Saturday, February 4, 2012

ALI IN WONDERLAND: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 GIVEAWAY ENDED
ALI IN WONDERLAND
And Other Tall Tales
BY ALI WENTWORTH
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Mix 1 oz. Chelsea Handler, 1.5 oz. Nora Ephron, finish with a twist of Tina Fey, and you get Ali in Wonderland, the uproarious, revealing, and heartfelt memoir from acclaimed actress and comedian Ali Wentworth. Whether spilling secrets about her quintessentially WASPy upbringing (and her delicious rebellion against it), reminiscing about her Seinfeld “Schmoopie” days and her appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, or baring the details of starting a family alongside husband George Stephanopoulos, one thing is for sure—Ali has the unsurpassable humor and warmth of a born storyteller with a story to tell: the quirky, flavorful, surprising, and sometimes scandalous Ali in Wonderland.

Growing up in a family of political journalists—and daughter of President Reagan’s White House social secretary—Ali Wentworth rebelled against her blue-blood upbringing, embracing Hollywood, motorcycles, even a few wildly inappropriate marriage proposals. Today she is an acclaimed comedic actress and writer, former Oprah regular, wife of political and media star George Stephanopoulos, and a mother who lets her two girls eat cotton candy before bed. Though she’s settled down, her rebellious nature thrives in her comedy and her view of her crazy world.

In this addictively funny and warm memoir, she takes us through the looking glass and into the wonderland of her life, from a childhood among Washington’s elite to a stint in the psych ward they called a New England prep school; days doing L.A. sketch comedy (with then-aspiring artists Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow) to a series of spectacularly failed loves (that eventually led her to Mr. Right). Constant throughout is her mother, Muffie—a flawlessly elegant yet firm, no-nonsense force of nature and pure WASP convictions.

As charming and off-the-wall as Ali herself, Ali in Wonderland is an entertaining look at life that is both intimate and hilarious.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ali Wentworth made a name for herself on the comedy series In Living Color, and has appeared on such television shows as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; Seinfeld (playing Schmoopie in “The Soup Nazi” episode); Head Case (which she created, wrote, and executive-produced); and The Oprah Winfrey Show, for which she was a correspondent. Her film credits include Jerry Maguire, The Real Blonde, Office Space, The Love Bug, and It’s Complicated with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, and Alec Baldwin.

A native of Washington, D.C., Wentworth lives in New York City with her husband, George Stephanopoulos, and their two girls. Follow Ali on Twitter: @AliEWentworth. 

PRAISE FOR ALI IN WONDERLAND:
“Everything that comes out of Ali Wentworth’s mouth is funny!”
— Jerry Seinfeld
 “Wentworth is amusing and frank, often frenetic, with sharp intelligence underneath the sassy wackiness; passages about her struggle with depression, falling in love with her husband, and her daughter’s baptism have funny moments, but they’re thoughtful and touching, too…. Highly entertaining memoir."--Publishers Weekly "Ali Wentworth’s book is like Chicken Soup for the Vagina. Gays and straight men, I’m not leaving you out here! Ali is truly one of the quickest, funniest girls I’ve ever met. Enjoy!”— Kathy Griffin “Ali has written a truly hilarious book . . . and she’s also a good kisser!”— Chelsea Handler 
"Ali Wentworth is funny and warm and crazy all at once. Like Barbara Eden. But on something. Like crystal meth.”— Alec Baldwin
“[A] lively, laugh-out-loud memoir....Fans of Amy Sedaris and Merrill Markoe will enjoy Wentworth’s warped Weltanschauung and wicket wit.”

— Book
 “Ali Wentworth tumbles comically through Ali in Wonderland.”
— Vanity Fair
 
“[H]ilarious...”
— Marie Claire
  “Unanimous applause greeted this actress-comedian’s tour of her fabulous life…all recounted in a manner that had one reader wondering if Wentworth is ‘a long-lost sister of the Sedaris clan.’”
— Elle, Readers' Prize February 2012
 
“[A] satirical dissection of class and privilege….A smart, often-funny memoir.”
— Kirkus Reviews

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
ALI IN WONDERLAND by Ali Wentworth is such a fun read. For a memoir, it is quite different than the norm as Ali's hilarious, sometimes sarcastic, never shy sense of humor shines through. That isn't to say that Ali hasn't had her share of tough times or scary moments. However, overall, you will enjoy reading about Ali Wentworth while laughing your way through the book. It is no WONDER that Ali is as popular as she is. If you aren't familiar with her work, this is a great place to start to get to know one of our most delightful comedians. 
GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO DANIELLE AND THE GREAT
FOLKS AT HARPER COLLINS, I HAVE ONE
COPY OF THIS DELIGHTFUL MEMOIR TO
GIVE AWAY TO A LUCKY READER
 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
 

COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!


