An Unknown Woman

i was gifted this book many years back, had tried to read it then but found it heavy going in the start. so the book sat on the shelf, moving around during various clean up operations, passed over as it were. came a time recently where the regular reading material simply didn't attract, so when my eye fell on this after ages, decided to give it a more serious attempt. and was delighted to find that it was well worth the effort. the writer has managed to be vivid without going overboard with words, which for me is a must - find too many writers who get carried away in the flow of their own prose!kept wondering if the account was a personal journey; felt very much like alice was describing her personal experience, too many tangible human emotions with a gritty real feel to be fiction. and if so, then it was a courageous journey for she's walked with solitude and come out stronger for it.definitely a good read for anyone, more particularly if you're trying to grasp the many textures of loneliness. not confined to women at all though some aspects would be sensed differently by men, the experiences were rather universal.no difficulty in recommending.

Steady as she goes. As a male reading this book, I was struck by the fact that so many consider this a "women's book." No way. This is a great book for ** anyone ** wanting a glimpse inside a solitary life. Ms. Koller's vivid telling of living alone with her dog (Logos) is truly remarkable. If you ever begin to feel lonely and isolated from life, as if you are "outside the circle," pick up this book and read how being alone doesn't have to mean lonely. No, this book is not a book for women, this is a book for anyone with a beating heart and a curiosity of a wonderful life lived alone. Alice Koller is one stable and balanced individual - great book!

to the critic Inna I think another significant fact is before this book there were very few ordinary women who wrote about the individual woman's journey to find her true self. The writing may not be elegant but it's more important that she had the courage to tell her story. Why does it haunt so many readers like me? There is something magic in the way she tells her story so who cares about literary elegance here! If she helps others on their journeys or to begin their journeys she has left behind a great gift. Again, thank you Alice wherever you are.

I loved this book. I stumbled upon it accidentally and it was not at all what I expected. It is insightful and so well-written that you feel you are with her on both her actual journey and her inward one.

Koller's book has been a favorite book to give. And, a favorite in my personal collection. The author takes us from her decision to get to know herself, through casting off form to discover her substance, and the results of her winter "off" journey for a private retreat on Nantucket Island. I marked my first copy with "lightbulbs" as her one-liners hit me between the eyes: Unloading her car, she noticed the lovely sunset, and thought she'd hurry to 'catch it.' She then realized there was no reasn to keep working and miss the moment. Where did she learn to "finish your work, first?" etc. Ah ha! A light went off! Great reading. And a true story. If you loan it, track it!