have been more like the Gilmores, and how with her own daughter she tried to have a better relationship, as she did not want to base her own mother-daughter situation on her mother.
Ann Hood's husband, Michael Ruhlman (as does Ann's daughter Anabelle Mei) have essays in the books as well. Ruhlman's titled Digger and Me talks about his total lack of interest in the Gilmore Girls but because he knew this was something Ann and her daughter bonded over, he tried to use the show to get closer to Annabelle and just what it took to get there!
They essays are wonderfully different with very divergent perspectives, and some will even make you wonder about certain situations which occurred. Who would have ever though a show such as Gilmore Girls would have had such an outpouring of interest. If you are a fan, this book of essays will not disappoint!
And by the way, I have once again started the series over again from scratch, just because.
Published by W.W. Norton & Company
September 3, 2024
* I was given a free ARC of this book by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review *
I am a major Gilmore Girls fan. I started watching when I was close to Rory's age, and have now reached my Lorelai years. I rewatch episodes every fall (& usually throughout the rest of the year!) - it’s my comfort show.
This book, for the most part, felt like revisiting my favorite characters as part of a book club with other lovers of the show. As there were multiple contributing authors, I naturally favored some essays more than others - and found myself enjoying most the stories I could relate to least. Erin Almond’s story of her not-so-similar similarities to Lorelai’s experiences leaving home at the 16 was one of my favorite essays. I loved Sanjena Sathian’s comparisons and contrasts between her upbringing and Lane’s, and the commentary on the term “Asian American.” I found myself highlighting multiple lines in Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s essay. I loved reading Freya North's charming account of watching with her son.
The only one I really felt I could do without Rand Richards Cooper’s - who uses the word “slutty” anymore? And calling Lorelai a “slacker”? The woman is a workaholic. Also ironic that he complains about the wordiness of “Gilmore-Speak” when the essay uses words like “refusenik” and “churlishness.” Additionally ironic that he was annoyed that the show isn’t “how people actually talk,” when the verbiage in the quotes from his wife and teenage daughter sound nothing like any genuine conversations I’ve heard between a teenager and their parents. Trying to say he’s not able to be a fan because the show is “made for women” and he isn’t the target demographic is missing the point - he states that he likes the same types of content if performed by men. If women are supposed to enjoy this type of comedy, whether done by men or women, why can’t he? And speaking of “not the target audience” - readers of this book are not the target audience for pages of examples of why Gilmore Girls is annoying. The book’s subtitle is “15 Writers on Why We Can’t Stop Watching Gilmore Girls.” This essay is written by someone who hasn’t watched, doesn’t watch, and doesn’t plan to watch the show, and it took me out of the charm of the other essays. The parts about Wes were touching (again, ironic, because Wes enjoyed the show despite not being the target audience), but I would’ve rather 1. Had more focus on Wes and less on the author’s redundant ranting. 2. Read this essay as written by the author's wife or teenage daughter, giving us the perspective of Gilmore fans & how Wes’s love of the show led them to watching & loving too.
Overall, I enjoyed this little visit to Stars Hollow. I appreciated that the writers came from varying diverse backgrounds, and that each had a different perspective on the show. A fun, recommendable read for any Gilmore fan!
I am a major Gilmore Girls fan. I started watching when I was close to Rory's age, and have now reached my Lorelai years. I rewatch episodes every fall (& usually throughout the rest of the year!) - it’s my comfort show.
This book, for the most part, felt like revisiting my favorite characters as part of a book club with other lovers of the show. As there were multiple contributing authors, I naturally favored some essays more than others - and found myself enjoying most the stories I could relate to least. Erin Almond’s story of her not-so-similar similarities to Lorelai’s experiences leaving home at the 16 was one of my favorite essays. I loved Sanjena Sathian’s comparisons and contrasts between her upbringing and Lane’s, and the commentary on the term “Asian American.” I found myself highlighting multiple lines in Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s essay. I loved reading Freya North's charming account of watching with her son.
The only one I really felt I could do without Rand Richards Cooper’s - who uses the word “slutty” anymore? And calling Lorelai a “slacker”? The woman is a workaholic. Also ironic that he complains about the wordiness of “Gilmore-Speak” when the essay uses words like “refusenik” and “churlishness.” Additionally ironic that he was annoyed that the show isn’t “how people actually talk,” when the verbiage in the quotes from his wife and teenage daughter sound nothing like any genuine conversations I’ve heard between a teenager and their parents. Trying to say he’s not able to be a fan because the show is “made for women” and he isn’t the target demographic is missing the point - he states that he likes the same types of content if performed by men. If women are supposed to enjoy this type of comedy, whether done by men or women, why can’t he? And speaking of “not the target audience” - readers of this book are not the target audience for pages of examples of why Gilmore Girls is annoying. The book’s subtitle is “15 Writers on Why We Can’t Stop Watching Gilmore Girls.” This essay is written by someone who hasn’t watched, doesn’t watch, and doesn’t plan to watch the show, and it took me out of the charm of the other essays. The parts about Wes were touching (again, ironic, because Wes enjoyed the show despite not being the target audience), but I would’ve rather 1. Had more focus on Wes and less on the author’s redundant ranting. 2. Read this essay as written by the author's wife or teenage daughter, giving us the perspective of Gilmore fans & how Wes’s love of the show led them to watching & loving too.
