Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

Memoir Winner



The Third Gilmore Girl

Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy.

Now, Bishop reflects on her remarkable life and looks towards the future with The Third Gilmore Girl. She shares some of her greatest stories and the life lessons she’s learned on her journey. From her early transition from dance to drama, to marrying young to a compulsive gambler, to the losses and achievements she experienced—among them marching for women’s rights and losing her second husband to cancer—Bishop offers a rich, genuine celebration of her life.

Full of witty insights, The Third Gilmore Girl is a warm, unapologetic, and spirited memoir from a woman who has left indelible impressions on her audiences for decades and has no plans on slowing down.

I loved this memoir. I went in looking for Gilmore Girl insights - and I did get it and enjoy it - but actually the first half of the book was a delight to read getting her insights into the theatre world as a dancer and (view spoiler)[that she was the original Sheila in Chorus Line and the song At The Ballet (which I adore) is actually her story! (hide spoiler)]

I agree, the parts under the spoiler were the biggest surprise and the best part of the book. If this hadn't won the Award, I probably wouldn't have read the book, and I think that would have been a mistake.