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The Leisure Seeker: A Novel

By: Michael Zadoorian
Narrated by: Judith West
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Publisher's summary

In Michael Zadoorian's The Leisure Seeker, the Robinas have shared a wonderful life for more than 60 years. Now in their 80s, Ella suffers from cancer and John has Alzheimer's. Yearning for one last adventure, the self-proclaimed "down-on-their-luck geezers" kidnap themselves from the adult children and doctors who seem to run their lives and steal away from their home in suburban Detroit on a forbidden vacation of rediscovery. With Ella as his vigilant copilot, John steers their '78 Leisure Seeker RV along the forgotten roads of Route 66 toward Disneyland in search of a past they're having a damned hard time remembering. Yet Ella is determined to prove that, when it comes to life, you can go back for seconds'' - even when everyone says you can't.

©2009, 2011 Michael Zadoorian (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers
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Critic reviews

"Ella's wise, feisty voice turns what could be a sappy melodrama into an authentic and funny love story." ( Publishers Weekly)
" The Leisure Seeker is pretty much like life itself: joyous, painful, funny, moving, tragic, mysterious, and not to be missed." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about The Leisure Seeker: A Novel

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RV, Baloney, Wonder Bread, Profanity, Moxie, Love

Ella is the kind of woman I hope to be if I ever make it to my 80s - minus the cancer, of course. She’s tough, independent, and progressive while being sweet, loyal, and loving. Her devotion to John is endearing. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything for us, or for him. She lies, she bitches, she yells, but all the time, it’s because she loves him and she copes with his Alzheimers in a way that proves that saints don’t have to be sappy little doormats who never complain.

She has to take care of herself while John remains oblivious to her condition. And her kids! They have taken over as the “parents” in the family, and Ella wants nothing to do with it! I love it! I’m not sure how it would resonate with younger people, but for someone nearing 50 and starting to worry about aging parents and aging husband and self, it was a welcome story peppered with an older woman’s reflection about life and society and “progress.”

It’s a cautionary tale for the children of older people (don’t condescend to those who know what they want and know how to get it, and have every right to do so!!) and a challenge to the aging (don’t just accept what the doctors and the naysayers tell you - grab what life is left!).

I can’t imagine a different narrator. While I wasn’t thrilled with John’s voice or the kids, I wouldn’t trade Ella’s voice for anything.

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