Overall, I enjoyed this little visit to Stars Hollow. I appreciated that the writers came from varying diverse backgrounds, and that each had a different perspective on the show. A fun, recommendable read for any Gilmore fan!
August 15, 2024
I was notified by email this morning that I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley, so I downloaded it immediately and spent the day reading it. I can’t tell you how much I loved this book! As a huge Gilmore Girls fan since Day 1, I loved reading everyone’s stories on how they relate to the show. Some of the stories were sad, there were a couple I found less interesting than others, but overall I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to purchase it when it comes out in November!
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.
P.S. Speaking of opinions, I really love the cover Goodreads currently has compared to the cover that NetGalley shows. The gazebo, the leaves, the green…it’s perfection!
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.
P.S. Speaking of opinions, I really love the cover Goodreads currently has compared to the cover that NetGalley shows. The gazebo, the leaves, the green…it’s perfection!
October 29, 2024
"Life's Short, Talk Fast" edited by Ann Hood is a delightful anthology that explores the cultural impact of the beloved TV show "Gilmore Girls". The book features fifteen writers —including bestselling authors, BIPOC writers, and LGBTQ writers—each sharing their personal reflections on why the show is such a part of their lives and memories.
The essays delve into various themes such as growing up with a single mother, the fantasy of small-town America, and the comfort the show provided during the pandemic. The writers also examine their own connections to the characters and how "Gilmore Girls" has influenced their lives and relationships. I enjoyed many of the essays with Freya North's being most memorable. I appreciate how Ann Hood (who is one of my favorite authors) selected such talented and enjoyable writers. Each of their unique talents and voices shined through their essays.
This anthology is a heartfelt celebration of a contemporary TV classic, offering a mix of humor, nostalgia, and insight. It's perfect for fans of the show who want to understand its enduring appeal and for those who are curious about its impact on different people.
Hope you get the opportunity to enjoy this one this Fall.
The essays delve into various themes such as growing up with a single mother, the fantasy of small-town America, and the comfort the show provided during the pandemic. The writers also examine their own connections to the characters and how "Gilmore Girls" has influenced their lives and relationships. I enjoyed many of the essays with Freya North's being most memorable. I appreciate how Ann Hood (who is one of my favorite authors) selected such talented and enjoyable writers. Each of their unique talents and voices shined through their essays.
This anthology is a heartfelt celebration of a contemporary TV classic, offering a mix of humor, nostalgia, and insight. It's perfect for fans of the show who want to understand its enduring appeal and for those who are curious about its impact on different people.
Hope you get the opportunity to enjoy this one this Fall.
December 22, 2024
very fun and very uneven, which i sort of expected given it's 15 different writers. some of the essays really worked - i loved Katie Moulton's essay about emotional dependency and Rand Richards Cooper's beautiful, heartbreaking one about the loss of his brother-in-law - and some that did not. but it was fun to connect with other people who love (or love to hate) the show.
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December 24, 2024Love it!
December 6, 2024
Stars Hollow revisted!
Fifteen authors tell why they love Gilmore Girls and how the show positively affected their lives. Every perspective was so different and in ways I never thought of.
My daughter and I watched the show together during her teenage years and loved it.
Thanks Edelweiss and WW Norton.
Fifteen authors tell why they love Gilmore Girls and how the show positively affected their lives. Every perspective was so different and in ways I never thought of.
My daughter and I watched the show together during her teenage years and loved it.
Thanks Edelweiss and WW Norton.
September 2, 2024
Gilmore Girls has been my comfort show for the past two decades. It’s an imperfect show, but returning to Stars Hollow and the characters and plot lines that I know so well always feels like home when my brain is too full and my life is too busy.
This is a book of essays written by people who feel like me about the show. You won’t find criticism or deep analysis, but you’ll find diverse people from diverse places who connect with the show in a deep way. It’s a book by fans and for fans. The essays are short and interesting, and I appreciated the varied perspectives.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy.
This is a book of essays written by people who feel like me about the show. You won’t find criticism or deep analysis, but you’ll find diverse people from diverse places who connect with the show in a deep way. It’s a book by fans and for fans. The essays are short and interesting, and I appreciated the varied perspectives.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy.
