The Leisure Seeker (novel)

The Leisure Seeker is a comedy, romance novel written by American author Michael Zadoorian, published in 2009. The second novel of the author.[1] The novel was adapted into a film of the same name, starring Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren, and was premiered at the 74th Venice International Film Festival in 2017.

The Leisure Seeker
AuthorMichael Zadoorian
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreComedy, Romance
PublisherWilliam Morrow and Company
Publication date
27 January 2009
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback), Audiobook
ISBN978-0-061-71983-7

Plot

John and Ella Robina have shared a wonderful life for more than fifty years. Now in their eighties, Ella suffers from cancer and has chosen to stop treatment. 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 to 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 their past. They have a hard time remembering all the details of their life, and Ella is in a lot of pain, yet Ella is determined to prove that, when it comes to life, a person can go back for seconds—sneak a little extra time, grab a small portion more—even when everyone says you can't.

Characters
  • Ella - The book is written from her perspective, in first person.
  • John – Ella's husband.

Reception

Booklist, in a starred review stated: “The Leisure Seeker is pretty much like life itself: joyous, painful, funny, moving, tragic, mysterious, and not to be missed.” The Los Angeles Times review called the novel a "heartfelt story of the grown children dealing with "stuff," both physical and emotional, left over after the death of their parents".[2] It was a bestseller in Italy and long-listed for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

Film adaptation
Main article: The Leisure Seeker

In 2016, at the Cannes Film Festival, award-winning Italian director Paolo Virzi announced [3] that The Leisure Seeker would be his first English language film, with Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland starring as Ella and John.[4] The script was adapted by Francesca Archibugi, Francesco Piccolo, Stephen Amidon and Virzi. Filming commenced in July, 2016 in Georgia and wrapped September 2016 in Key West, Florida. Sony Pictures Classics acquired all rights for the U.S.

References
  1. "'The Leisure Seeker: A Novel' by Michael Zadoorian". February 17, 2009.
  2. Wallen, Amy. "'The Leisure Seeker: A Novel' by Michael Zadoorian".
  3. Calvario, Liz. "The Leisure Seeker: Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Helen Mirren Drama - IndieWire".
  4. Jaafar, Ali (12 May 2016). "Helen Mirren & Donald Sutherland Team For 'The Leisure Seeker' – Cannes".
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