Ali in Wonderland

Aug 01, 2012 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs-and-biographies

If you want to skip this whole review, I'll sum this up pretty quickly: Ali tries too hard.

I've never actually heard of this person (this book was given to me as a plane-trip time-killer), but apparently she's some sort of B-list comedian. Apparently, though, now everyone - and I mean everyone thinks they can write a memoir. Including Ms. George Snuffleupagus. Okay.
So Ali is trying to be funny, which is the only reason that Ali's book scrapes two stars. If this were actually a serious, actual me...more If you want to skip this whole review, I'll sum this up pretty quickly: Ali tries too hard.

I've never actually heard of this person (this book was given to me as a plane-trip time-killer), but apparently she's some sort of B-list comedian. Apparently, though, now everyone - and I mean everyone thinks they can write a memoir. Including Ms. George Snuffleupagus. Okay.
So Ali is trying to be funny, which is the only reason that Ali's book scrapes two stars. If this were actually a serious, actual memoir, it'd be bottom of the barrel. She takes serious topics and actions like doing drugs and gang rape and makes fun of them, and is blatantly anti-Semitic, homophobic and occasionally racist (in a reverse sense: every blonde character in the book is a Nazi German). For example, in describing a psychotic roommate she shared in boarding school, she says "Abigail would have been better served by joining a satanic cult or the Israeli army." One would then take from that that the Israeli army is equivalent to a satanic cult.

Forgetting the numerous offenses, her other jokes and funny lines are actually very funny - to a third grader. Even as suggested by a review in the back cover, her other supply of jokes involve either urine, feces, or some other bodily fluid.

The writing itself is atrocious. It's somewhere halfway between an actual book and a series of "Tall Tales" as she suggests, trying to carve it into separate stories, but they aren't in chronological order, and Chapter 1 falls directly before Chapter 15. The events aren't correlated at all, therefore making even more confusing. The French dude that proposed to her midway through the book wasn't mentioned until he did so, and many other characters were developed throughout courses of pages, but not fit into proper mini-plotlines as expected for a good short story or "tall tale."

Ali herself as a person is irritating, too. She runs through therapists like she does marriage proposals, and if you've read the book you'll see what I mean. I'll give her credit that most of the said therapists are pretty crazy, but she goes to a last-stop group therapy clinic amongst the most depressed people in New York, and what does she have to be depressed about? A nice guy proposed to her (in an Irish castle with gourmet French food) and she rejected him, and he moved on a month or two after.
In addition, she also complains. A lot. About "normal woman" things (probably because her publisher and editor were begging on their knees for her to find something that could appeal to the average American) like childbirth, marriage, and kids. And about the stupidest things: the first half the book is complaining about her rich-kid life in a mansion in the most expensive part of Washington, which apparently wasn't good enough for sleepovers. She pokes fun at the fact that her house's calls are intercepted during the Nixon regime, and thinks it funny that her sister had to have immense spinal surgery.

I will give Ali credit that it doesn't seem like she has a ghost-writer, but you never know. And while she continues to boast (and complain) about growing up among senators, criticize cocaine-addicted boarding-school chicks, and wallow in the miseries of a continued amount of idiotic suitors, she fails in one prospect; her ability to make someone crack a laugh.
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May 25, 2012 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars

I fell in love with Ali Wentworth when Charlie Rose interviewed her to promote this book. She told Charlie that her husband, George takes their children to church every Sunday. Charlie asked if she joins them, she said, "Oh no, that's mommy time!" I instantly fell in love with her!

Ali in Wonderland is a continuation of that conversation with a glimpse into her upper middle class up-bringing as the daughter of parents who worked in the center of Washington DCs power elite. Did you know that Dona...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mildly amusing with a total misunderstanding of where to classify her upbringing. Boarding school, summering in cape cod, having your parents buy you a 3 bedroom house with a pool in la and Vera wang wedding dresses does not make for a typical middle class life style like she continued to reiterate.

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Oct 05, 2012 Annie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Jerry Seinfeld apparently said that "everything that comes out of Ali's mouth is funny". Based on this recommendation I thought I was in for a HILARIOUS read. That did not happen. At best the book was amusing. As with any circumstances entered with high expectations I was let down like a day-old helium balloon.