October 23, 2024
I watched this series as a kid and loved it, but forgot all about it over the years. These essays brought back my enthusiasm for the show and I started watching it again, introducing my two daughters to the residents of Stars Hollow along the way. The essays in this collection touch on topics such as social class, family dynamics (particularly mother-daughter relationships), and romantic relationships among the characters. Prepare to fall in love with Lorelai, Rory, and all of Stars Hollow all over again!
I received my ARC copy of this essay collection through Goodreads in return for an honest review.
I received my ARC copy of this essay collection through Goodreads in return for an honest review.
October 25, 2024
A perfect gift for any Gilmore Girls fan. It was an absolute delight.
October 27, 2024
Fifteen writers explore what Gilmore Girls means to them in this celebratory collections of essays. The classic contemporary television show bonded real-life mothers and daughters since 2000, when the premiere introduced us to Lorelai, Rory and the town of Stars Hollow. Almost 25 years later and Gilmore Girls is one of the most streamed TV shows ever.
Each of the writers share their personal relationship to Gilmore Girls through a short essay. The writers are diverse (married, single, divorced, old, young, middle-aged, black, Asian, white, male and female) making their experiences quite different. Almost all compare their own lives to Lorelai and Rory's life choices, love matches and family dynamics. The short essays lovingly center around a theme of what makes a home in that fast-talking, warm-hearted, quick-witted way.
What a lovely collection of essays to read. I nodded my head in agreement. Smiled at the many episode references. Teared up at the shared details of lovely mother-daughter bonds. The show revealed so much about ourselves, our mothers and our daughters. Ann Hood's anthology revealed why it matters. Life's Short, Talk Fast has sparked an interest to rewatch all 153 episodes of Gilmore Girls with my Mom.
Bookhearts, I recommend Life's Short, Talk Fast for the fellow bookish girlies like Rory and the Lorelai fans. At just under 200 pages, this new book would be a great companion while you watch Gilmore Girls. While I didn't recognize any of the writers, I appreciated their stories enough to keep an eye out for their work.
Happy Early Pub Day, Ann Hood! Life's Short, Talk Fast will be available Tuesday, November 12.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie
Each of the writers share their personal relationship to Gilmore Girls through a short essay. The writers are diverse (married, single, divorced, old, young, middle-aged, black, Asian, white, male and female) making their experiences quite different. Almost all compare their own lives to Lorelai and Rory's life choices, love matches and family dynamics. The short essays lovingly center around a theme of what makes a home in that fast-talking, warm-hearted, quick-witted way.
What a lovely collection of essays to read. I nodded my head in agreement. Smiled at the many episode references. Teared up at the shared details of lovely mother-daughter bonds. The show revealed so much about ourselves, our mothers and our daughters. Ann Hood's anthology revealed why it matters. Life's Short, Talk Fast has sparked an interest to rewatch all 153 episodes of Gilmore Girls with my Mom.
Bookhearts, I recommend Life's Short, Talk Fast for the fellow bookish girlies like Rory and the Lorelai fans. At just under 200 pages, this new book would be a great companion while you watch Gilmore Girls. While I didn't recognize any of the writers, I appreciated their stories enough to keep an eye out for their work.
Happy Early Pub Day, Ann Hood! Life's Short, Talk Fast will be available Tuesday, November 12.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie
September 24, 2024
This book made me feel so nostalgic for the show and with even more love and appreciation for Gilmore Girls. It reminds me of the power of connecting and how it’s incredible when you can relate to a story and feel like you’re not alone, whether that’s in how you feel or just how you think. It’s truly a book for fans, it tells stories of people who are fans and how they connected with the show and their stories.
I didn’t particularly enjoy the men’s essays as much as the women’s. My favorite essays are probably Ann’s and Freya North. Ann Hood perfectly captured in her essay my thoughts, and I loved it. Even though our stories are not alike in any way, I related to what she wrote that we all need to get our hearts broken by a Logan, to appreciate the love of the right person (and we share the same team even though we understand who’s the right person ultimately). And the one for Freya really touched me, and what her son wrote in the end, I truly connected to it, and he said it just perfectly: “Gilmore Girls’ success comes from it’s innate sense of familiarity without sacrificing comedy. (…) It’s not a show one simply watches, rather you become part of the cast”.
And since it’s fall, it’s about time for that rewatch, it came with the perfect timing.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I didn’t particularly enjoy the men’s essays as much as the women’s. My favorite essays are probably Ann’s and Freya North. Ann Hood perfectly captured in her essay my thoughts, and I loved it. Even though our stories are not alike in any way, I related to what she wrote that we all need to get our hearts broken by a Logan, to appreciate the love of the right person (and we share the same team even though we understand who’s the right person ultimately). And the one for Freya really touched me, and what her son wrote in the end, I truly connected to it, and he said it just perfectly: “Gilmore Girls’ success comes from it’s innate sense of familiarity without sacrificing comedy. (…) It’s not a show one simply watches, rather you become part of the cast”.
