Dear Girls by Ali Wong | Book Review
Credit: Penguin Random House
Dear Girls by Ali Wong
In her hit Netflix comedy special Baby Cobra, an eight-month pregnant Ali Wong resonated so strongly that she even became a popular Halloween costume. Wong told the world her remarkably unfiltered thoughts on marriage, sex, Asian culture, working women, and why you never see new mom comics on stage but you sure see plenty of new dads.
The sharp insights and humor are even more personal in this completely original collection. She shares the wisdom she’s learned from a life in comedy and reveals stories from her life off stage, including the brutal single life in New York (i.e. the inevitable confrontation with erectile dysfunction), reconnecting with her roots (and drinking snake blood) in Vietnam, tales of being a wild child growing up in San Francisco, and parenting war stories. Though addressed to her daughters, Ali Wong’s letters are absurdly funny, surprisingly moving, and enlightening (and gross) for all.
Review
With the hilarity and intensity that I had seen in Ali Wong’s standup, her book Dear Girls delivers a satisfying and insightful message to all of the girls out there. With each chapter addressed to her young girls, she shares with them wisdom and a few jokes in the same lewd style she is known for in her standup. She writes with honesty about her experience in comedy and as an Asian American as a way to prepare her own children for growing up in this modern world. I both related to her experiences and learned something too!