Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude

by Stephanie Rosenbloom

A wise, passionate account of the pleasures of traveling solo

In our hectic, hyperconnected lives, many people are uncomfortable with the prospect of solitude. Yet a little time to ourselves can be an opportunity to slow down, savor, and try new things, especially when traveling.

Through on-the-ground reporting, insights from social science, and recounting the experiences of artists, writers, and innovators who cherished solitude, Stephanie Rosenbloom considers how traveling alone deepens appreciation for everyday beauty, bringing into sharp relief the sights, sounds, and smells that one isn't necessarily attuned to in the presence of company.

Walking through four cities--Paris, Florence, Istanbul, and New York--and four seasons, Alone Time gives us permission to pause, to relish the sensual details of the world rather than hurtling through museums and uploading photos to Instagram. In chapters about dining out, visiting museums, and pursuing knowledge, we begin to see how the moments we have to ourselves--on the road or at home--can be used to enrich our lives. Rosenbloom's engaging and elegant prose makes Alone Time as warmly intimate an account as the details of a trip shared by a beloved friend--and will have its many readers eager to set off on their own solo adventures.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir, France, Audiobook, Italy, Biography Memoir

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

Stephanie Rosenbloom is a travel writer with The New York Times.

Each week she aims to help travelers get the most out of their vacations with reviews, tips and trends in her Getaway column. She also writes features and essays about solo travel (like this and this), as well as slow travel, design, and the ways technology may be helping or hurting our experiences.

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Alone Time - Four seasons, four cities and the pleasures of solitude" written by New York Times columnist Stephanie Rosenbloom explores the sensory experience of solitude.
I found this book extremely informative, entertaining and quite compelling and very different from my normal reads which was a refreshing change.
The amount of references to support the authors comments is phenomenal and equally the amount of research that must have been carried out is truly amazing.
I particularly liked reading about 'savouring the moment' and could truly visualise it. Set in four cities - Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York during four seasons this book really is fuel for the senses. Rich, intoxicating descriptions of food, places and people certainly have you craving for the solitude Stephanie refers too and although I've never travelled alone, should I ever have the need to this book has given me the confidence and the desire to happily travel solo and enjoy my own company.
This is a very calm book to read and very relaxing and highly recommend to anyone planning on traveling alone or who wishes to build the confidence and mental security to go it solo.

4 stars

[Mahshid · Rating 5 out of 5]

شادترین اوقات من وقت‌هایی بود که یک روز شنبه در خانه تک و تنها به حال خود رها می‌شدم.

[Bookworm · Rating 1 out of 5]

As someone who is very introverted, doesn't mind spending lots of time alone, avoids crowds, etc. this title sounded super intriguing. Being "alone" is an increasingly precious commodity and her book sounded very interesting. Being alone in four cities, and the experience of being alone in her travels with her solo spaces and solitude.

Unfortunately, the negative reviews are on point. If you've done any reading of relatively recent articles urging people to do more things by themselves or taking off on a trip solo or finding ways to find "quiet" in the world, etc. then the book isn't new. I also agree with the assessment that the book can't quite decide what it wants to be: a memoir of her travels or a discussion about why we should do things alone?

Normally travel memoirs are fine for me and I always like reading about experiences of people going off on their own but this was another book that should have stayed a long-form article or a series that runs on weekly basis or something.

If you're someone who hasn't done this or is unfamiliar with the concept this may be something to read. If you're at all interested in any of the cities she mentions it may be of interest. Otherwise, though, you can probably read better magazine articles that cover this topic just fine. Library borrow if you're really interested.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Although I did read this in egalley form, I verified quotations with the final version.)

"Alone, there's no need for an itinerary. Walk, and the day arranges itself."

Stephanie Rosenbloom takes on four cities to try to (re)discover the pleasure of solo travel - Paris, Istanbul, Florence, and New York City (where she lives.) I truly loved her ruminations and observations along the way, and feel like buying this for every friend who travels solo, whether that is a luxury of retirement or a necessity they have carved out for themselves.

Rosenbloom combines traveling alone with copious amounts of research ahead of time, and I couldn't help but think that this method might be the best for any traveler - prime the brain with history, stories, and art, and let those pieces of information form the baseline for what can be seen. Then without the interruptions of other people or technology, see what people you meet, what is unexpected, or how those pieces of knowledge come together.