And since it’s fall, it’s about time for that rewatch, it came with the perfect timing.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 16, 2025
A quick solid, trip to Stars Hollow by fifteen writers talking about how Gilmore Girls wormed its way into their lives. Each essay is about 10-15 pages and they focus on the Lorelei-Rory relationship, show's banter, optimism, and escapism. Men tend to be on the periphery of these essays, but do appear in three of them.
I watched the show during its original run beginning in 2000 (with the exception of season 7), enjoyed the show, and have seen first hand the its role as comfort food for my wife and daughters.
This book is not meant to provide a deep analysis or critique of the show, but rather, is a nice little snack for all those fans out there who will certainly find commonality with at least a couple of these writers.
I watched the show during its original run beginning in 2000 (with the exception of season 7), enjoyed the show, and have seen first hand the its role as comfort food for my wife and daughters.
This book is not meant to provide a deep analysis or critique of the show, but rather, is a nice little snack for all those fans out there who will certainly find commonality with at least a couple of these writers.
December 2, 2024
Gilmore Girls is my all time favorite show - I started watching it in high school when the reruns were on ABC Family and even bought the whole series box set on DVD. It is my forever comfort show and I’m so thankful it’s all on Netflix. I was so excited when I received the alert that my local public library acquired the Kindle version of this book and was the first to borrow it. The first several essays were pretty boring and I almost gave up/started reading another book. However, I picked it back up and the last 5 essays were enjoyable and got even better towards the end.
October 12, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this deeply personal collection of essays. It is a beautiful thing how so many people are able to relate to the show Gilmore Girls in so many different ways. This book was just okay for me, but it would make a cute holiday gift paired with a coffee mug.
January 3, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of essays. The writers discuss various aspects of Gilmore Girls as well as consider the show’s impact on their own lives. I appreciated reading about the writers’ perspectives and experiences, and this was a wonderful introduction to authors I may not have known about otherwise. And of course, revisiting such a beloved show is always delightful.
December 16, 2024
What a lovely, often sweet sometimes heartbreaking, collection of essays. There were multiple essays I had to stop after and digest for a while. I loved it and would recommend it to any Gilmore Girls fan.
January 21, 2025
A quick, enjoyable read! I’m learning a love a book of essays and I particularly loved all of the different stories around Gilmore Girls. The small details that stood out to different people was a favorite thing of mine.
November 19, 2024
Some quite thoughtful essays mixed with a couple that were downright bad, but it was a cozy read in the height of my GG re-watch season
November 25, 2024
If you love Gilmore Girls, read this!!!!!!!
December 18, 2024
Spotted on the airport bookstore shelf after only joining the GG universe a few months ago my heart was warmed. Oy with the poodles already!
September 19, 2024
A must-read for fans of Gilmore girls
With thanks to NetGalley, Dialogue Books and Renegade Books for the advanced reader copy.
Like most women my age, as soon as September comes around, something primal in me feels the urge to rewatch Gilmore Girls - the classic, small town autumnal American comfort show.
I devoured this collection of essays, which cover everything from Lorelai’s coat collection to the issue of class mobility.
I loved reading how others related to the show from their life experiences ; as a single mother, as a bookworm, as someone who is frivolous with money, or as someone with a difficult relationship with their mother.
Freya North said it best in her essay: “Gilmore Girls holds a mirror to life whilst also providing a breather from reality.”
Five stars from me, and now I’m off for another rewatch to view the show through some of the lenses covered in this collection of essays.
With thanks to NetGalley, Dialogue Books and Renegade Books for the advanced reader copy.
Like most women my age, as soon as September comes around, something primal in me feels the urge to rewatch Gilmore Girls - the classic, small town autumnal American comfort show.
I devoured this collection of essays, which cover everything from Lorelai’s coat collection to the issue of class mobility.
I loved reading how others related to the show from their life experiences ; as a single mother, as a bookworm, as someone who is frivolous with money, or as someone with a difficult relationship with their mother.
Freya North said it best in her essay: “Gilmore Girls holds a mirror to life whilst also providing a breather from reality.”
Five stars from me, and now I’m off for another rewatch to view the show through some of the lenses covered in this collection of essays.
December 7, 2024
I’ve read too much GG discourse so nothing here was particularly novel or interesting. A few essays had some really cool-sounding people talking about their life and vaguely tying it back to the show. The men mostly were annoying, like they deserve an award for watching a “girly” show. But a lot of this is rehashing the same gripes and loves about this show that has been expressed for the last something something number of years and blew up during the revival. Thankfully short, and overall the writing is good, but so many people expecting too much from a tv show form the early 00s. Would be more interested in seeing these issues explored with wider trends across shows rather than harping on one show repetitively.
