"Although I do not believe in love at first sight - not with a man, anyway - I do believe it's possible to fall instantly in love with a place. As soon as Marta and I emerged from a narrow lane and entered Ravello's pristine town square, I felt the ZING of Cupid's arrow hitting my heart. I was smitten instantly. But why Ravello? I wondered. Why hadn't I fallen for sparkling Amalfi or dazzling Positano? For some reason I found myself comparing the three towns to men. If Amalfi were a man, I thought,he'd be dressed by Calvin Klein and reading Tom Clancy. Positano would wear Armani and carry a book by John Le Carre. But if Ravello were a man - ah, Ravello!- he would be in chinos and a fresh white Oxford shirt with no tie, buried in a book by Graham Greene." Page 229Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman
by Alice Steinbach
My book club discussed Without Reservations on a cold, snowy morning earlier this week. The book itself is Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Alice Steinbach's account of a year-long European sabbatical taken to discover who she really was without her career and children, but our discussion quickly veered toward our own travel tales and aspirations. We all mostly enjoyed the book, but questioned whether her ultimate goal for the trip was realized.
I loved Steinbach's writing, especially the postcards of personal insight and inspiration mailed home (to herself) throughout the trip. They appear at the beginning of each chapter. I hope to read her later book, Educating Alice: Adventures of a Curious Woman, sometime this year.
My rating:
After reading your review on GR I immediately added to this my bookshelf. I like the idea of sending yourself postcards while on vacation. I am always drawn to books such as these. Maybe I need a year long sabbatical???
ReplyDeleteStaci - Couldn't we all use a one year sabbatical?! I really enjoyed the book and hope you do, too!
DeleteI like the idea of sending postcards to yourself while on vacation too!
ReplyDeleteNise' - That idea really appealed to me, too. I may do that on my next trip :-)
DeleteAmazing writing and I agree - I fell in love with Venice. I love your banner picture.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Ann - I can't wait to read her other books. So sad there will be no more...
DeleteThis sounds like a wonderful read. I travelled a bit when I was younger and I'd love to do it again one day.
ReplyDeleteSam - I really hope we can travel more now that the girls are older. There is so much I'd like to see and experience!
DeleteThis is one of those books I always meant to read. Glad your group liked it.
ReplyDeleteI too love the idea of the postcards! I am definitely going to do that next time we take a trip!
ReplyDeleteI love the quote. I like how she compared towns to men and their clothes and book. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteI love that excerpt. And the postcard idea.
ReplyDeleteI love a book that can get the club talking, even if it's not exactly the conversation you thought you'd have.
ReplyDeleteI usually love books like this. I think the sending postcards home to yourself is great fun. And I'd love to take a European sabbatical right now, even if only in a book :)
ReplyDeleteI've been longing to go to Italy for several years now and one of my dream locations is Positano. I've never heard of Ravello, but after perusing some photos on Google, I may have to add that to my itinerary! It looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to add this book (and her others) to my TBR list. What a shame she's no longer alive to write more.
Les - Italy is one of my dream vacations... I'll get there eventually! I'm glad Steinbach has a couple more book I can read. Very sad there will be no more.
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