"When preparing for a trip, we can read about architecture and restaurants. But what ultimately breathes life into the daydreams of anticipation are the people we encounter when we're actually there."

The Paris section seemed to be about the little secrets hidden everywhere if you notice them, while the Istanbul section seemed to be more about the people, whether or not she interacted them. Sometimes their mere presence (and noticing them) would alter her experience.

She also talks about anticipation, which I've discovered is sometimes my favorite part of a trip (she also balances this by frequently reminding the reader not to be wedded to an itinerary; to allow for discovery).

"To anticipate is to court joy, to fall in love with a place the way it is in a book or a movie or an Eartha Kitt song. But to stay open to the unexpected is to embrace anticipation - to know that it serves its purpose before the journey begins and must then be set aside for reality, for whatever beautiful, strange, unpredictable thing awaits when we step off the ferry."

Occasionally, Rosenbloom highlights terms that other cultures use to describe travel, from the Japanese wabi-sabi (seeing beauty in imperfection/impermanence) and the Turkish huzun (communal melancholy) - one more way of noticing, by putting on new eyes.

At the end, Rosenbloom includes suggestions for how to learn to be more comfortable talking with strangers, tips for safety while traveling, and other resources.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy through Edelweiss.. I first discussed the book after a round of book speed dating on Reading Envy Podcast Episode 120, and knew I'd want to finish it. It came out June 5, 2018.

[Fatemeh Nazari · Rating 4 out of 5]

خب یکم امتیاز دادن به این کتاب سخته. چون خیلی فضای متفاوتی با اکثر کتاب‌هایی که خونده بودم داشت. نویسنده در این کتاب به تنهایی به ۴ شهر سفر می‌کنه. در ۴ فصل مختلف. پاریس، استانبول، فلورانس و شهر محل زندگی خودش، نیویورک. از اونجایی که نویسنده روزنامه‌نگاره، متن هم روزنامه‌نگارانه بود. اینکه مثلا وسط متن به یه تحقیقی اشاره می‌کرد یا کلا نوع روایتش ساده و در عین حال غیرادبی بود. اما تجربیات نویسنده به عنوان یه آدم کاملا عادی پر از دریافت‌های جالب بود. سفرهای نویسنده چیز دست‌نیافتنی‌ای نیست. یه سفر معمولیه اما با نگاهی خاص. اون نگاهه که دست یافتن بهش آسون نیست. تمام چیزی که کتاب سعی در گفتنش داره، زندگی در لحظه‌ست.ما قدم به قدم با نویسنده در یافتن این ویژگی همراه می‌شیم.
من از خوندنش واقعا لذت بردم و درس گرفتم. درسته به خاطر نوع نگارشش یه جاهایی خسته‌کننده می‌شد. کلیدش این بود که آهسته بخونیش. یا مثلا سرچ عکس‌ مکان‌هایی که رفته بود به تصویرسازی‌مون کمک می‌کرد.
با تمام احترامی که برای مترجم قائلم و اتفاقا خیلی هم دوستش دارم، اما کتاب نیاز اساسی به ویراستاری داره. غلط نگارشی و تایپی داشت. اونم زیاد. آدم حسرت می‌خوره که ای‌کاش کتاب به این خوبی ویراستاری هم می‌شد.

[Kyle Lane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish it. It's like she wanted to write about a trip she had and made up a reason for it and tried to find supporting arguments after the fact. I get it, you like Paris, we all like Paris.

[Dar vieną puslapį · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pasaulis greitas, kintantis ir nieko nelaukiantis. Tai mums viena ar kita forma nuolat primena įvairios medijos. Sustoti nėra kada. Na, o ką jau kalbėti apie pabuvimą vienumoje. Tam nėra nei laiko nei reikalo. Taip mums sako. Bet tai netiesa. Visi geriausi dalykai prasideda tuomet, kai esate taikoje ir ramybėje su savimi. Tada iš tiesų matote, kas vyksta aplink jus, kokie kvapai sklando ore, kokie maži stebuklai kibirkščiuoja tose ramiose ir stebūklingose akimirkose. Tuomet, kai esate vieni.

