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64th out of 765 books
—
1,209 voters
Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman
"In many ways, I was an independent woman," writes Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Alice Steinbach. “For years I’d made my own choices, paid my own bills, shoveled my own snow.” But somehow she had become dependent in quite another way. “I had fallen into the habit of defining myself in terms of who I was to other people and what they expected of me.” But who was she awa...more
Paperback, 295 pages
Published
March 12th 2002
by Random House Trade Paperbacks
(first published 2000)
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I loved this book! Reading it was like sitting at a table across from the author with a pot of tea between us. Parts of it brought tears to my eyes. This woman has a zest for life and an ability to make friends wherever she goes. I envy her! She falls in love in Paris, meets a bride-to-be in Milan, and learns ballroom dancing in Oxford. What an adventure! What a story!
Now that summer is officially over, and I spend most of my waking hours sequestered in a classroom, I seek out travel books so that at least my mind can pretend it is somewhere else. Usually, I am attracted to exotic travel tales, so at first I was not that impressed that Alice Steinbach chose to spend her six months abroad in western Europe. I could not imagine what exciting adventures she could get into in England, France, and Italy, but as I read on Alice explained that the point of her trip...more
Go on a trip through Europe without leaving your home with famed journalist Steinbach in this wonderful travel memoir. Steinbach does a fabulous job of not only setting the visual scenes of each locale, but also adding her own personal sensibility to each page. She did all of the traveling she talks about in this book all on her own so the stories are, in addition to being about European ways and customs, about the life of the single wanderer. Since this book is more about the author and less ab...more
Sep 18, 2008
Wystan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
All women!
Recommended to Wystan by:
Ronnie Schwam
I LOVED the comments that Alice Steinbach made during her travels. So many astute observations that I found myself nodding in agreement with.
An excellent book to inspire the soul with. As I told the friend that I passed Without Reservations on to, this book retaught me that we are not defined by where we come from, what we do, or the roles we have come to fulfill: we simply are who we are. And that's just how it should be.
"Dangerous": Made me want to sit in a cafe and write in my journal all day...more
An excellent book to inspire the soul with. As I told the friend that I passed Without Reservations on to, this book retaught me that we are not defined by where we come from, what we do, or the roles we have come to fulfill: we simply are who we are. And that's just how it should be.
"Dangerous": Made me want to sit in a cafe and write in my journal all day...more
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very easy read - she writes simply and the chapters are short. If you have ever traveled to Paris or Italy, you'll like her descriptions and how she connected differently to each city/area. Also, it is not just a travel book, but a book about self-discovery at an older age.
A nice bonus: the author offers a great idea for how to keep a diary/document your travels: she write & mails postcards home to herself. What a wonderful idea!
Hope some of you pick thi...more
A nice bonus: the author offers a great idea for how to keep a diary/document your travels: she write & mails postcards home to herself. What a wonderful idea!
Hope some of you pick thi...more
The is the wonderfully satisfying memoir of Alice Steinbach's "Year of Living Dangerously" when she takes courage to set aside the life she's created as mother, columnist and American to move to Europe for a year of sabbatical and exploration (of the cities and herself). Hugely inspiring book to me (I read it post my own sabbatical) and great stories of those Alice meets, her walks, her adventures and her dreams.
Steinbach put aside her job as a writer for the Baltimore Sun to travel in Europe with no agenda other than to rediscover who she was as a woman. She had been a wife, a mother, and a writer, but she felt as if she had somehow lost who she was to herself. Having traveled to many of the locations that she went, I found myself reminiscing about my own vacations. I really loved the way that she wrote as well.
Dec 01, 2008
Karen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
travelers, women, anyone who likes memoirs.
I received this book as a graduation gift, and I saved it to read when I was traveling. This turned out to be a good approach, because Steinbach's topic is a set of travels in Europe. I lucked out by traveling to a couple of her desinations without planning to, which added to the fun. I loved her literate and reflective style, which was interesting without being self-indulgent. There aren't any roller coaster highs and lows here, but there are some fun stories and observations. I found it refres...more
Upon turning the first pages of this book, I note the contents. I am planning a trip to Europe in the spring and I notice Steinbach's travels are Paris, London, Oxford, and Italy. I'm excited because these are the EXACT locations I plan to travel to. Paris (not all of France), London (not all of England) and Italy, just as she's named; the entire country. Hmmm....quite interesting; I'm was immediately intrigued.
This book did not disappoint. Alice takes a leave from work and her busy life to tra...more
This book did not disappoint. Alice takes a leave from work and her busy life to tra...more
Aug 07, 2008
Carrie
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Single Travelers
Recommended to Carrie by:
Borders- Travel Section
A journalist and divorced grandmother renews her sense of spirit by living and traveling in Europe alone for a year.
Focused on Venice, Paris and England- it was an easy read but a bit boring. If you want to read this genre I prefer Under the Tuscan Sun or the follow up entitled "Educating Alice."