I have issues with anyone who claims to be an "average, middle-class girl" yet does unpaid summer internships in France and has a mother who sells a brand new vehicle to her daughter's boy...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit

Everyone has people they don't really like that much for no reason, if only because you don't "know" them very well. This author falls under that category and thankfully, this book (sort of) changed that! I do like the people she surrounds herself with and the reviews were good, which is why I picked this book up in the first place. And it was an enjoyable, easy read. My favorite part? Each chapter was like it's own little story, so there was very little to follow. And while some of the "charact...more

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May 29, 2012 Roxanne rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was really looking forward to reading Ali in Wonderland, but it was a big disappointment.

I've really liked Ali Wentworth in everything I've seen her do on TV, but in her book I never got the laugh factory going and didn't know when to really believe in her written words or not. I now know this is not a serious memoir my any means. More of a collection of very unorganized zingers. I was hoping for more about her marriage to George.

At the end of the book, I was more put off by her than I would h...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Mason rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you’re looking for a memoir that follows the author’s tattered life from young child to adulthood -- this isn’t the one for you.

If you’re looking for a memoir that follows the author’s life in no particular order but has you laughing out loud -- look no further, this is the one.

Ali Wentworth wasn’t a child of abuse. She was a child of divorce, but her mother Muffie has always been a pillar of strength for her. The story begins with Ali’s courtship and engagement that would have most women swo...more If you’re looking for a memoir that follows the author’s tattered life from young child to adulthood -- this isn’t the one for you.

If you’re looking for a memoir that follows the author’s life in no particular order but has you laughing out loud -- look no further, this is the one.

Ali Wentworth wasn’t a child of abuse. She was a child of divorce, but her mother Muffie has always been a pillar of strength for her. The story begins with Ali’s courtship and engagement that would have most women swooning. Her boyfriend rented a castle in Ireland to propose. But Ali knew he wasn’t her ‘Mr. Right’ and weeks later broke the engagement.

From here the story goes back and forth from Ali the adult, Ali the child, and Ali the teenager. Along the way she encounters a number of the ‘right man at the moment’ and had some interesting adventures. Coming from a family of political journalist and a mother who was the social secretary in the Reagan White House, Ali rebelled. With her unique view of the world, Ali embraced her comedic side and set out for Hollywood.

Ali shares her take on growing up among Washington’s elite to doing comedy sketches in L.A. with then-aspiring artists Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow. She tells how a blind date finally lead her to her ‘Mr. Right’ - political and media star George Stephanopoulos - and back to Washington as a wife and mother of 2 girls. Ali is now an acclaimed comedic actress and writer appearing in TV series and major movies such as It’s Complicated.

The journey is hilarious, off-the-wall, heart-warming, and very intimate. Ali is a lady that can make you laugh and can laugh at herself as well. She pulls no punches as she shares the good and bad of her family life. She has had her ups and downs, but has relied on a strong family gene to keep her going.

Hearing ALI IN WONDERLAND read by the author enhanced the story that much more. Her mannerisms of the story really brings it to life. I must attempt I had no idea who Ali was before listening to her memoir, but now I’m a huge fan. This is a charming memoir that will have you crying from laughing so much.

Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth, Read by Ali Wentworth, Harper Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-0062111890, Unabridged, Digital Download, Listening Time 5 Hours, 10 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
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Feb 13, 2012 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 4 of 5 stars

I requested this book after reading the reviews, particularly the quotes from Kathy Griffin and Chelsea Handler, because I know that if they think someone is funny, so will I. I was right – Ali Wentworth proved to be quite the comedian and storyteller in Ali in Wonderland. I’m not sure everything in this book is true, as the title states, “and other tall tales”, but this "memoir" is hilarious anyway. Her descriptions of people are so ridiculous that I found myself rereading those parts to my boy...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sorry, Sorry, Had to do it....
Confession time: I requested this book from my Harper email because Ali Wentworth is married to George Stephanopolous, Bill Clinton's early press secretary and now journalist. As I am half-Greek (Ethnically Greek from Turkey via diaspora), I am required by law to know things about him.

To spin it back to genre: there have been so many books recently riffing off the classic fantasy tale, Alice in Wonderland. This is one of the better ones.
What this memoir tells me is...more Sorry, Sorry, Had to do it....
Confession time: I requested this book from my Harper email because Ali Wentworth is married to George Stephanopolous, Bill Clinton's early press secretary and now journalist. As I am half-Greek (Ethnically Greek from Turkey via diaspora), I am required by law to know things about him.

