This is Michael Zadoorian's second novel. He also has published short stories. Zadoorian lives in the Detroit area, which is where the characters of "The Leisure Seeker," Ella and John Robina, have lived all their lives.
Ella and John now find themselves in their 80s and near the end of their lives. He has moderate Alzheimers and Ella has been told she has end stage cancer. They decide to take one more journey across the country, following Route 66 as much as possible, in their Leisure Seeker camper. Their children and doctors are, of course, opposed.
The book is beautifully written as Ella's observations as they travel from spot to spot, visiting shabby diners and motels, ghost towns, desert byways, and tacky tourist traps from Michigan to their destination, Disneyland in California. Some of the descriptions of sunsets, sunrises, and scenery are breathtaking. The often comical and nonsensical dialogue between Ella and the half-there John are reminders that we each will face issues of growing old. The situations that they get in to on this last journey are both poignant and humorous.
The only thing I don't find as convincing about this book is the voice of the main character, Ella. Her voice is more male than female in many cases, perhaps because of the author's perspective. There are some crusty old broads out there-- like Flo from Mel's Diner or most of the characters that Kathy Bates plays, but most women of Ella's age would find her language and the way she solves problems to be a little offensive. This issue bothered me less as the book went on, but I would say that the book is not for people who expect 80 year old women to be genteel.
With that one caveat, I recommend this book to lovers of travel novels and novels about end of life and old age issues.
Liz Nichols
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