In contrast to many memoirs I've read, this one tends to stray on the lighter side. Even though this book is definitely not all laughs--Wentworth mentions scary stories of her encounter with a gang while pursuing acting in L.A., how her friend was shot during the same encounter, and her own battles with depression--most of the stories tend to be more optimistic. The book is filled with many anecdotes from Ali's life--her upbringing among the Washington D.C. elite (her mom was social secretary under Reagan), her messy trip to Spain as an adolescent, the numerous jerks she dated (including a very sketchy French director), her attempts to break into acting (she used to be in the same comedy troupe with Will Ferell and Lisa Kudrow before they became stars, while her own acting luck stalled), her relationship with her family, and tidbits about marrying George Stephanopoulos, among other stories. And if you've never heard of her well-connected mother (the above mentioned ex-social secretary under Reagan) with a talent for disbursing her life's wisdom through witty punch lines, allow the author to introduce her to you. The writing can be described like a stream of consciousness--the author is honest and unembarrassed about sharing some pretty sensitive stories about her life. This lack of inhibition creates a pretty interesting read. Humor is the main component of this book, and with few exceptions, is entirely present throughout the book. Overall, an entertaining memoir. Especially if you like memoirs by female comedians. Published by Harper. 272 pages. February 7, 2012. List price $25.99