Stephanie Rosenbloom savo knygoje “Vienumos metas” analizuoja buvimo su savimi būseną keturiuose miestuos: Paryžiuje, Stambule, Florencijoje ir galiausiai savo namuose Niujorke. Autorė dalinasi miestų vaizdais, jų istorija, vietomis, kurias lankė ir mylėjo žymūs žmonės. Čia rasite nemažai su vienatvės tema susijusių citatų.

Knygą išties skaičiau savo mažo pabėgimo nuo visko metu būdama viena. Būti viena ir jaustis komfortiškai dar tik mokausi, bet viena tikrai supratau- būti vienam ir vienišam - tai dvi skirtingos būsenos. Vienam būti - tai jaustis laisvai, prie nieko nesitaikyti ir išties daryti tai, ko nori, ir kada nori.

Knygos tekstas lengvai slysta, tačiau pasigedau kažkokio veiksmo. Eilutei sekant viena kitą tas miestų aprašymas kartkartėm darosi šiek tiek monotoniškas. Įdomioji dalis - vidinė savirefleksija bei garsių žmonių mintys apie pabuvimą su savim.

Manau, knygos idėja išties originali ir nemažai žmonių tiesiog turėtų ją perskaityti. Nereikia sleptis už ekranų, kai būname vieni. Išgyvenkime tai kaip galimybę viską patirti giliau: daugiau pamatyti, užuosti, stipriau pajausti, paragauti. Gimėme vieni. Vieni ir išeisime, tad mokėkime komfortiškai jautis tame buvime.

Gero skaitymo.

[Dorsa Ehya · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتابی که برای لذت بردن و آرامش نوشته شده و در این راستا به نظرم بسیار موفق بوده. جستار‌هایی که بر خلاف نجربه‌های پیشین من از خواندن کتاب‌های جستارگونه، حاصل ذهنیات پراکنده و پرش‌های فکری نویسنده نبود و یک انسجام قابل قبولی داشت. کتابی که برای یکی از مهم‌ترین احساس‌های گم شده‌ی درونی ما نوشته شده: «لذت بردن از تنهایی و خلوت با خود، در سطح شهر، در سفر، در شلوغ‌ترین و خلوت‌ترین مکان‌ها» و همین برای من بسیار عزیز بود. البته نمی‌دونم اگر شانس سفر کردن به تنهایی رو قبلا نداشتم و الان هم دقیقا در آرزوی یک سفر تنهایی دوباره نبودم، هم‌چنان این‌قدر از خوندن کتاب لذت می‌بردم یا نه

[Randal White · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, light read. The author explores four different cities in four different seasons. She does it alone, to experience the benefits of solitude that can disappear when you are with someone else or with a group. Basically, slow down, open your eyes (and ears, and nose), and let your mind make it's own memories. It's a great idea.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solo travel and the pleasures of solitude in general are topics that I heartily endorse. All of my trips to Italy so far have been solo adventures. I have learned more about the country and also myself through these opportunities precisely because I traveled on my own.

With that in mind, initially, I was very excited to read this book. And, parts of it I enjoyed. The author's chapter on her market experience to organize a picnic for herself in the Luxembourg Gardens was equally entertaining and relatable. I would do the same thing she did by following the older French ladies who clearly knew the market's best vendors and then fumbling my way through my purchase with that vendor - language barriers and all. Loved, loved, loved the descriptions of that entire experience.

My overarching disappointment with this book, however, is that it doesn't know what it wants to be - Travel memoir? Pop psych? Rosenbloom clearly did her research across a wide range of topics related to solitude, and that is commendable. But, the organization of the book was so disjointed that I struggled to hit a reading "flow" (suitable to reference this since she talks about the "flow" concept in the book). One paragraph would be research references to make a point, then the next paragraph would be her experience or observations of said point. A very stop/start, stop/start, etc. reading experience.

It was challenging for me to relate to the author's chapters on Florence. My own experiences in the city were different, and to use another reference from the book, more serendipitous in the moments of joy I experienced (even joy amidst frustration in learning to be flexible with plans when Mother Nature thwarts your best laid plans).

What stood out clearly in this book is that Rosenbloom adores Paris. Through her eyes, I experienced a solo travel perspective of Paris that motivates me to plan my own solo excursion there soon. I happily take that motivation, and am currently doing research for such a trip.