November 7, 2024
Being “Gilmored” and what this says about mothers and daughters, social norms, pop culture, and self-perception (Stars Hollow, Connecticut; 2000 to 2007, streaming 2014 to today): Did you watch Gilmore Girls when it aired on network TV from 2000 to 2007? Or, any/some/all of the 153 original episodes (excludes the four-part miniseries spinoff) streaming since 2014?
If no, you might assume Life’s Short, Talk Fast: Fifteen Writers on Why We Can’t Stop Watching Gilmore Girls isn’t the book for you. Like you I hadn’t watched a single full episode, but found myself consistently moved by the candid, engaging, and well-written essays, unlike other collections unevenly appealing.
Like the TV “dramedy” series that’s made entertainment history, these mini-memoirs are like literary episodes that range from comedic, poke-fun-at-your-younger-self to serious. All offer something meaningful about a “cult” show they saw some aspect of their lives portrayed. Freya North felt “one of the cast”; Joanna Rakoff says it “changed my life.” Do you believe a TV show can be that influential?
Why don’t we first start by meeting the mother-daughter attached-at-the-hip team at the heart and center of the show for those unfamiliar with it: single Mom Lorelai 33 and Rory 16, played by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. Here’s the opening trailer:
If they act like Best Friends, that’s because they are. If you recognize the I’ll-Always-Be-There-for-You theme song that sums up the motherhood motif, “Where You Lead (I’ll Follow),” it’s sung by Carole King from her 1971 Tapestry album. (King owns a record shop in the fictional town Stars Hollow.)
Amy Sherman-Palladino created the show inspired by visiting the real town in Washington, Connecticut, which put a classic New England town on the map.
The fourteen essayists plus Ann Hood, many novelists, have dug deep into their psyche to dissect the Gilmore Girls phenomenon. Why they were so drawn to/obsessed with the show, or came to it as outliers initially, or watched it but aspects rubbed them the wrong way.
Most writers either saw themselves in the show, or wish they did, especially pertaining to “Forgiveness. Acceptance. Comfort. Resolution” of complicated mother-daughter relationships. Hood “crying when their love is so real that it’s like they are telling your story.” The show also hit a nerve for writers who are single mothers raising their teenage daughters like Lorelei did with Rory. (Or, a son, like Freya North). Others reacted to the fictional close bond they wish they had with their own mothers (Joanna Rakoff, Erin Almond, Cathi Hanauer).
Many found escape in the show’s fairy-tale setting. Other writers related to the pressure of feeling your child must get into an Ivy League college (Rory goes to Yale); journalistic career ambitions (Rory); addiction to coffee seen as a shared experience; and the life-giving importance of books (Rory).
Overall, what stands out is that in less than 200 pages we’re presented with such honest, reflective, nostalgic, and poignant memories. “Childhood conditioning runs deep,” says Cathi Hanauer.
Hood kicks off the revelations fifty years later watching the show with her daughter, seeing herself as boy crazy teenage Rory, appreciating mistakes she made that cost her two marriages. (She’s happily married to one of the three male contributors, Michael Ruhlman, an author too who finally caved in to watch the show so he wasn’t left out of whatever was happening between his wife and stepdaughter). Hood’s humorous and solemn prose takes our hand and brings even the doubters into this TV-mirroring-life storytelling compilation.
Joanna Rakoff also found herself “sobbing” for the opposite reason as Hood – her mother chillingly cold. She writes of the enduring damages a mother’s emotional abuse does to a young girl’s self-image and feelings of loneliness. She does relate, though, to Lorelai’s parents’ “house, the world, the worldview.” “So stifling, so soul-crushing.”
Katie Moulton, fortunate to have had what Ruby and Hood did, wonders “Is codependency even bad?” “Is it something to admire or strive for?” Reasoning that, “Who among us gets out of adolescence alive?” “Who can leave their parents whole?”
Tracey Minkin says the show was “the most book-filled TV series of all time.” Seeing herself in bookaholic Rory, she warms all book lovers with, “I didn’t just read. I was a reader.” Over seven seasons, Rory’s seen reading 339 books. Fascinating the number was counted as part of the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge that asks “how many have you read?” and provides the full list organized by book cover.
Nina de Gramont takes a different perspective reflecting on all the coats Lorelai wears and how she relates to being “reckless with money.” She provides a healthy yet “incomplete list” of Lorelai’s outerwear. “I want to believe in something that will make the coats seem true. I want to believe in Stars Hollow” – a sentiment embraced by many. While she recognizes old habits die hard, her message is there’s more to life that’s more important.