Author: Alice Steinbach
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2000
Genre: Travel Memoir
Pages: 278
Date Read- 8/1- 8/4/08
NOTES
______
p. 5
To much of life- my life, anyway- seemed to be aimed at achieving success a...more
Focused on Venice, Paris and England- it was an easy read but a bit boring. If you want to read this genre I prefer Under the Tuscan Sun or the follow up entitled "Educating Alice."
Author: Alice Steinbach
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2000
Genre: Travel Memoir
Pages: 278
Date Read- 8/1- 8/4/08
NOTES
______
p. 5
To much of life- my life, anyway- seemed to be aimed at achieving success a...more
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I looked forward to picking it up from the nightstand each evening. It is not the type of book to keep you up all night, unable to put it down; it is more like one that gently lulls you to sleep. I loved the postcard idea, and oddly enough did the same thing myself this year while in Spain. The card was lost and never arrived. This just means I need to go back and write more of them. :-)
I enjoyed her observations and gentle musings. The only reason I was...more
I enjoyed her observations and gentle musings. The only reason I was...more
I found this book a refreshing departure from travel logs that are filled with minute details of each and every person, place, and thing the author encounters. Steinbach presents not only insights into what she's experienced, but is able to step back a recognize the person she was and the person shining through along this journey. Her reflections remind the reader that some things we carry with us whether we realize it or not.
Steinbach shares with readers the experiences, memories, and observati...more
Steinbach shares with readers the experiences, memories, and observati...more
The topics of the book-traveling through parts of Europe, and becoming independent as a mature woman-were interesting to me, but I was disappointed in the structure and flow of writing in this book. The story was told in an uneven fashion, with lingering descriptions of seemingly minor incidents, and quick summations of major travel events. The writing often seemed disjointedl ike a list of events, or quick notes on a postcard (which is a device she uses to begin each chapter). Toward the end o...more
Although the writing was sometimes over-sentimental and the author's insights about independence and traveling alone were not particularly surprising, I really enjoyed this book. I liked reading about all of the small details of the author's day, especially her delicious breakfasts with hot coffee and rolls and fruit, spent enjoying beautiful weather and people-watching. Just the record of those insignificant moments is so evocative of the feeling you get when eating a leisurely breakfast on a d...more
I am rereading this book again. Really enjoyed it the first time around and came across it while searching for another book in my library. Alice Steinbach is an excellent writer and is able to transport me to Paris and draw me into her travel adventures from there.
I haven't finished this yet -- it's divided into sections by the locations where Alice spent her time. I've "left" Paris now and enjoying a different perspective on London...found a place I'd like to shop and/or eat! Always fun to find things to add to my future travel lists... And yes, I've been keeping notes. One of these days, Paris is going to move up the "places to go" list!
Some great quotes and references to other writers, books and places I need to investigate further. One of the benefit...more
Some great quotes and references to other writers, books and places I need to investigate further. One of the benefit...more
Many women dream about taking time for themselves. This is about an entire year this woman set aside for herself to travel Europe and find again the young woman she'd once been. Highly educated, Pulitzer prize winning journalist that she was, Alice nevertheless makes this a very friendly and enjoyable to read book, almost like a novel. This is travel writing at its best. Very lyrical with many references to literature as well as common life experiences (romance, disappointments, and more) that g...more
This memoir of a journey through Europe is a winner. Alice, with her sons off living their own lives, feels like she is in a rut. She looks a the things that she wanted to do and didn't and decides to take a leave from her job as a journalist and travel for several months. Because she wants to immerse herself in her surroundings, she chooses a few places in Europe and makes her plans in advance for accommodation and, in some cases, activities.
Throughout she sent postcards back to her home near B...more
Throughout she sent postcards back to her home near B...more
Alice is a woman in her 50's who is divorced, has two grown sons who are leading their own lives, and loves her job at a newspaper reporter and columnist. However, when she looks in the mirror, she wonders where the risk-taker has gone and is worried that she is only defined by her actions. She decides to take a leave of absence from work and explore who she truly is while living in Paris, England, and Italy.
This book forced me to make an insightful observation about myself: I don't like travel...more
This book forced me to make an insightful observation about myself: I don't like travel...more
A single woman who took 6-8 months off from her work and her life to travel the world. I definitely can relate to this one.
There are many lessons/struggles that she has as a solo female traveler with I can identify with or relate to – namely the loneliness and isolation of being completely independent. I like her honesty in identifying her problems and tackling them, learning to be open and spontaneous. I also enjoyed her ability to get out of her room and walk to see the cities she's visiting,...more
There are many lessons/struggles that she has as a solo female traveler with I can identify with or relate to – namely the loneliness and isolation of being completely independent. I like her honesty in identifying her problems and tackling them, learning to be open and spontaneous. I also enjoyed her ability to get out of her room and walk to see the cities she's visiting,...more
This could best be described as a travel memoir. Steinbach, a divorced journalist and mother of two grown sons, takes a sabbatical from work to travel solo to Paris, London, Oxford, and Italy for nine months. Her motivation for this adventure is summed up best when she writes "What you need to do, a voice inside me said, is to step out and experience the world without recording first in a reporter's notebook. After fifteen years of writing stories about other people, you need to get back to the...more
Another reflection I wrote in college. I end it by stating that I probably won't remember this particular book in years to come, and I'm right. I don't:
Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman, by Alice Steinbach, was not one of the most profound books that I have ever read. It was not even one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. However, I did like it.