Side Note: If you are looking for a true "four seasons" memoir abroad, read Anthony Doerr's Four Seasons in Rome. A friend recommended the book to me after my first solo trip to Rome, and I'm so grateful for her spot-on recommendation. Doerr's memoir is a true love song to Rome, and my experiences echoed so many of his lyrical expressions.

[Pam Cipkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always liked Stephanie Rosenbloom’s writing in the travel section of the New York Times, so I looked forward to the release of this book. It was everything I wanted it to be—pensive, insightful, evocative, thought-provoking—so I’m surprised at some of the less than stellar reviews.

Rosenbloom recounts her travels alone in four different cities around the world: Paris, Istanbul, Florence, and New York City. She describes what it is to walk, dine, and go to a museum alone, among other singular activities. While many people fear the thought of engaging in time alone, “Alone time is an invitation, a chance to do the things you’ve longed to do,” Rosenbloom explains. “Time spent away from the influence of others,” she continues, “allows us to explore and define who we are.”

Rosenbloom’s writing voice is quiet and meditative. While some readers bemoaned the lack of a narrative or a memoir-like style, I found her vignettes pleasurable to read. If you enjoy traveling alone or opportunities to be by yourself, you will savor and delight in this book.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Preaching to the choir for me... I don’t really see the question to which this book was supposed to be an answer to... it’s not enough information for a travel guide and not enough emotion and reflection for a memoir. And it’s a hard case of tell not show...

[محمدحسین بنـکدارتهرانی · Rating 1 out of 5]

مطلقا ارزش وقت گذاری نداشت. شبه جستاری بود که نه چیز دندان گیری داشت نه توجه ویژه و نکته خاصی

[Joanna Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mother of three I must admit alone time seems like a distance memory and one that i’d have no problem filling! However I very much enjoyed the journey to the four countries that the author takes us on.  I don’t think I’d ever dare to travel to a foreign country on my own, to a place where I knew no one, but I admire Stephanie for having the courage to do it.

The four cities (Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York) are vividly described by the author so that the reader feels like they are there alongside her experiencing all the sights and sounds too.  I really felt that I could visualise the cities in my mind and I now want to visit them in the near future as Stephanie makes them seem so interesting.  In each city we are taken on a whistle stop tour of the tourist attractions and must see sights which were fascinating to read about.  I spent a lot of time on Google looking up some of the places as they sounded so intriguing.  This is cleverly interwoven with some history of each place and some quotes from famous people who lived in or visited the area.  This helped add to the experience of each place and it was very interesting to know more about how other people perceived the city too.

I found her experience of New York to be very intriguing, especially as there are places mentioned in the book that I haven’t visited yet.  I had no idea so many famous people had lived in New York and that so many interesting things had happened there.  Stephanie’s love for her home town shines from the page and it was lovely to detect a little bit of pride in her writing. I love the idea of revisiting your home town and seeing it again with fresh eyes.  I have lived in the same town for over twenty years and will be taking time out to visit some of the famous and beautiful areas as soon as possible.

This is Stephanie’s debut book and I’ll be interested to read more books from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Hayley and Transworld publishers for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

[Vaiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netiesa, kad tik raganoms ir šamanams patinka leisti laiką vieniems. Daugeliui patinka. Ir jie nėra kitokie, tik siekiantys gyventi savo ritmu. Keliauti, skaityti, klausytis, žiūrėti, ragauti ir jausti. A. H. Maslow nuomone “vienumą ypač mėgsta brandūs, aukšta savimone pasižymintys žmonės, nes taip gali atsiriboti nuo kitų ir likti su savo mintimis”. Ir visiškai nėra baisu vienam eiti į kiną ar teatrą, užsukti išgerti kavos ar tiesiog vaikštinėti. Laukia daug mielų atradimų.
Įkvepianti ir jauki knyga, kurią skaitant norisi leistis į kelionę. Nebūtinai į tolimus kraštus, bet bent jau į kitą gatvės pusę.
Tiesa, visgi knygai buvo reikalingas redaktorius. Nes jau klaidų klaidelių. Nors... tai taipogi savotiškas atradimas.

[Liz Pardey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Totally boring -- it is written like a magazine article -- a teaser personal reminiscence followed by 'tips for travellers' I had expected a memoir and ended up skim skipping through which I something I rarely do.

