Solo: On Her Own Adventure

by Susan Fox Rogers (Editor)

Back by popular demand, this second edition of Solo adds new stories to the ones readers already love—women pedaling across New Zealand, hiking in the Adirondacks, bodyboarding with dolphins off the California Coast, and driving through the northwestern United States. With plenty of alone-time to contemplate the world, the authors share their adventures, which are collectively humorous and exhilarating, suspenseful and defiant, tranquil and enchanting.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure, Nature, Outdoors, Memoir, Womens

325 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

I am the author of MY REACH: A HUDSON RIVER MEMOIR, to be published by Cornell University Press in September 2011. In this memoir, I explore the Hudson River from my kayak. As I encounter snapping turtles and great blue heron, visit crumbling ice houses and cement factories, you will learn about the rich natural and built history of this river. In the process I also tell my own story of family and loss.
In addition to MY REACH, I am the editor of eleven book anthologies including Solo: On Her Own Adventure, Going Alone: Women's Adventures in the Wild and Alaska Passages: 20 Voices from Above the 54th Parallel, and Antarctica: Life on the Ice. I teach creative writing at Bard College--the creative essay, nature writing and a course on the Hudson. I live in the village of Tivoli."

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never hike alone. How many times have I been admonished not to hike solo? This advice has come from people I respect and I would like to comply, but I can’t. The joy and ultimate purpose of the walks I take is to let my mind wander and to take time to allow the tape to run and make room for new impressions. This meditative state is hard to achieve when there is another consciousness crowding in on your thoughts. So, even though my father warned me against walking alone of the bear invested, misty shores of the Lynn Canal southeast Alaska when I was a teen, I still wandered away from civilization to absorb the cool breath of the forest. This is why I love these stories by other women who for some reason they can’t deny need to experience life on their own terms, testing their own limits. That is what going solo means. You have no one to blame for mishaps and only your own inner river to listen to for advice. It is the path to self-growth and understanding taken by one woman who must ski in Yellowstone in the dead of winter alone, and another who becomes the first woman to sail from San Francisco to Hawaii in the Pacific Cup(a blue water crossing I’ve dreamed of making myself) solo. There are many more adventures in this anthology that call for a much higher degree of personal fortitude and courage than I have ever mustered on any of my experiences in the wild. This is one of several collections edited by Susan Fox Rogers that stands out on travel narratives shelves as quality examples of women who are not only stretching their limits, but teaching us all how to be brave and true to ourselves.
www.lindaballouauthor.com
Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales -soon to be released

[Michelle Simoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I am a sucker for travel writing . This is a book of short stories of women traveling alone and why they did it , what they learned , and felt while traveling alone. I think this book would be loved by solo adventures and hopefully inspire other women to try traveling alone . Some of the stories were a little slow to me but a lot of the stories I loved . If someone reads the book here r a list of short stories I loved .
*the cliffhanger
*cycling the koru
*the moment of understanding
* we are not alone
*living by mountains
*princess of the tides

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

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?

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable collection of essays by women on being alone in the wilderness.

[MsChris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of essays! I truly want to rush out and buy a copy of this book for every female I know.

[Rebecca Beverly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good grief! That's the feeling I had all the way through this book. Kept reading because I wanted to see if the book would redeem itself. I love outdoor adventure, but I do not like foul language, ultra-feminism, the LGBTQ agenda, men-hating women, atheism, etc. That's what I was dealt all through this book. Believe it or not, and it's hard to imagine sometimes, women can enjoy the outdoors without espousing any of the above. Good grief!

[Beth Filar Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't expect to love this book as much as I did, as I don't think of myself as someone that does solos in the wilderness but reading this book was so inspiring - it's not all about soloing in the wilderness but about being strong independent minded woman, seeking answers/finding herself in the world, in life, in connection to our Earth.

[hhhhhhhhh · Rating 3 out of 5]

love the theme, but the collection was uneven. some of these stories were compelling and inspiring, some were boring and poorly written.

[Josie Arrowsmith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some stories were really wonderful, but it's were hard to get through. It felt hit or miss with this collection.

[Mona Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible anthology of women seeking solitude through nature. Highly recommended

[Marjorie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a minute to finish, but the stories are generally pretty good and thought provoking! Worth your time.

[Cynthia Sprout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some proud insights that really resonated with me.

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

[Missy Schield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed some of these essays.
But some of them felt contrived and others were just poorly written.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on the young adult bookshelf at the local thrift store. It is not a young adult book.

I'll admit, I was so excited about it that I stopped reading the other book I was in the middle of and started reading this one. Unfortunately, the women in these stories only somewhat represent my solo travel experiences as they often aren't actually traveling alone and they travel in their own cars (instead of hitching/riding trains/biking/walking, etc.) However, I really liked the themes of many of the essays and was impressed by the depth of introspection of many of the writers into WHY they travel and what they find (or don't find) when they do it alone. There was also some introspection about the life journey one can go on while staying in one place, even with other people around, and that's something I've been thinking about a lot lately and would like more folks to engage with.

[lee lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked several of the essays in this book, but I agree with some of the other reviewers that may of these women are melodramatic. Over-analyzing is really only interesting to me when the writer knows she's overdoing it, and I really didn't see that in any of these writers. Perhaps being in the wilderness affects your writing style in this way! If I hadn't of had to finish this for my 52-books challenge, I certainly would've put it down a long time ago. Of course, that could also be due to the pressure from THE GODDAMNED LIBRARY to return the book.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best essay in the book: an account of a trek in Nepal. Worst essay in the book: a young woman who dumps her boyfriend and drives west to find herself and read into everything too much.

Other stand-outs: the account of Iditasport in Alaska, and the woman who talked about losing the audience in her head during her first solo back-packing trip. Overall, a very good book. It's wedging the travel itch deeper within me.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Keli Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this on my boss Julia's bookshelf so I read it.. It was some interesting stories about women doing stuff by themselves.. It was interesting but not very interesting.. like OK you are a feminist and you have gone against the norm and done something by yourself.. I am proud of you.. now moving on..

[Sandra Krajeski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this collection of essays cover to cover many times. Each time I experience it in a different way depending on where I am in my own life journey. first read it before the birth of my first child on my own solo trip and now years later the writers' stories speak to me on a completely different level. A book that grows with you.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book holds a collection of amazing stories about Women. Each story is different from the next covering a wide meaning of the word: solo. I read this at a time when I needed encouragement and I found it in these women's words!

[L.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a collection of stories of women on a myriad of solo adventures--hiking, camping, bodyboarding, flying, sailing, road tripping, and more. I'm inspired. I'm filled with love for strong women. I feel supported to be independent. Solo trip 2016, here I come!

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A- A terrific travel anthology about women who travel alone--very diverse locations and interesting

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great essays from women who "go it alone" in various adventure settings. Rich insights, strong reflections, beautiful imagery.

[Deb Weina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short stories of women going out on their own adventures to challenge themselves. AWESOME book!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how each woman shows our connection to the natural world. Some essays I liked better than others but that was mostly relatability to her sport. A lot of truth in their words.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

buy a tent and backpack