Without Reservations, the Travels of an Independent Woman is a travelogue/memoir by Alice Steinbach. Steinbach had been working for years as a journalist, and in her 50’s, divorced and with two grown boys, decides to take a year off to travel and live in Europe. She starts in Paris, then moves on to England and Italy.

Although Steinbach calls this “The Year of Living Dangerously” there is nothing too adventurous here. She has spent time in all these places before, even lived in some. However, her book describes an adventure to rediscover herself; the adventurous independent woman she was before marriage, career, and children had thrown her into a daily predictable routine.

I enjoyed reading Steinbach’s musings as she would wander Paris streets, often falling into hidden little bookstores for an afternoon. She writes postcards that she sends home to herself throughout her journey and these become an important part of her book. She meets some interesting people along the way and relaxes more into herself by the end of the journey.

Nothing extraordinary here, but an enjoyable read.