HOW TO ENTER:


+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT ALI IN WONDERLAND THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: GET TO KNOW HER AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT AUTHOR ALI WENTWORTH ON THE IMDb WEBSITE HERE

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES
 
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, FEBRUARY 19
 GOOD LUCK!

110 comments:

debbie said...

I would like to find out more about her, I think she is really funny.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I entered the yummy cookbook.
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debbie said...

I entered one book in the grave.
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debbie said...

I entered home front.
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debbie said...

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lag123 said...

I would like to read more of her life and laugh with her through it.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

traveler said...

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Patricia said...

Tough times & scary moments, not what I associate with Ali. Would love to know more about how she coped.

patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

Patricia said...

Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/165861398788833280

patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

Patricia said...

I thought it was very interesting that she met her husband on a blind date.

patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I love Ali Wentworth! I have never sat through an interview with her without a smile on my face the whole time. I thoroughly enjoyed your review and can't wait to read her book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Patricia said...

Entered Die Job

patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She has a very interesting cookbook she put out in 1997 The WASP Cookbook

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Linda Kish said...

Entered ONE BOOK IN THE GRAVE

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Linda Kish said...

Entered HOME FRONT

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Entered IF FRIED CHICKEN COULD FLY

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Linda Kish said...

+5 February facebook
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petite said...

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petite said...

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petite said...

I entered Die Job. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered The look of Love. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered The Flight of Emma Hardy. elliotbencan(at)Hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered All the Flowers in Shanghai. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

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petite said...

I entered If Fried Chicken Could Fly. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

She has published a cookbook. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

etwooShe met her husband on a blind date. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

Humor and satire go together like peanut butter and jelly. I would love to win this book because I love both.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Patricia said...

+5SWAG #1
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Carol N Wong said...

I tweeted:

http://t.co/l5ucOVJb


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Carol N Wong said...

I was surprised that she met her husband on a blind date and that they got married after dating for only three months.

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Carol N Wong said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'The Look of Love'.

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Carol N Wong said...

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I entered the giveaway for
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rubynreba said...

I would like to read this book because I think it sounds like a fun book filled with humor.
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rubynreba said...

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rubynreba said...

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Entered Die Job
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rubynreba said...

Entered The Flight of Gemma Hardy
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entered All the Flowers in Shanghai
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ENTERED Yummy
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entered Home Front
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rubynreba said...

ENTERED If Fried Chicken Could Fly
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entered The Summer Garden
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entered Cake on a Hot Tin Roof
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entered Private #1 Suspect
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Unknown said...

I love reading memoirs and this one sounds really good. I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

petite said...

Entered Summer Garden. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

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holdenj said...

She's got quite a background, would be very interested in reading the book!
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holdenj said...

I entered Gourmet Gifts.
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holdenj said...

I entered Private #1 Suspect.
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holdenj said...

I entered Cake on a Hot tin Roof
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holdenj said...

I entered Summer Garden
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holdenj said...

I entered Yummy
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holdenj said...

I entered Gourmet Gifts.
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holdenj said...

I entered Home Front.
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holdenj said...

I entered If Fried Chicken Could Fly
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holdenj said...

I entered One Book in the Grave
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holdenj said...

I entered All the Flowers in Shanghai
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holdenj said...

+5 Swag.
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Anonymous said...

Oh wow, with the mixture of people you mentioned in the interview...this book sounds great!

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks

holdenj said...

I entered The Magic Room.
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I entered Spin.
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kalea_kane said...

I remember Ali from In Living Color. She was amazing! When a writer is compared to Nora Ephron (fell in love with her when I found a galley of heartburn about 12 years ago-not realizing the movie was from the book), I pay attention. I like when someone can bring humor to their life no matter what the circumstances. That would just about cover it there. :)

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

Please include me

kalea_kane said...

I shared your giveaway on Twitter

https://twitter.com/#!/kellyblackwell/status/171134862672150528

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

kalea_kane said...

I entered your giveaway for "Buried in a Book" by Lucy Arlington (that looks like an amazing cozy!).

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kalea_kane said...

Seriously her life is crazy interesting. Her mom was Nancy Reagan's social secretary at the White House...she is married to George Stephanopoulis (yeah I'm sure I slaughtered that), and the coolest is that her dad was a reporter for the Washington Post. THAT is cool.

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

holdenj said...

I entered Buried in a Book.
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Patricia said...

Entered The Obamas

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kalea_kane said...

I entered your Gourmet Gifts giveway. :)

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kalea_kane said...

I entered your giveaway for The Dark Rose.

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