Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales - Softcover

Ali: Were you nervous when I first gave you the book to read?

Muffie: YES! I was! Because everyone has a view of their childhood that is very different from the parent’s view of their childhood and I didn’t know what to expect...

Ali: Anything you would change?

Muffie: Not a thing (clears her throat), but I believe in the old Japanese tale of Rashomon, in which everyone’s view of an incident is different.

Ali: Not sure what you’re talking about, but okay.

Muffie: It’s an old, wise, Japanese...

Ali: (interrupting) Anything surprised you?

Muffie: Well yes, quite a bit. Of course, everything is laced with humor. I don’t remember things the way you do.

Ali: No? Like what?

Muffie: I didn’t know about some of the babysitter’s behavior.

Ali: Like the one who sold heroin out of our house?

Muffie: Yes, like that one.

Ali: Or the one who stole your only son’s virginity?

Muffie: Is this what we’re talking about today?

Ali: You’re right. Let’s move on. Mom, your favorite part?

Muffie: There’s so much I love.

Ali: Mom, go ahead, you can be honest.

Muffie: I love all the chapters about when you were a little girl. Before you went off to boarding school.

Ali: You mean when you shipped me off to boarding school?

Muffie: Not against your will...

Ali: The guy who assembled the straight jacket would beg to differ.

Muffie: Don’t print that; people will think it’s true.

Ali: I want them to.

Muffie: You learned a lot in boarding school.

Ali: It was women’s prison and I barely made it out alive.

Muffie: (Silence)

Ali: What other parts did you like?

Muffie: Well, I wasn’t around as much when you were older...

Ali: And tried drugs?

Muffie: (Silence)

Ali: Just once, Mom.

(Muffie is clearly uncomfortable)

Ali: Did the book seem accurate to you?

Muffie: Yes, but you’re a writer and you make events come to life that are your reality.

Ali: Meaning... it’s all BS?

Muffie: Just YOUR reality!

Ali: You had some comments after you read it?

Muffie: Yes, I did. I thought you needed to tone down the pee and fart references.

Ali: But that’s just human nature and happened during certain points in my life.

Muffie: Well...

Ali: I get your point. Less is more.

Muffie: I also was protective of you and wanted you to make the ex-boyfriends less identifiable.

Ali: So they wouldn’t kill me?

Muffie: Well, that would be unfortunate.

Ali: Want me to write another book?

Muffie: Do you have to?

Ali: If I did, any ideas?

Muffie: When the muse strikes you!

Ali: I don’t understand that either. Do you think my siblings will like the book?

Muffie: They will laugh. Roll their eyes. Recognize you on every page.

Ali: Of your four kids, who’s your favorite?

Muffie: Do you actually think I’m going to answer that?

Ali: Do you want a percentage of sales, or not?

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, Ali Wentworth rebelled against her blue-blood upbringing, embracing Hollywood, motorcycles, even a few wildly inappropriate marriage proposals. In Ali in Wonderland, she takes us through the looking glass: from a childhood among Washington's elite and a stint in a New England prep school to her days doing L.A. sketch comedy alongside Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow. Constant throughout is her mother, Muffie, a flawlessly elegant, no-nonsense force of nature and pure WASP convictions. As charming and off-the-wall as Ali herself, her acclaimed memoir is a delightful look at life that is both intimate and uproarious.