A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the Globe [Paperback]

Faith Conlon (Editor), Ingrid Emerick (Editor), Christina Henry de Tessan (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2001 | Series: Adventura Books

The idea of a journey without companions is too daunting for most travelers. Not so the women of this collection. These contemporary pioneers savor the ultimate freedom of solo travel. Marybeth Bond discovers the dubious pleasures of desert camel-riding when she decides to follow an ancient Indian trading route. Faith Adiele, a black Buddhist nun, enters a deserted train station at 3:00 a.m. in a Thai village controlled by armed bandits. Ena Singh negotiates with Russian police to visit the blue-domed city of Samarkand. In A Woman Alone, these women and others tell their funny, thrilling, occasionally terrifying, ultimately transformative stories of navigating some of the most unusual destinations on the globe.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These two new collections of entertaining travel essays focus on female travelers. The Unsavvy Traveller includes hilarious stories of trips gone horribly wrong, while A Woman Alone contains stories of intrepid women traveling solo. The first is the more unusual of the two, vividly describing experiences that are both horrendous and humorous, including getting lost in the jungle, being chased by a bear, and being questioned by the police on the suspicion of taking photos of a nude man sunbathing. Contributors include Caryn Bark, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, and Novella Carpenter. Many of the stories in A Woman Alone are about women of various backgrounds (e.g., veteran travel writer Mary Morris and Faith Adiele, a Buddhist nun) connecting with others while traveling alone. "In the Ladies' Compartment," for example, describes one woman's experience traveling by train in India. Her previously established connection to other women on the train aids her when the guard thinks she is a man and threatens to throw her off the train. Other adventures include driving in a snowstorm alone, going on a religious pilgrimage in Mexico, and befriending women in Senegal. While many of the tales are unique, the theme itself is not, and there are already quite a few books in print that cover similar ground more thoroughly. For example, Susan F. Rogers's Solo: On Her Own Adventure (LJ 5/01/96) not only offers a more consistent treatment of the same theme but also addresses more immediate concerns of women traveling alone in the outdoors. Nevertheless, with the increasing popularity of travel essays, public libraries may wish to purchase both of these volumes, depending on their patrons' interests. Those with limited funds should opt for The Unsavvy Traveller. Alison Hopkins, Queens Borough P.L., New York
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This absolutely delightful collection features anecdotal travel tales from 29 different women. Differing in background, temperament, and destination, these women share a common bond in their love of solo travel. While acknowledging the inherent risks of traveling alone, the emphasis of each individual essay is on the ultimately rewarding experience of both the interior and the external journey. Interspersed with humor, philosophical musings, and handy travel tips, this charming travelogue bounds back and forth over six continents, offering a comfortable armchair view of an array of exotic adventures. These brief articles will whet readers' appetites for voyages of discovery. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Seal Press (November 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158005059X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580050593
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #520,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, July 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the Globe (Paperback)

I normally thoroughly enjoy reading travelogues. I was looking forward to this book for a week before I found time to read it. I didn't feel it was worth my time. I was looking for more information about and feel about the places, and less self-exploration of the authors. Not bad, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, June 16, 2003

By 

SpiceBlossom (Fayetteville, AR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the Globe (Paperback)

This was my first attempt at reading anything by and about women travelers. Some of the writings were very interesting while others seemed a little pointless. I did enjoy the different viewpoints from women of various countries and ethnic backgrounds. Having traveled on my own (and about to embark again), I was glad to delve into the experiences of other women. Most of the accounts are of foreign travel, but there was one (maybe more) about domestic experiences. The stories reminded me of my own travels and even inspired me to begin an essay about part of my experience in another country.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, August 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the Globe (Paperback)

I purchased this book while traveling alone in Portland (not truly alone since I was visiting friends). I loved every single one of the essays. Each one was well-written, interesting, and inspiring. I thought certain essays would not interest me since the area of the world visited I thought didn't interest me -- and I was completely wrong. After reading this book, I'm game for anything -- and I'd rather do it as a solo traveller. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in embarking on an adventure.