To spin it back to genre: there have been so many books recently riffing off the classic fantasy tale, Alice in Wonderland. This is one of the better ones.
What this memoir tells me is that George lied to his family and the couple hid Ai's past from his father a priest and his mother, a Presbytera. Before I started hanging out with WASPS I used to say that my was more conservative than WASPS, now that "some of my best friends are WASPS" I know that WASPS are often politically conservative but in personal life liberal with Mulligans on lifestyle.

This book sure as all get out proves it. While essentially substance-free, Ali's pre-George life was filled with partying and men, depression and a jet-setting lifestyle, proving drugs are not necessary for being all messed up. A lifetime of careless parenting, boarding school and gentility as well as a clinical depression, left Ali screwed up. It was, apparently meeting George S. that brought her to a place where she could get it together.

If her life has been strange, it has also been filled with an opportunity to look back and laugh (as in, "Some day we'll look back on this and laugh."). Her writing is how I think I sound. Since I think I am really funny, and that you should be laughing right now, that is a compliment.

For example, in describing her "big, fat WASP, Greek wedding," Wentworth says:

My favorite moment was watching my relatives try to Greek dance. It was like watching a group of old people auditioning for Lord of the Dance. Then mercifully they were swept up by George's family to snake around the room, screaming "Opa" at inappropriate moments.
from the uncorrected proof, p. 187

Unfortunately, like me she has a a tendency to be long-winded, just a little too much about repeat episodes of depression. But very funny stuff. If you happen to have a WASP friend dating a Greek man, get this book for them. It is a fun read, with short chapters, so you can be amused while distracted.

http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspo...
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Dec 04, 2012 Dolly rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Ali Wentworth

Shelves: 2012, biography, birthday, education-school, france-french, humor, new-england, ocean-seashore, nonfiction, relationships, other-usa, spain-spanish-hispanic, virginia, washington-dc

I've been watching Ali Wentworth's Daily Shot news weblog for a few months now. I appreciate her wry wit and I like the short, humorous videos. So when I saw this book on Goodreads, I thought that I would have to give it a try.

The book is a compilation of short stories from Ali's life. Each entry is filled with snarky and self-deprecating humor. We are fairly close in age, and although my life is nothing like hers, I thought her stories were fascinating and funny. I have to admit that I like her...more I've been watching Ali Wentworth's Daily Shot news weblog for a few months now. I appreciate her wry wit and I like the short, humorous videos. So when I saw this book on Goodreads, I thought that I would have to give it a try.

The book is a compilation of short stories from Ali's life. Each entry is filled with snarky and self-deprecating humor. We are fairly close in age, and although my life is nothing like hers, I thought her stories were fascinating and funny. I have to admit that I like her weblog better, as I can relate to her experiences of being a mom of young girls who have similar ages to our own.

Her privileged upbringing was interesting and bizarre; it was hard for me to imagine what it was like. She was the boarding school student, running out to the store buy snacks, whereas I was the cashier in the grocery store, shaking my head at the excesses of the students' purchases, and wondering why their parents would buy them BMWs, Audis, and such. I may not be able to understand her glitzy lifestyle, especially living in New York City and Los Angeles and jetting to Paris to visit a boyfriend, but overall, the stories are entertaining.

I can appreciate one aspect of her lifestyle, though. She gushes about the Four Seasons hotel and resort chain and I totally understand. My family and I took advantage of an off-season, military rate at the Four Seasons Manele Bay resort on Lana'i. We only stayed for two nights and it was a one-time occurrence, but it was one of the best experiences of our lives. Our girls still remember that trip and speak of it wistfully. We may never stay at another Four Seasons again, but I will remember that experience for a lifetime.

interesting quotes:

"What woman hasn't riffled through her man's e-mails, checked out his ex-girlfriend's Facebook page, or tested him with swabs for STDs while he slept?" (p. 9)

"The problem with having a sheltered and protected upbringing is, you're not prepared for anything alien and outlandish, like the penis." (p. 81)

"To this day, I wouldn't know I had cellulite, age spots, and gray hair if my kids didn't point them out daily." (p. 213)

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Sep 17, 2012 Marie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs, nonfiction

http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/...

As I joke in my house, I'm not easily amused. My nine-year-old son rented "The Three Stooges" recently, and I knew that I would not find it funny in the least. Even when watch something I do find funny (like "Downton Abbey" or "Lost in Austen"), my husband is rolling on the floor laughing while I might just smile to myself.

