Without Reservations : The Travels of an Independent Woman

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Summary: Two subjects in one
Review: The title of Alice Steinbach's book is a lovely description of what's inside these covers. She is attempting to embrace life without reservations, after years in which she was held back by the workplace, by her marriage, by her family's needs. I think reviewers who look at this book simply as travel prose are missing the point. This is a life journey, not simply one with a suitcase. I found her book very accessible on a human level. I marked a number of pages where her phrases struck home with me. Don't expect this book to be anything grand, along the lines of Henry James' writing on travel, or even the books by Colin Thubron. Embrace this book as a woman's story of a year away from home. What I particularly enjoyed about this book were the connections she made on her travels, not so much the places she visited herself. This is the kind of trip I might be brave enough to take, even though in my dreams I trek to Africa and climb in Nepal. My only critique, which stopped me from giving it five stars, is that it kind of fizzles out at the end. I actually found the final quarter of the book much less compelling than the beginning. But I will certainly look forward to more from Ms. Steinbach.

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Summary: A dream come true..
Review: I received this book from Amazon the day before I left for the beach (for a much needed vacation). From the very first page I was hooked. The author seems to have lived the existence that I have dreamed about for years. You will love this book. Another reviewer used the word "enchanting" and I have to agree. Thanks!

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Summary: Failure to engage
Review: I found this book to be very detached in the author's approach to the people she met and her travels in Europe. This book utterly failed to engage me compared to say the Best American Travel Writing 2000 which was full of wonderful perspectives of people and places. I found the writing good - quite readable but the author is very aloof and I was unable to identify with someone who although lived for some time in Paris just stayed in a hotel and made no attempt to really live in the city - there was no meeting of locals - just other tourists and no real empathy, awareness or stimulating knowledge of the environment considering the amount of time she must have spent in Europe. Altogether very disappointing as she is obviously a talented writer.

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Summary: Loved It!
Review: I loved this book. For the adventure, for the people that she met along the way. She did things that I dream of doing and I became so involved that I felt I was on this journey with her! I highly recommend it.

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Summary: Inspirational!
Review: A beautifully written novel. Having visited to over 15 different countries I could relate some of her experiences encountered while travelling. A must read for those looking for that extra something rarely found in travel writing. I look forward to reading more from Alice Steinbach.

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Summary: What fun!
Review: Just finished "Without Reservations" and what an enjoyable book it was. Since I'm also of a certain age and have traveled alone to London, Paris and Venice I recognized her feelings. Even tho I never met "a love" we have alot in common. My only critcism of her, tho, was going out at 3:00 in the morning in her pajamas in a rainstorm to stand on the Spanish Steps in Rome shortly after she had almost been mugged. I really don't think that was too bright. Still it was a wonderful book and I hope she writes another one soon.

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Summary: Worth reading!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!Alice is a person who anyone would enjoy traveling with,and it was an easy, flowing read.Her personal observations on each new experience,and the people she met were a delight.I highly recommend this one!

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Summary: WITHOUT RESERVATIONS, by Alice Steinbach
Review: Picked it up, and could not put it down. It was one of the most enjoyable travel books that I've read in years. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever wanted to pack it up, and take to the road, especially if you are a woman, around 45 and single. Whether you can actually take to the road or not, the places that Alice Steinbach visited were so intriguing and explained in such detail that I felt I too were out there with her.

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Summary: This book needs a different title
Review: It is a great book, I really enjoyed it, but the title is a disservice. She travels WITH her plans and reservations all made ahead of time, and most of the book is about her NON-independent time with the interesting people she meets on the way. Which is all fine, but the title hints at something different. But, read this book and enjoy it for what it is, an intelligent and introspective woman taking a break from "real life" and enjoying her travels.

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Summary: This is a great moment,.. you see the goal of your wandering
Review: Leaving behind her two adult sons, her cats and her job at the Baltimore Sun, Alice Steinbach sets out to discover the Europe she knew 20 years ago. She also sets off on a voyage of self discovery. Traveling through Paris, London, and parts of Italy, she discovers the adventure of being free of of a job or home responsibilities. She also meets a cast of engaging characters in her fellow travelers. Told with an educated eye of a seasoned reporter, she captures all the tiny details of life in the various countries. The rhythms of life, the food, the smells , the lay of the land. This is a captivating story of self discovery and a tale of living life, not just filling it with it with things to do.