The fact that the book is set in Europe is both alienating and intriguing. It is alienating because most of us...more
Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman, by Alice Steinbach, was not one of the most profound books that I have ever read. It was not even one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. However, I did like it.
The fact that the book is set in Europe is both alienating and intriguing. It is alienating because most of us...more
I picked up "Without Reservations" last week and immediately became enchanted with Alice Steinbach's journal of her trip to France, England and Italy. The book not only gives us wonderful details of the places she saw and people she met, it also shares with us her inner journey. Who hasn't dreamed of traveling without reservations, free to stay or go, to explore more fully those things that we find appealing? Ms. Steinbach does this physically and emotionally, turning down odd little streets of...more
Utterly delightful book about a journalist's adventures and observations when she takes a year off from her regular life to live in Paris, London, Oxfords, and various towns in Italy. I LOVED this! She visited many of my favorite places such as Burford, Osxfordshire.
"While dancing with Barry and the others I'd not been measuring time. I'd been living it."
Next time I'm in England I must visit Sissinghurst. Esp. the White Garden. Oh, to see it in the moonlight!
"A friend of mine calls the physical...more
"While dancing with Barry and the others I'd not been measuring time. I'd been living it."
Next time I'm in England I must visit Sissinghurst. Esp. the White Garden. Oh, to see it in the moonlight!
"A friend of mine calls the physical...more
A friend shared this book with me and I'm so glad she did! A combination travel diary and memoir, I found Alice Steinbach someone I would love to travel with. She took about 9 months off from her columnist job to travel to Europe. She stayed a while in Paris, then London, then took a course at Oxford, then traveled around Italy. Much of the time she stayed alone and wandered around.
What pleased me most were her observations, about travel and life. For example, she says worry is just our attempt...more
What pleased me most were her observations, about travel and life. For example, she says worry is just our attempt...more
With her sons grown and out of home, Alice decides to take a year long leave of absence from her job writing for a newspaper. She spends the year travelling in Europe, spending blocks of time in Paris, London, Oxford and various cities and towns in Italy. Throughout her time away she writes herself postcards and sends them back to her home.
Who hasn't wanted to be able to spend time living in a foreign city, imersing yourself in the culture and creating a new persona and life for yourself? I know...more
Who hasn't wanted to be able to spend time living in a foreign city, imersing yourself in the culture and creating a new persona and life for yourself? I know...more
This was kind of like listening to a friend tell about her trip. You really want to hear about it, you really do, but then she just keeps going on and on about the little details that don't really matter to anyone but her. At one point, it sounded like bragging. I would have enjoyed more about the people and less about the little things she did, like shoe shopping. She didn't even bring back the relevance of buying the shoes. This was a book that I couldn't wait to end.
Well, here we go with more travel writing. This was one of those books that inspired me with the old idea of picking up my life and completely changing everything by going to some exotic place and starting over. Alice Steinbach is a Pulitzer winning journalist who picked up her life for a year and went to Europe to reconnect with herself. She started out in Paris, went to London, Oxford, and Italy, and her self discovery observations had me dog-earring every other page so I could add them to my...more
Nov 21, 2010
Patty
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2010,
autobiography,
great-britain,
paris,
italy,
memoir,
women,
women-writers,
non-fiction,
travel
How many of us fall into patterns that we become dependent on? We do the same things with the same people because that is how we have always lived our life. I believe it takes effort and independence to change this inclination to be who we have always been.
Alice Steinbach has the chutzpah to make changes to her life. She decides to put her independence to the test. I admire her for that. To journey by yourself to Europe without a complete itinerary, seems difficult to me. Steinbach goes to Paris...more
Alice Steinbach has the chutzpah to make changes to her life. She decides to put her independence to the test. I admire her for that. To journey by yourself to Europe without a complete itinerary, seems difficult to me. Steinbach goes to Paris...more
To me, this worked okay as a travel guide. I only read the Paris and Italy sections because I found the England section too dull to get through.
I live in very nomadic world where people go off all the time by him/herself on a pilgrimage or quest of some kind and they are always adventures and journeys of self-discovery, but they don't have a padded bank account or the assurance of a job to return to, they aren't doing it because they're bored and trying to relive the glory days of their 20s, so...more
I live in very nomadic world where people go off all the time by him/herself on a pilgrimage or quest of some kind and they are always adventures and journeys of self-discovery, but they don't have a padded bank account or the assurance of a job to return to, they aren't doing it because they're bored and trying to relive the glory days of their 20s, so...more
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Alice Steinbach, whose work at the Baltimore Sun was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1985, has been a freelance writer since 1999. She was appointed the 1998-1999 McGraw Professor of Writing at Princeton University and is currently a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
More about Alice Steinbach...
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“I suspected, however, that I wasn't homesick for anything I would find at home when I returned. The longing was for what I wouldn't find: the past and all the people and places there were lost to me.”
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“And who's to say that just because something lasts only a short time, it has little value?”
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