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Summary: A woman you'd want to travel with
Review: This book is by turns funny and touching. A middle-aged divorcee decides to take time off from her work and life in America and travel abroad by herself. She doesn't really end up being by herself, of course, and that's what makes the book so much fun. As she travels to France, England, and Italy, she meets both natives and other travelers with whom she briefly becomes entangled.Perhaps the one sour note of this book is her relationship with Naohiro, who she meets near the beginning and obsesses about throughout. To me, he is far less compelling than the trio of women whom she meets in England, the partying Australian analyst, or the woman she meets in France who is clearly in an unhappy relationship. Overall, though, I wanted to know this woman and have her as a travel companion--although that would be totally contrary to the theme of this book.
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Summary: a delightful read
Review: Because I am of similar age to Ms. Steinbach, and because I took a trip such as hers by myself this year, I found this book close to my heart. I would describe it as a serene, introspective and, in parts, moving work - a mood piece, so-to-speak, with beautiful postcards and tender notes to herself. Sometimes one goes off by oneself just as Ms. Steinbach did and simply takes life as it comes. If one does this at the same stage in life as Ms. Steinbach when occurrences can rouse memories, the present then has the companion of the past. I, like her, met people who were absolutely charming and made a onetime experience a lifetime memory. I think, when one feels one may never again meet these people, combined with the magic of a new place and few responsibilities, one becomes a little freer to give a little more of oneself and perhaps tries new experiences which are not ordinarily probable. Adventures can stir old memories and that is what makes this a delightful read - a sort of reflective journal of daily observations and experiences. It was lovely being with Alice on her trip.
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Summary: Not a book to turn to for interesting travel tales
Review: I have always enjoyed travel tales---often written with a very wry and humorous touch, or full of interesting and bizarre characters, or just plain fascinating, with new and exciting locales around every corner. This book looked promising to me, but it does nothign I mentioned above! The author takes a year from her life to visit Paris, England and Italy. Money seems to not be an object, and she dines and shops, visits toristy spots while being annoyed by other tourists and meets up with rich locals and fellow tourists, and goes to some fancy parties and restaurants. I think she thinks she is somehow undergoing self-discovery during this time, and maybe she is, but it is not of a type that readers unconnected with her life would really be interested in. I did finish this book, and enjoyed bits and pieces of it---mainly descriptions of meals and hotels and apartments, which she did describe well! But there is so much better travel writing out there, I wish I had saved my reading time for other books.
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Summary: A Baby Boomer Hits The Road
Review: I thoroughly loved this book and hated to put it down. I felt I was right there with her on every page, in every town. I liked hearing her thoughts and experiences. It was like traveling with a good friend.I truly admire her courage and wish her many more delighful adventures that I hope to read about.
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Summary: A Delightful Read
Review: Having heard about Steinbach's book on public radio, and being a divorced mother of a grown son, with my own love of travel, and some experience traveling on my own, I was anxious to find out how the author's experiences compared to my own. I got so much more than I had expected, and was sorry to have the book end. "Without Reservations" is non-fiction but reads like a novel in many ways. She is a fine story teller, and her descriptions of all that she observed in her travels, (from the distinctive and unpredictable rooms she rented in small European hotels, to the views of an amazing Italian countryside, as well as the wide array of interesting, yet unexpected short-term relationships she developed along the way) were vivid and very entertaining. I would have liked a little follow-up regarding her life since her travels which took place back in 1993, but this is a minor complaint. I highly recommend this book!
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Summary: A Self-Involved Woman
Review: I found this book excruciatingly dull. It is about nothing except the author. It tells nothing of any city--at least not enough for anyone who doesn't already know the (few) cities mentioned well to get a feeling of them--nor does she ever go off the beaten path. (Even to go to Perugia and Sorrento, neither of which she even writes about, she goes with a group). What this book is, for the most part, is her "twee" postcards to herself (all addressed "Dear Alice" and signed "Love, Alice") and her junior high school musings about the man she's met in Paris and is having an affair with. If your idea of travel clothes are silk suits and you consider buying a black cheomsang style dress or wrap-and-tie espadrilles the height of daring, you may enjoy this. The author is a reporter, so I'm surprised she shows so little interest in other people--or in places, history, art, anything besides herself, for that matter. As for independence, this baby hasn't come a long way.
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Summary: This book doesn't compare to "As the Romans Do"
Review: After reading the travel memoir "As the Romans Do" by Alan Epstein, I was enthralled and transported to Italy, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on another persons account of her travels to Europe. Even with an open mind, and given that she was a woman travelling on her own, rather than a family moving to Italy five years ago, which was Epstein's experience, I wanted so much to like this book. What it turned out to be was an account of who the author, Alice Steinbach, met along the way (mostly other foreigners and tourists) without much insight into why we are having to hear all about these chance encounters that don't go anywhere. The chapter that most disappointed me was the one on Rome. She went there excuding such fear and timidness, which is exactly what got her into trouble in the first place. She stuck out like a sore thumb, because she wasn't comfortable with herself and she didn't trust a soul she encountered. I have spent years in Rome and have never been followed (except 25 years ago by a bunch of cute youths who meant no harm) and I find the people to be friendly, harmless and charming. If you want to go to Rome, or anywhere in Italy, to gain the most amount of pleasure which is there for the taking, you must become like the Romans, confident, amicable, unafraid, and talkative with people in the bars, on the streets and in the shops. If you want a real account of how to be when travelling abroad and what the people are really like, I can't even find the words to express my delight in the book, "As the Romans Do: The Delights, Dramas and Daily Diversions of Life in the Eternal City" Even if you are not planning to go to Rome, it really teaches you alot about how other people live in comparison to Americans. Pehaps Alice could also gain a little wisdom by reading "As the Romans Do", as well. With all this said, it does take alot of courage to go to a foreign country on your own, without friends and family, so I give her a three star for her efforts.
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Summary: A Lovely Escape
Review: I enjoyed this book very much, but felt left out of the kind of detail that would have made it great. I wanted so much to know more of how she was feeling as she explored new places. I wanted to know how she felt about pursuing relationships with strangers, especially in a romantic situation. I really just wanted more depth.
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Summary: Guess You Had to Be There
Review: I was eager to read this book; after all, who wouldn't love to take an extended leave from his/her job and live in Paris, Oxford, and Italy? The book, however, is a sad disappointment. Alice Steinbach, a former reporter for The Baltimore Sun, has neither the wit nor wisdom to entertain or instruct. The writing is curiously flat and lifeless, her observations about life are mere platitudes, and her postcards to herself quickly become trite and embarrassing. I'm sure this sabbatical transformed her life, but she is unable to translate her experiences for the reader. Guess you had to be there.
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Summary: EXQUISITE! CHARMING! DELIGHTFUL!
Review: I LOVED THIS BOOK SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! It was just a wonderful escape at the end of the day and I hated to have it end! I only wish that Ms. Steinbach continue her travels, postcards and stories but PLEASE let us know just one thing: is Naohiro still in the picture????? I also appreciated the introduction to Freya Stark and this marvelous book has prompted me to search out her delicious books as well. Let's have more.......soon!!!
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