About the only people who regularly make me laugh are Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Ellen Degeneres, and Jane Lynch. When I've read hum...more http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/...

As I joke in my house, I'm not easily amused. My nine-year-old son rented "The Three Stooges" recently, and I knew that I would not find it funny in the least. Even when watch something I do find funny (like "Downton Abbey" or "Lost in Austen"), my husband is rolling on the floor laughing while I might just smile to myself.

About the only people who regularly make me laugh are Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Ellen Degeneres, and Jane Lynch. When I've read humorous memoirs, I often start out thinking they are light and interesting, and then they grow tiresome.

That's Ali in Wonderland for me. My husband had checked it out of the library for humor research (for his writing). I picked it up because it looked interesting--Wentworth is married to George Stephanopolous. She's exactly my age, so many of her childhood and teenage memories rang true for me (like when her sister who had just had scoliosis surgery and ran away in a full body cast because she was fed up, and Ali had to follow her, but the only thing she cared about was getting home for The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, and Love American Style, and her sister said she would only return home if Ali could make her laugh, so Ali took off her clothes and rubbed mud all over herself and did some weird kind of dance, only to be seen by people driving by). Some of the anecotes were indeed funny.

But midway through I started to get bored. I think the last straw was the chapter talking about how her mother believed that the cure for anything was to go to the Four Seasons. Wentworth was raised in privilege and lives in privilege now. Another chapter was about family-friendly resorts and how inconvenient it can be to slip on a dirty diaper by the poolside. Although I assume she's a good liberal in the Kennedy style, I just couldn't relate to her problems and complaints. She also jumped around tons in her storytelling, so it was hard to keep track of which part of her life she was describing.

I ended up scanning the second half of the book to the end when she talked about meeting and marrying George. The descriptions of her big fat Greek wedding and family were funny...but I found myself ready to move onto something else.(less)

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Dec 04, 2012 Bonnie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir

I had a youth and early adulthood that was more interesting than many; I took a lot of chances, met a lot of people, went a lot of places, and had a lot of fun. Every once in a while I will tell the story of having a grueling and personal fight with a former friend in the Letters Section of the New York Times, or traveling around with Duran duran in the Midwestern leg of the Planet Earth tour, or riding on the back of Malcom Forbes' motorcycle down a deserted Park Avenue at 4 am, or getting rous...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Katharine rated it 1 of 5 stars

Technically, there was nothing wrong with this book. The writing was fine. But it was, from beginning to end, a series of name-dropping party stories from a rich, marginally accomplished blonde who was as weightless as her photo on the cover and just as empty as the cup underneath her.

Sigh. Perhaps since I read Bossypants, I expect too much. But if one is billed as a comedienne from In Living Color and apparently was funny enough to work alongside Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans, then her stories w...more Technically, there was nothing wrong with this book. The writing was fine. But it was, from beginning to end, a series of name-dropping party stories from a rich, marginally accomplished blonde who was as weightless as her photo on the cover and just as empty as the cup underneath her.

Sigh. Perhaps since I read Bossypants, I expect too much. But if one is billed as a comedienne from In Living Color and apparently was funny enough to work alongside Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans, then her stories would be funny too. Nope. Not even one of them.

The book opens up describing her emotional breakdown after accepting one of many marriage proposals. I thought that this would set the tone and trajectory of the book; that this memoir would be about her soul-searching through her upper middle class childhood to find out the root of her neurosis with plenty of jokes thrown in to make me laugh with her AND suffer with her. None of that happened. Instead she described her time in therapy in the vaguest of terms and quit attending voluntarily because once she got the prescription for Zoloft, she was fine as far as she was concerned.

Her other stories were of her childhood, her time with her fascinating mother (the only interesting person in the whole book, IMHO) her time in boarding school, her time in LA and then back to Washington D.C. None of them were that entertaining or amusing. I thought that she worked way too hard to give me details, name-drop a celebrity or politician, set me up for some sort of punchline that would include her mother's biting comment, and then . . . . an anticlimactic ending. I'm sure all of these stories were much funnier around her dining room table with guests who were drinking more than I was.