Rand Richards Cooper’s “Everything Softens” was an “outlier” like Hood’s husband with a “Gilmore-worshipping” family. “It has an emotional core,” his daughter affirms. “There are scenes that stick with you,” his wife adds. Many do cite a favorite scene and explain why it has staying power. Cooper’s essay title comes from Lorelai’s love of snow: “The world changes when it snows . . . it gets quiet. Everything softens.” The “Sensing Snow” episode he’s quoting from was shown on Season 2, episode 10, snow a recurring winter theme.
Three essays stand out among this love fest:
Sanjena Sathian’s “Hiding in the Floorboards” deeply offended by the racial stereotyping of a Japanese-American actress playing a Korean-American. A subtler form of racism. Raised by Indian-American parents, her objection is to lumping all Asian Americans together. Labeling “othered” American immigrants from different nations and cultures in South Asia as all the same, and depicting Asians as the “model minority.” We relate to these feelings years after the show was produced in the recent surge in anti-Asian crimes triggered by the COVID pandemic.
Erin Almond’s “My Connecticut” is a far cry from Stars Hollow. A victim of her mother’s physical abuse, she vows to never be like that, seeing it wasn’t about her wrongdoing but her mother’s.
Anjanette Delgado takes us for a loop even further suggesting she wasn’t only physically abused but sexually abused by her father. Understandably the “too perky Mom” and “Christmas-postcard-town” don’t resonate, though she credits the show for eliciting “real-life feelings.”
Hood’s beginning essay borrows the show’s motto, In Omnia Paratus: “Be Ready for Anything.” It’s a philosophy on life. “We need to jump into the unknown and then pull ourselves up, bruised, aching, and jump again.”
Hood has assembled writers who thoughtfully show us why a TV show can be so affecting.
If no, you might assume Life’s Short, Talk Fast: Fifteen Writers on Why We Can’t Stop Watching Gilmore Girls isn’t the book for you. Like you I hadn’t watched a single full episode, but found myself consistently moved by the candid, engaging, and well-written essays, unlike other collections unevenly appealing.
Like the TV “dramedy” series that’s made entertainment history, these mini-memoirs are like literary episodes that range from comedic, poke-fun-at-your-younger-self to serious. All offer something meaningful about a “cult” show they saw some aspect of their lives portrayed. Freya North felt “one of the cast”; Joanna Rakoff says it “changed my life.” Do you believe a TV show can be that influential?
Why don’t we first start by meeting the mother-daughter attached-at-the-hip team at the heart and center of the show for those unfamiliar with it: single Mom Lorelai 33 and Rory 16, played by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. Here’s the opening trailer:
If they act like Best Friends, that’s because they are. If you recognize the I’ll-Always-Be-There-for-You theme song that sums up the motherhood motif, “Where You Lead (I’ll Follow),” it’s sung by Carole King from her 1971 Tapestry album. (King owns a record shop in the fictional town Stars Hollow.)
Amy Sherman-Palladino created the show inspired by visiting the real town in Washington, Connecticut, which put a classic New England town on the map.
The fourteen essayists plus Ann Hood, many novelists, have dug deep into their psyche to dissect the Gilmore Girls phenomenon. Why they were so drawn to/obsessed with the show, or came to it as outliers initially, or watched it but aspects rubbed them the wrong way.
Most writers either saw themselves in the show, or wish they did, especially pertaining to “Forgiveness. Acceptance. Comfort. Resolution” of complicated mother-daughter relationships. Hood “crying when their love is so real that it’s like they are telling your story.” The show also hit a nerve for writers who are single mothers raising their teenage daughters like Lorelei did with Rory. (Or, a son, like Freya North). Others reacted to the fictional close bond they wish they had with their own mothers (Joanna Rakoff, Erin Almond, Cathi Hanauer).
Many found escape in the show’s fairy-tale setting. Other writers related to the pressure of feeling your child must get into an Ivy League college (Rory goes to Yale); journalistic career ambitions (Rory); addiction to coffee seen as a shared experience; and the life-giving importance of books (Rory).
Overall, what stands out is that in less than 200 pages we’re presented with such honest, reflective, nostalgic, and poignant memories. “Childhood conditioning runs deep,” says Cathi Hanauer.
Hood kicks off the revelations fifty years later watching the show with her daughter, seeing herself as boy crazy teenage Rory, appreciating mistakes she made that cost her two marriages. (She’s happily married to one of the three male contributors, Michael Ruhlman, an author too who finally caved in to watch the show so he wasn’t left out of whatever was happening between his wife and stepdaughter). Hood’s humorous and solemn prose takes our hand and brings even the doubters into this TV-mirroring-life storytelling compilation.
Joanna Rakoff also found herself “sobbing” for the opposite reason as Hood – her mother chillingly cold. She writes of the enduring damages a mother’s emotional abuse does to a young girl’s self-image and feelings of loneliness. She does relate, though, to Lorelai’s parents’ “house, the world, the worldview.” “So stifling, so soul-crushing.”
