The unforgettable cross country journey of a runaway couple in their twilight years determined to meet the end of all roads on their own terms—a major motion picture from Sony Pictures Classics starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.The Robinas have shared a wonderful life for more than sixty years. Now in their eighties, Ella suffers from cancer and John has Alzheimer’s. Yearning for one … 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.
“The Leisure Seeker is pretty much like life itself: joyous, painful, moving, tragic, mysterious, and not to be missed.”—Booklist, starred review
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I really enjoyed this story and read it quickly. While tackling the heavy topics of aging, terminal illness, and death, The Leisure Seeker is surprisingly nostalgic, touching, and funny. Wife Ella reminisces on her marriage and life with husband John as they take one last vacation across the country traveling old Route 66 in their RV. She has …
I liked the book, as I’m a little younger than the characters I can relate.
Movie was a big disappointment after reading this book. Movie changed too much about the characters, their lifestyle, even location!
Loved the characters and their last journey down Route 66 in the dated “Leisure Seeker” camper. Knowing the end is near for these two travelers, they make the best of their time together. A celebration of a good marriage and the choices at the end of life.
Funny, sweet, crazy, & could be almost any couple.
Being of the same ages as the characters I could certainly relate! This was heartwarming, funny, tragic and very, very realistic. I totally enjoyed it at the same time not wanting to read the end!
While the subject matter is indeed rather disturbing, the story was told in such a way that I was very focused in the characters themselves and not just their medical issues. Sweet, rather poignant but very realistic and some of the situations were downright comical……that being said, some were actually heartbreaking. The theme of “never let …
Great
This forced me to contemplate my own mortality and the infirmities along the way. It was sad, but I liked how she took charge of her own life. Older people will relate well to this story.
I really enjoyed this book . Such a poignant look at aging together as a couple . It was funny at times , sad at times and I felt ended the best way possible .
Felt like I could easily relate to John and Ella!!!
I enjoyed reading this well-written book. The subjects of aging, cancer and Alzheimer’s can hardly be considered funny, but somehow rhis story was told with humor and grace.
The story made me stop and think about aging, marriage and illness. I laughed out loud in spots and walked down memory lane with some of the spots they visited. It was sweet, sad and frustrating all in one. I was surprised it was a male author since it was well written from a woman’s point of view. I would recommend this book.
Raw honesty about aging and how one couple fulfilled their retirement dream despite health issues and meddling children… very entertaining, couldn’t put it down. Ella is my hero.
A heartwarming story.
This book appears to have been written just for a screenplay. The characters are underdeveloped and the plot predictable. I found it pretty flat, with way too many hints of what was to come: miles and miles of boredom followed by an ending that could be surmised from the first couple of chapters. Too bad. Hope the movie is better.
I loved The Leisure Seeker. The characters were real. The story was funny, and sad and poignant. Although it sometimes seem necessary, Itreminds me that we shouldn’t try to parent our parents.
I loved this book! Ella and John take off on an improbable adventure following Route 66 across the county. Ella has cancer John has Alzheimer’s. Even though this doesn’t seem like it could really happen the characters seem so real that I could envision 2 people doing this. Even though their story was tragic it was told with such warmth and humor …
I liked this book very much. so relatable to a certain age group – laugh out loud funny in places–as well as sad in others. Informative in terms of Ella and John’s travels. I would recommend to anyone whose parents are of a “certain age” and to anyone who has been fortunate enough to reach the sometimes “not so golden age.” It’s a book that …
It does come down to how you choose to live your life knowing life can not be treated lightly.