Her self-indulgent stories made me suspect I was reading the accounts of a narcissist. Let's see, is there the many, many accounts of bad behavior with little consequences? Yes! Is her description of the many men in her life based solely on their physical appearances, how much fun they had together and the money they spent on her? Yes! Does handle all of the big crises in her life, including the attacks of 9/11, by checking into the Four Seasons to be waited on hand and foot? Yes! Does she have anything but general ambivalence to the faith her staunchly Greek Orthodox in-laws? No! Does she accept a marriage proposal (her second by several men) just because it would be easier to say yes than no? Yes! Then, when the fiancee comes to meet her family does she treat him badly, have him stomp off and not really care? Yes!
Does she pray? Meditate? Seek higher wisdom? Find out why she had an emotional breakdown? Regret any bad behavior? No, no, no, no and no. Maybe my standards are too high but I have a lot more respect for people who claim to be funny if they have some sort of depth. Anything would have helped. Really.

Then, there was this bit of advice, which left me mortified: I believe that every woman should. sample all the different groups in the male food pyramid. That way, when you finally get married, you're never enticed by the fantasy of the sculpted yoga instructor who "gets you" or the Brazilian ex-husband of a gallery owner you met once at a Ben Nicholson retrospective. You've been there, you've done him. Marriage is like being on a perpetual fast, in that you don't have to waste all that time fantasizing about the curly fries if you've had them already . An barfed." She's now married to George Stephanolpoulos. I wonder if he's read this book.

I wanted to like her. I really did. I like reading memoirs of professional comedians and humorists because I want to be a funny writer too. But Ali Wentworth you were a disappointment. If you write again, please show me the real you not the weightless blonde on the cover.
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Jul 24, 2012 Elizabeth Moeller rated it 2 of 5 stars

I suppose I should have considered myself warned when this book showcased blurbs from Chelsea Handler, Kathy Griffin and the author's mother, Muffie Cabot. I have nothing against humor. I really enjoyed Lizz Free or Die, by Lizz Winstead, which was about her career as a comic and writer, as well as an autobiography.

However, the problem with Ali in Wonderland is that not only is the humor hardly to be found, but the stories she presents are disorganized and largely uninteresting. Wentworth begin...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Katie Christian rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy Ali Wentworth's acting and comedy, so I expected to also like her writing style. I wasn't disappointed! I actually had no idea that she is married to George Stephanopoulos. She may have understated her upper-middle-class upbringing, or at least what I would designate as upper-middle-class. In doing so she came off a little ungrateful, but still likeable. In the same breath she explains 'the [Wentworth family] money is gone', and then that both her parents, herself, and all of her sibling...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Allie Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir

I loved watching Ali Wentworth on Oprah. She is so funny and I’d really been looking forward to reading this book. I wasn’t disappointed, her humor shines through on every page.
All in all, a sweet and funny memoir. Although Ali is the daughter of DC political royalty, an actress and George Stephanopoulos’s wife…her stories were very relatable. Honestly, she could be one of my girlfriends. Her family stories – are a comedic writer’s goldmine! I loved them. Then she got married and her family expa...more

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Mar 15, 2013 John Davis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Many might be put off by the facts of her childhood in Washington D.C. in a household of 'socially active' and well-to-do parents. But despite the fact that her mother was Nancy Reagan's social secretary, she (the mother) had also worked for the Bobby Kennedy campaign. Her dad was a political reporter. So she in fact is quite liberal in outlook. Her descriptions of summer camp and university life are hilarious. Her memories of life in Hollywood, while very funny, are enough to discourage any you...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

*Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher to review for the amazon vine program. The following is that review as it appears here:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R4X1N3R0...

My first memory of seeing Ali Wentworth was when she was a regular on the Fox series IN LIVING COLOR. Since then, Ali has gone on to appear on shows such as Seinfeld, The Tonight Show and Oprah, as well as the films Jerry Maguire, Office Space and It's Complicated.

Ali has lived quite a colorful life. She was born...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Dimity rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, lol, memoirs-biographies, lighter-side, need-to-review, pub-12

I can't decide if I will finish this one or not. I am familiar with Alexandra Wentworth's work through her hilarious series "Head Case" so I thought her book would be right up my alley. However, this memoir is falling rather flat. Wentworth shouldn't have to apologize for being born into an upper class, wealthy family but her constant self-conscious efforts to minimize the reality of her upbringing are ruining his book for me. She describes herself as "middle-class" but almost none of the anecdo...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Jael rated it 4 of 5 stars

I remember Ali Wentworth from In Living Color. Back then I thought she was a little ditzy. The characters she played were usually on the dumb side. I thought she must be a little ditzy in real life, too. After reading her book Ali in Wonderland: And other Tall Tales, I realized how wrong I was. She is quite smart and funny.