Katie Moulton, fortunate to have had what Ruby and Hood did, wonders “Is codependency even bad?” “Is it something to admire or strive for?” Reasoning that, “Who among us gets out of adolescence alive?” “Who can leave their parents whole?”
Tracey Minkin says the show was “the most book-filled TV series of all time.” Seeing herself in bookaholic Rory, she warms all book lovers with, “I didn’t just read. I was a reader.” Over seven seasons, Rory’s seen reading 339 books. Fascinating the number was counted as part of the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge that asks “how many have you read?” and provides the full list organized by book cover.
Nina de Gramont takes a different perspective reflecting on all the coats Lorelai wears and how she relates to being “reckless with money.” She provides a healthy yet “incomplete list” of Lorelai’s outerwear. “I want to believe in something that will make the coats seem true. I want to believe in Stars Hollow” – a sentiment embraced by many. While she recognizes old habits die hard, her message is there’s more to life that’s more important.
Rand Richards Cooper’s “Everything Softens” was an “outlier” like Hood’s husband with a “Gilmore-worshipping” family. “It has an emotional core,” his daughter affirms. “There are scenes that stick with you,” his wife adds. Many do cite a favorite scene and explain why it has staying power. Cooper’s essay title comes from Lorelai’s love of snow: “The world changes when it snows . . . it gets quiet. Everything softens.” The “Sensing Snow” episode he’s quoting from was shown on Season 2, episode 10, snow a recurring winter theme.
Three essays stand out among this love fest:
Sanjena Sathian’s “Hiding in the Floorboards” deeply offended by the racial stereotyping of a Japanese-American actress playing a Korean-American. A subtler form of racism. Raised by Indian-American parents, her objection is to lumping all Asian Americans together. Labeling “othered” American immigrants from different nations and cultures in South Asia as all the same, and depicting Asians as the “model minority.” We relate to these feelings years after the show was produced in the recent surge in anti-Asian crimes triggered by the COVID pandemic.
Erin Almond’s “My Connecticut” is a far cry from Stars Hollow. A victim of her mother’s physical abuse, she vows to never be like that, seeing it wasn’t about her wrongdoing but her mother’s.
Anjanette Delgado takes us for a loop even further suggesting she wasn’t only physically abused but sexually abused by her father. Understandably the “too perky Mom” and “Christmas-postcard-town” don’t resonate, though she credits the show for eliciting “real-life feelings.”
Hood’s beginning essay borrows the show’s motto, In Omnia Paratus: “Be Ready for Anything.” It’s a philosophy on life. “We need to jump into the unknown and then pull ourselves up, bruised, aching, and jump again.”
Hood has assembled writers who thoughtfully show us why a TV show can be so affecting.
December 15, 2024
First off, if you love Gilmore Girls then yes 100% read this. In fact I’d love to read more stories of people’s connections to the show and its characters.
No one asked for this but here is mine because a show so universally loved by all should be continued to be shared in a deep meaningful way.
When I was a teenager I remember going to my friend’s house, sitting in a cozy house with Gilmore Girls on the big screen. A talk fast banter show about a girl & her mom that I couldn’t relate to or understand. I rolled my eyes at the show but couldn’t deny that my friend and her mom were Lorelai and Rory. They had inside jokes, always laughing, enjoying food together, going out of their way to tell each-other everything, and they were best friends actual best friends. It was bitter sweet to be around, a sting of jealously with admiration coming from a home where I felt completely distant from my mother.
Fast forward into married adult hood, I finally thought hey it’s about time I give this show a chance, everyone loves it, it truly can’t just be an annoying show. In the cold of winter I put it on and became completely immersed in the show finding it witty, charming, and escaping to a world of coziness. I fell in love with it and binged all the seasons. I internally joked with myself that I must have just been bitter when I was younger that I lacked a relationship with my own mom. Watching it somehow started to heal pieces of me that I didn’t know needed healing. Every year at Fall I rewatch the whole series and every year I find myself taking something new away from it. Now at the age of 34 I’ve watched this show about 12 times start to finish (“yeah, yeah what a waste of time” - said the pretentious person with no soul). There are huge themes that have shaped the person I am and how I want to live my life but two of them really have stuck with me, community and the art of showing up.
Community. Star Hallows a quaint walkable town with huge personality, bringing people to together all the time for involvement and festivities. A diner you can go to regularly where you see friendly faces and know the grumpy guy who pours your coffee. It’s the small town feels wrapped up in a bow. My soul longed for this sense of community and slow living so much that when I visited a small town on Whidbey Island, WA I fell deeply in love claiming it was just like Star Hallows. My family ended up leaving busy sunny San Diego and moved to this beautiful little town in the PNW. From our small town parades to our gossiping Towns folk it all truly is small town living paradise.