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t like this book that much , I thought I would get an insight into what being alone means and some musings to go along with it , what I got was basically a traveling guide for people that want to travel alone , helpful but that what I wanted to read .

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie Rosenbloom has done a thing that I'm dreaming about - she's travelled alone to four different cities. I don't actually have to travel around the world but being alone is high on my list of priorities. You know, I'm actually never alone, there is always someone around me, be it at work or at home, and a solitary minute is like a Utopia Island. I think I wouldn't be afraid of travelling alone, I'd enjoy every single minute and use it in exactly the same way Stephanie Rosenbloom did.

I usually don't read books like "Alone Time", which is a shame as I actually found this book informative and entertaining, interesting and refreshing. I absolutely admire how much research must have gone into the story, as it is full of facts and references - some of them I found amusing and interesting, and I'd do without the others but altogether it was something different and I truly learnt from this book.

The author takes us on a journey through four cities - Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York, during four seasons. There were incredibly vivid descriptions of food that made my mouth water, beautiful settings and descriptions of places and of course people the author has met during her travels. This all will give you solitude and courage to perhaps travel alone one day and enjoy your own company, to focus on things we usually take for granted instead of appreciating. It will show you that it is really worth to slow down and open your eyes and your tastes. And it will show you how great it is to make your own marks and memories. Full of tips and resources, it's really worth reading, not only when you're planning a solo excursion. It felt so relaxed, and it was also very well written . Stephanie Rosenbloom's writing style is warm and inviting, insightful and it pulls you into the book. It is also full of depth but the author knows when to add a relaxed anecdote to make it even easier to follow and for us not to feel too overwhelmed with the facts..

I must also mention the gorgeous cover of this book - it's simple but beautiful, and the blue colour is one of the most brilliant and friendly ones. It will be for sure standing out on the bookshelves.



Let's stop in Florence for a moment - this stop was full of art. I loved the precise descriptions, the slow motion, the no - hurry, to see Florence through Stephanie Rosenbloom's eyes like this. The one or two anecdotes or memories were an added bonus, of course, the secret place so worth mention. This destination was beautifully described, with so much heart and soul in every word, and the educational part was truly well balanced by humour and sharp observations.
Stephanie Rosenbloom has visited Florence in autumn and the descriptions of trees glowing yellow in the sunshine were so vivid, as well the descriptions of food and streets, and I really didn't know there are streets like Death, Hell and The Way of the Discontented in Tuscany - but this book is so much more than a travel guide. Many great names are being mentioned in this chapter, just think about Michelangelo, Padre Pinocchio, The Birth of Venus, and I would really take someone's arm off to see those things with my own eyes. There were brilliant, interesting facts mentioned that I would probably never hear about if I hadn't read this book, and it was full of clever insights and observations.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who definitely values alone time, likes time on my own and is interested in solo travelling, it made for an interesting, eye opening and somewhat relatable read. To me it's a mix between an intimate, detailed account of solo travelling as well as a travel guide and mindfulness/self help guide with quotes, studies and statistics.

The main negative was the repetition, especially the phrases: 'slipped my finger into the handle of my coffee cup', 'slid my finger through the tasseled keychain' and 'slipped out of the door', which seemed a little like lazy writing to me. Additionally, on occasion it felt forcefully wistful which came across as cheesy at times and the tips at the end of the book appeared to be sponsored by the websites and apps mentioned (maybe not!), so much so that it felt a touch inauthentic.

However, I adored the slow but rich experience of reading about the wonderful cities mentioned, I found myself tabbing so many quotes, statistics and places to visit within this book (it gave me serious wanderlust) and despite my grievances, I would highly recommend it, particularly if you're planning to visit any of the four cities explored in the book.

Review taken in part from my blog *gifted for review

[M.Mahdi · Rating 3 out of 5]

باسمه
🔰 تنهایی موضوعیه که معمولاً بهش فکر کردم یا اینکه باعث شده به چیزهای مختلف فکر کنم؛ بعضی موقع‌ها خودم به استقبالش می‌رم و بعضی موقع‌ها هم از دستش کلافه می‌شم... همین دست‌وپنجه نرم‌کردن با تنهایی باعث شد کتاب حاضر برام موضوعیت داشته باشه. حالا اینکه عطری از سفر هم داشته باشه که چه بهتر! بحث سفر و مسافرت همیشه برام جذابیت خاصی داشته؛ به همین دلیل معمولاً این کتاب‌ها رو نگه می‌دارم برای روزهای سخت. فشار کاری این روزها هم بهانه‌ای شد برای خوندن کتاب «وقت تنهایی»...