Who knew her mother was a social secretary for President Reagan. She grew up a privileged kid in the Washington, D.C. area. The tales from her childhood were some of the funni...more I remember Ali Wentworth from In Living Color. Back then I thought she was a little ditzy. The characters she played were usually on the dumb side. I thought she must be a little ditzy in real life, too. After reading her book Ali in Wonderland: And other Tall Tales, I realized how wrong I was. She is quite smart and funny.

Who knew her mother was a social secretary for President Reagan. She grew up a privileged kid in the Washington, D.C. area. The tales from her childhood were some of the funniest. When her older sister Sissy ran away while recovering from spinal surgery Ali was tasked with bringing her back. "Ran" away is a loose term. Her sister was still in a full body cast, so she kind of waddled sideways out of the house. Her mother Muffie forced her to go after Sissy, despite Ali emphatically stating she didn't want to runaway, too. The only way Ali could convince her sister to return was by making her laugh. Ali covered herself in a garbage bag, mud, leaves and branches. A little dancing later, and her sister Sissy was on the ground laughing her butt off. The visual made me laugh.

Ali's mother Muffie seems like a bit of a pistol. A person you could sit down with over a cup of tea and have a long conversation. According to her, most problems could be solved by a stay at the Four Season. Ali's future husband, George Stephanopoulos, and her daughters disagreed. They didn't see the point of going to a hotel during a snowstorm. It was just a little hard for Ali to break a long-held habit.

In the early stages of her acting career, Ali was different from her peers. She wasn't a "struggling" actor. She could afford to pay her bills and eat more than ramen noodles. When she bought a home in California it wasn't really her home. Instead her home was overrun with family members and friends who overstayed their welcome. She did her best to break free of the political scene she grew up with. Which made me wonder how she ended up with George Stephanopoulos? He makes a living analyzing the political scene, a scene Ali wanted to get away from. But ultimately, she found the person who was just right for her.

If you're looking for a quick read or a distraction, pick this one up. The lasting image for me will be Ali under siege after throwing package over the gate of the home of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Wouldn't it have made more sense to just ring the bell? Maybe she embellished a little bit, but the story was sure hilarious.

Rating: Superb

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (HarperCollins) in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Jul 05, 2012 Carla Peele rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was good-- Ali Wentworth is a mess (in a funny way-- like "gal, you crazy!")! Coming from a WASP family, which she frequently mentions, we find that her upbringing was shockingly preppy, and that she even spent some time in boarding school. She glosses over her parents' divorce and remarriages, but she was very young when they happened. The largest chunk of the book is before she has the "big fat Greek wedding" to George and ends up Happily Ever After-- there is SO much before that......more This book was good-- Ali Wentworth is a mess (in a funny way-- like "gal, you crazy!")! Coming from a WASP family, which she frequently mentions, we find that her upbringing was shockingly preppy, and that she even spent some time in boarding school. She glosses over her parents' divorce and remarriages, but she was very young when they happened. The largest chunk of the book is before she has the "big fat Greek wedding" to George and ends up Happily Ever After-- there is SO much before that...

I have to admit, there are parts of the book that drag, but it's so trainwrecky you still don't put it down, and for the most part was an amusing read. Like The Ordinary Princess, she seemed to buck her WASP raising for acting a bit like a nut, much to the appallment of her mother, who was Regan's social secretary (though the family found that a mixed pride issue-- as they were all staunch outspoken democrats.)

Growing up in Washington DC, Ali wanted to break away from the politics and become famous, so she moved to LA and lived somewhat of a hippie, bohemian life-- where she only THOUGHT she was happy. Upon receiving the most perfect, chick-flick worthy engagement EVER, she spun into an immediate depression that lasted an unbelievable amount of time before breaking ties with the guy-- and then feeling the inevitable "how dare he be with another woman?!" syndrome when he decided to move on from that hornet's nest.

But, through the years of struggling for a career and living with a cast of characters that would've been BritCom worthy, she finally came out the other side and met her prince-- George Stephonopholis. (And isn't he yummy, ladies??) Of course, there was inevitable culture shock for both families--- gregarious Greek republicans and reserved WASP democrats--- but, it came together nicely and no one could be happier with their two daughters, Harper and Eliott (though why they gave their daughters boy names was not explained). (It also was not explained why a stay-at-home mother (at the time, anyway) also needed a nanny, but that may just be the WASP upbringing.)

