While I was snowbound, I ran out of library books and took another look at the for-some-reason-I-don't-want-to-give-these-away bookcase. I pulled out what may be the most recent book in there (copyright 2009) -- The Leisure Seeker. It's just as delightful a re-read as it was in the first place. My only objection is to the picture on the cover of my paperback. It would appear I came away with a pretty good mental picture of the 1978 motor home known as the Leisure Seeker. For starters, it's a real motor home -- I knew that as soon as Ella mentioned the captain's chairs for driver and passenger, but the one shown here is just a trailer. And I photographed a closeup of that illustration, to show you what struck me as completely wrong -- John's fine, but Ella was definitely not slim, and there's no way she could possibly have stood on one foot. 
I was glad to see, googling for illustrations, that the hardcover edition shows the proper vehicle, sneaking away from Detroit heading for Route 66. I'm trying to find the right way to persuade you to get hold of this novel, because I know you'll enjoy it. Granted, there aren't too many stories with protagonists in their 80s, but it is totally captivating. Of all the review raves (it must have been one of those that put me on to it in the first place) the one I like best calls it "Kerouac-lite...On The Road with shorter sentences and less drugs and sex."
But not, I would add,
without any.
P. S. I know I promised to stop already with the winter complaints, but this morning I finally succeeded in photographing a snowfall -- don't know if the flakes will show up on your screen, but anyhow, here's what today started out like. For a change.
My copy has the same cover as the hardcover one you showed. Much better, I agree. I am still thinking about sending it to my mom, but a large print edition would probably be a lot easier for her to read. Wonder if one is available from the library? Sorry about the snow! CMS
ReplyDelete