🔰 همون‌جور که کتاب میگه تنهایی، مطلوب و نامطلوب داره؛ به تعبیری تنهاییِ خواسته و ناخواسته. مح��ر اصلی کتاب، دعوت به استفاده از فرصت تنهایی استفاده هست و در عین حال دوری از انزوا. تلاش نویسنده قابل تقدیره؛ اما فکر می‌کنم نهایتاً به این سمت رفتیم که برچسب خواسته رو روی تنهایی ناخواسته بزنیم... راستش وقتی با تنهایی بیش از حد دمخور باشی (ناخواسته)، دیگه جوری می‌شه که اینقدرها طاقت حضور و فعالیت توی جمع رو نداری... اینجا ممکنه بگن طرف «خواست» که حرف نزنه یا نیاد؛ ولی در اصل دیگه «نمی‌تونه» حرف بزنه یا بیاد... خواسته‌ای که از ناخواسته‌ها حاصل شده... بگذریم...

🔰 بدون تعارف فصل پاریس بدجور توی ذوقم زد؛ چون اصلاً اون چیزی نبود که فکر می‌کردم. بیشتر از سفر با اون چیزی که توی سر مسافر می‌گذشت، سروکار داشتم. ذکر اسامی پرشمار اشخاص و مکان‌ها در کنار فینگلیش معکوس و حتی نگارش تلفظ فرانسوی (مملو از غ)، دلایل دیگه اون بودن... بااین‌حال، کتاب هرچقدر جلو اومد، بهتر و بهتر شد؛ طوری که فصل نیویورک در نقطه اوج به این رسید که فارغ از اینکه «خونه» کجا باشه، چقدر حس بودن توی «خونه» دوست‌داشتنی هست...

🔰 معرفی ابزارهای آخر کتاب هم ایده جالبی بود. سایت‌ها و اپلیکیشن‌های معرفی‌شده حتی اگه در اون موقع کاربردی هم براتون نداشته باشه، جذابیت‌های خاص خودش رو داره که با جستجوی اینترنتی می‌تونین کشفشون کنین.

✅ چاپ و ویرایش کتاب، خوب هست؛ اما همون‌طور که گفتم فارسی‌نویسی اسامی خاص، به‌خصوص در فرانسه، اذیت می‌کرد. در مجموع کتاب رو برای خوندن در همچین موقعیت‌هایی توصیه می‌کنم؛ نه همیشه. شاید اگه زمان دیگه‌ای این کتاب رو می‌خوندم، نظرم خیلی منفی‌تر بود؛ ولی الآن به «از هر دری، سخنی» بعضاً عمیق نیاز داشتم.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've recently figured out that I really enjoy traveling alone and I'm a sucker for any book that gives me ideas for how to have even more fun doing so. I'll need to check out the resources/ideas she mentions at the end of the book before my next trip. It'd be worth reading that chunk of the book if you're thinking of traveling alone (or even if you're just traveling).

[Melika Khoshnezhad · Rating 3 out of 5]

نویسندۀ کتاب، استفانی روزنبلوم، روزنامه‌نگاره و تصمیم گرفته در چهار فصل به چهار مقصد موردعلاقه‌اش بره و درباره‌شون چهار جستار نوشته: بهار در پاریس، تابستان در استانبول، پاییز در فلورانس و زمستان در نیویورک. البته خودش ساکن نیویورکه ولی می‌گه دلش می‌خواسته از زاویه‌دید یه مسافر شهرش رو از نو کشف کنه. و خب این برای من جالب بود چون خیلی دوست دارم برم جاهای مختلف شهر و تصور کنم اگه تو این شهر مسافر بودم نظرم دربارۀ این مکان خاص چی بود. حتی یکی از آرزوهام اینه که مثلاً در تهران یه شب برم هتل و ببینم چه شکلیه.

هر بخش پر از ارجاع به مکان‌ها و فعالیت‌های خاص اون شهره و اگه موقع خوندن اسم فضاها رو سرچ کنید، می‌تونید به قوۀ تخیل‌تون اجازه بدین برای خودش جولان بده تا خیال کنید که شما هم در اون شهرها و در حال تجربه کردن اون فضاها هستید.