The only reason for the four stars are the few draggy bits, and that I felt some things just weren't explained, but for the most part this was an enjoyable read I quite highly recomend.(less)

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Dec 16, 2011 cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Having enjoyed a few of Jen Lancaster's books, I was glad to have the chance to read a copy of this book provided to me by the folks at Harper. It is a humorous memoir of a woman who grew up in an elite D.C. circle and roamed around a bit before finding herself back in the D.C. arena after marrying a well-known political advisor/journalist. The book covers event's of Ali's childhood, her adventures in love, and her life as a wife and mother. The author is a comedienne with come acting creds but...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Jennifer Rayment rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Good Stuff

Self deprecating, charming, down to earth and honest
Funny as hell
Quick easy read - perfect when you are stuck at home sick
Although she comes from a more elite background, she never comes across as snobby or privledged
The story about trying to hand deliver a thank you present to the secretary of defense will make you laugh your ass off
Doesn't get all gossipy or mean spirited
Loved her description of her experience giving birth
Love her Mom, Muffie
Her chapter on manners is funny, but...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Sjcapanna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Ali Wentworth is famous for a few reasons: (1) She played "Schmoopie" on the famous Seinfeld episode "The Soup Nazi," (2) She was on In Living Color, (3) She was a correspondent for Oprah, and (4) She is married to George Stephanopoulos. She also grew up in a politically-connected family, because her mom was the social secretary for Ronald Reagan. So, having lived among the rich and famous in both L.A. and D.C., she has some interesting stories to tell.

However, I didn't find her writing to be l...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Laura Lee rated it 3 of 5 stars

You'd think that it would be annoying to read an entire memoir about the unglamorous idiosyncrasies of one woman's life when that life has consisted of parties with the likes of Henry Kissinger and Donald Rumsfeld, or failed romances conducted in Paris, or the pitfalls of too many tropical vacations, or having an incredibly wealthy and influential (not to mention loving) family. I mean, really?

But, somehow, it works in this book. Maybe it's because she's so willing to reveal her personal struggl...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, celebrity-hollywood, memoir

Funny, chatty memoir (really, more like a series of essays) by comedienne/actress/wife to political commentator Ali Wentworth. This book is like listening to your funny best friend regale you with stories. She definitely has her own voice: funny and wry and a little bit manic. Her background is quite interesting, her mother (named Muffie, natch) was social secretary for Nancy Reagan though was a diehard liberal and Ali grew up swimming with politicians and trick-or-treating at Nixon’s abode. She...more

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Apr 18, 2012 Rosanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ali Wentworth's book is hilarious and well worth the read. Married to George Stephanopolous, it is fascinating to note how the couple compliment one another. They are proof that opposites attract. This book would be most enjoyable for women. I don't think that men would get the humor. Ali is a bit bawdy, so if that is a problem for you this might not be the book for you. As for me I laughed out loud as I read it.

As Ali explains it, many in Washington are looking for a conversation with someone...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Doreen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: elle

Excellent collection of comedy writing. The essays skip around in terms of timeline but the overall effect works for a breezy read. I was never doubled over in paroxysms of laughter as I'd been for that insane birthday party chapter in Chelsea Handler's "Are You There, Vodka etc." (which is pretty much my benchmark for comedy gold nowadays) but I had moments of mirth that came straight from my middle. Even more impressively, apart from the ugly American snit she pulled mumbling "soccer" at a Eur...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this, but I agree with her mother, it could use fewer jokes regarding body functions.

It's a fast read, a fun read, and I enjoyed the view into worlds that I haven't experienced: upper income with all of its bonuses such as boarding schools and frequent posh vacations, life inside the DC political set, and life in Hollywood. She's had a very privileged life and continues to have one.

I do find it interesting that she has let the public peek in on her life, but I do wonder what was fabric...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, funny-to-me

Before I knew Ali Wentworth's name, I liked her. She's got a great, animated face and I think she would be a fun girlfriend. Ali has a funny online "show" where she and her friend (can't remember his name) take five minutes and discuss the news of the day (The Daily Shot). During the opening of the show, Ali is putting on make-up and they're sitting at her kitchen table. She doesn't care who sees her without make up on and she is very frank about her opinions. I love to hear her tell a story.

Unf...more

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title link	preview: Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11724676-ali-in-wonderland?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323618289l/11724676.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11724676-ali-in-wonderland?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth[/url]

Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales

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