jazzypizzaz's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of tales of women adventurers travelling alone, all over the world, in all types of terrain. This was an inspiring, exhilarating, and insightful read. Women telling why they were venturing out alone-- biking through New Zealand or backpacking in Alaska-- and how it affected their psyches and emotions.
On the one hand, I really don't need to be encouraged to "go now, go solo", because doing things I want to do while alone is my default mode. I need to be pushed into inviting other people along or into telling others what I want to do instead of following their plans. I am comfortable with myself for company, while people make me nervous. I can make my own decisions when solo, but when I'm with others I second-guess and flip-flop. A challenge for me would be a planning a trip to do with other people.
On the other hand, however, while I do many activities alone, I've never been camping on my own in the deep of the woods, never pushed too far or taken actual physical risks. Is this smart or am I missing something? I'll drive through the Georgian countryside at midnight alone, I'll day-hike alone, I'll plan a trip to and explore cities alone, I'll sail dinky sailboats near the shore of Sarasota Bay alone, but in these I'm never too far from people (strangers) that would probably help me. I have a cell phone, guarded common sense, and good health to protect me. Venturing into the wilderness just seems foolhardy for whatever benefit. I am cautious by nature and have had the "buddy system" hammered into my head, particularly as a women. When is it saying a liberating "fuck you" to the patriarchy to venture out alone--into city streets or backwoods trails--and when is it just dumb? How do I sort between unnecessary risk and unwarranted fears?
On the one hand, I really don't need to be encouraged to "go now, go solo", because doing things I want to do while alone is my default mode. I need to be pushed into inviting other people along or into telling others what I want to do instead of following their plans. I am comfortable with myself for company, while people make me nervous. I can make my own decisions when solo, but when I'm with others I second-guess and flip-flop. A challenge for me would be a planning a trip to do with other people.
On the other hand, however, while I do many activities alone, I've never been camping on my own in the deep of the woods, never pushed too far or taken actual physical risks. Is this smart or am I missing something? I'll drive through the Georgian countryside at midnight alone, I'll day-hike alone, I'll plan a trip to and explore cities alone, I'll sail dinky sailboats near the shore of Sarasota Bay alone, but in these I'm never too far from people (strangers) that would probably help me. I have a cell phone, guarded common sense, and good health to protect me. Venturing into the wilderness just seems foolhardy for whatever benefit. I am cautious by nature and have had the "buddy system" hammered into my head, particularly as a women. When is it saying a liberating "fuck you" to the patriarchy to venture out alone--into city streets or backwoods trails--and when is it just dumb? How do I sort between unnecessary risk and unwarranted fears?
anikav's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I was looking for inspiration to travel alone on a campaign trip. I enjoyed reading this book of essays. Many of the authors wrote about solo wilderness trips in remote places. There are essays about grief, searching for belonging, and carving out time alone. There are many reflections on being a woman. It’s really interesting to read this set of essays written in the 90s now in 2023. Every solo trip feels different without smart phones or cell phones or GPS trackers. Even the drives on the highway take on more dangerous feel than they would now for me. Much of what the women write about related to feminism both feels very relatable and also feels from a different time. I can relate to a lot of what they are talking about. I also hope that a woman alone, is it not much of a novelty now as it seems to be in their essays. But I could also imagine that it still is and I just haven’t encountered those type of attitudes. Overall, really enjoyed this.
katalia's review
4.0
I haven't read this in years either, but I remember this little book of essays making me happy. It is about women in the wilderness, and makes me miss my mountains. One of the stories even takes place not far from where I grew up. I love memoirs and essays that explore a person's connection with a place -- this book combines both of those elements and thus was a delight for me to read.
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