The art of showing up. There’s a common theme of people showing up for each-other in ways that seemed so unrealistic to me, things I just haven’t seen in my own life. First off the way Lorelai and Rory show up continuously for the people in their life is inpsiring. I don’t mean physically being there, I mean they come to be present even if that means showing their emotions or starting an argument. They are fully their with their witty jokes, excitement over ice cream, full of thrill at the mundane town hall topics, an over the top show of love like the biggest pizza in the world for a birthday or elaborate schemes to get Lane on date. Lorelai sewing town costumes, Luke grudgingly giving out free hot cocoa, Emily insisting on repairing a broken relationship despite her own daughter’s dislike for her. Richard’s unwavering support to his grand daughter’s education. The thing is it’s easier to not show up, to be emotional unavailable, avoid the tough conversations, accept defeat, hide from people who’ve hurt us, and cut people out of our lives forever. I’ve been determined to show up like these characters for my friends, family, and myself. Life’s too short to take the easy way out or sit on the sidelines and these characters make you want to leap for your goals and make life messy if that’s what it takes to feel alive. It’s makes you want to show up for yourself too in the outfits you want, quirky music you dance to, the books you feel drawn to read. There’s so much authenticity in the way these characters portray themselves.
I could go on and on about everything I love about this show and how it continuously brings me comfort and new perspectives but if you read this way too long book review thank you and I hope you share a part of your connection!
No one asked for this but here is mine because a show so universally loved by all should be continued to be shared in a deep meaningful way.
When I was a teenager I remember going to my friend’s house, sitting in a cozy house with Gilmore Girls on the big screen. A talk fast banter show about a girl & her mom that I couldn’t relate to or understand. I rolled my eyes at the show but couldn’t deny that my friend and her mom were Lorelai and Rory. They had inside jokes, always laughing, enjoying food together, going out of their way to tell each-other everything, and they were best friends actual best friends. It was bitter sweet to be around, a sting of jealously with admiration coming from a home where I felt completely distant from my mother.
Fast forward into married adult hood, I finally thought hey it’s about time I give this show a chance, everyone loves it, it truly can’t just be an annoying show. In the cold of winter I put it on and became completely immersed in the show finding it witty, charming, and escaping to a world of coziness. I fell in love with it and binged all the seasons. I internally joked with myself that I must have just been bitter when I was younger that I lacked a relationship with my own mom. Watching it somehow started to heal pieces of me that I didn’t know needed healing. Every year at Fall I rewatch the whole series and every year I find myself taking something new away from it. Now at the age of 34 I’ve watched this show about 12 times start to finish (“yeah, yeah what a waste of time” - said the pretentious person with no soul). There are huge themes that have shaped the person I am and how I want to live my life but two of them really have stuck with me, community and the art of showing up.
Community. Star Hallows a quaint walkable town with huge personality, bringing people to together all the time for involvement and festivities. A diner you can go to regularly where you see friendly faces and know the grumpy guy who pours your coffee. It’s the small town feels wrapped up in a bow. My soul longed for this sense of community and slow living so much that when I visited a small town on Whidbey Island, WA I fell deeply in love claiming it was just like Star Hallows. My family ended up leaving busy sunny San Diego and moved to this beautiful little town in the PNW. From our small town parades to our gossiping Towns folk it all truly is small town living paradise.
The art of showing up. There’s a common theme of people showing up for each-other in ways that seemed so unrealistic to me, things I just haven’t seen in my own life. First off the way Lorelai and Rory show up continuously for the people in their life is inpsiring. I don’t mean physically being there, I mean they come to be present even if that means showing their emotions or starting an argument. They are fully their with their witty jokes, excitement over ice cream, full of thrill at the mundane town hall topics, an over the top show of love like the biggest pizza in the world for a birthday or elaborate schemes to get Lane on date. Lorelai sewing town costumes, Luke grudgingly giving out free hot cocoa, Emily insisting on repairing a broken relationship despite her own daughter’s dislike for her. Richard’s unwavering support to his grand daughter’s education. The thing is it’s easier to not show up, to be emotional unavailable, avoid the tough conversations, accept defeat, hide from people who’ve hurt us, and cut people out of our lives forever. I’ve been determined to show up like these characters for my friends, family, and myself. Life’s too short to take the easy way out or sit on the sidelines and these characters make you want to leap for your goals and make life messy if that’s what it takes to feel alive. It’s makes you want to show up for yourself too in the outfits you want, quirky music you dance to, the books you feel drawn to read. There’s so much authenticity in the way these characters portray themselves.
I could go on and on about everything I love about this show and how it continuously brings me comfort and new perspectives but if you read this way too long book review thank you and I hope you share a part of your connection!
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