این کتاب خیلی حرف تازه‌ای نمی‌زنه. این حرف‌ها دربارۀ تنهایی و خلوت‌گزینی پیش‌تر در کتاب‌های بهتری که این روزها هم خیلی زیاد شدن گفته شده. ولی اگه در حد یه مطالعۀ سبک بهش نگاه کنید و انتظار زیاد و پیچیده‌ای ازش نداشته باشین می‌تونه لذت‌بخش باشه.

در نهایت اینم بگم که کتاب به ویرایش احتیاج داره.

[Sophy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually loved this book. It was so easy to skip through; the language bright and breezy and the meandering of the "solo traveller" beautifully captured by Rosenbloom.

The style is upbeat, positive and encouraging; extolling the virtues of not only solo travel, but solo walking, museum visiting, art exhibit viewing, eating and experimenting.

I enjoyed Rosenbloom's descriptive narratives, and felt I got a real taste of the cities she experienced.

A lovely literary treat.

Of special interest was the section at the end of the book with helpful hints and advice. I wasn't aware of bookcrossing.com, a website which allows you to "release" a book you own into the "wild" and let it picked up by another booklover, whereupon you can track its journey into the world! What a fantastic idea, I'm sold!

Re-read Sept 2024, still a highly enjoyable read with wonderful descriptive elements.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, affirming book on the beauty of taking your time to enjoy small details in life (staying in the moment) and particularly how wonderful it can be to spend time just with yourself in your home city or on your travels.

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted this to feel more like a memoir or narrative than it actually did.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable audiobook. I like to travel and fine with going alone so this was a perfect read.

[Elham Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

ترجمه ی عالی،نثر روان و شیوا،توضیحات دقیق و کافی
یکی از بهترین کتاب ها هم در باب سفرنامه هم لذت تنها بودن.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie Rosenbloom's Alone Time is about a woman traveling alone, but I read it more as a series of essays about developing one's interiority by engaging with art and the built environment.

How might one develop richer experiences? Rosenbloom researches every place she goes to by studying the language, literature, and news of the place to develop an internal context for understanding experiences. She purposefully indulges in anticipation in advance of her trip, and then she purposefully lets go of her expectations while on the trip so that they don't detract from her experiences. Her primary strategy for experiencing a city while in it is strolling through neighbourhoods and museums, and maybe one takeaway is that these are mostly identical activities. The people we see on the street when we “people watch” are texts, for the observant traveller at least, in the same way that a mural or a statue is. Finally, Rosenbloom uses descriptive writing skills to sharpen her observations.

Should we live in our home cities in the way that we do while travelling, as Rosenbloom hopes? I don't entirely think so. If I look at Rosenbloom's preparations for travel, they seem if anything to undermine what we feel when we travel. In other words, I suspect that when we travel we are not experiencing a depth of understanding but rather a sense of disorientation. We read about a place to get to an optimal level of confusion that heightens our senses. We're likely to know enough about the place in which we live that it rarely disorients us. But to feel that disorientation, I recommend just going to a punk show or something. For me, I know that where I live offers a lot of natural beauty and I'm happy to embrace it in an enduring, mostly stable way. I suspect novelty is overrated and boredom is somewhat underrated--perhaps especially by people who "love to travel!!!"

Some complaints... The central premise of the book ignores that most travel writers travel alone. There's also the sense that she's repurposing articles she's written for the New York Times in a book. Who really needs another self optimization project? Finally, I find that the power of long travelogues tend to flag a bit towards the end, and that was true for some of the chapters here (though I really liked two of the final essays).

On the whole I liked Alone Time. I notice that after a year of coronavirus lockdowns, I have more curiosity about travel again, which is probably a good thing. I also appreciated how often Rosenbloom's willingness to engage with other writers led me to order books from my library.

[Sonia Jarmula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read that got me excited about my upcoming travels and reminiscent of past ones, especially solo journeys I had made. I loved Rosenbloom’s depictions of the places she visited, but also her expansive and well researched meditations on solitude. My one complaint was that it was too short!

[Story · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this philosophical 'how to travel' guide and liked the author's playful suggestions to get more out of solo travels.