Last Resort [Import] [Paperback]

Susan Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2009

When Penny Moon is banished from Fleet Street to resurrect an ex-pat magazine on the French Riviera, the worst news is yet to come. Her partner will be David Villers, the man she once tried—and humiliatingly failed—to seduce. But when she arrives at the Riviera, she is surprised to find that, instead of the usual headaches and frustrations of restarting a magazine, all that should be impossible is easy. Then, quite unexpectedly, she meets Christian Mureau, a mysterious and elusive man who is wanted by the FBI, and her curiosity is instantly clouded by passion. Swept along by the glamour and intrigue of Mureau's life and increasingly affected by David's charm and humor, Penny finds her loyalties as mixed as her feelings. Feelings which lead her deeper and deeper into a web of love and deceit towards the terrifying consequences of two men's crimes—and beyond.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When an artist's imagination, "apparently angry at being ignored, took a holiday," the artist goes after it, in Lewis's (BoshBlobberBosh) unusual tale. Deposited by his red Renault (which "seemed to know the way") at a seaside hotel, the artist is told "This here's The Last Resort for folks who've lost a piece of mind." There he encounters a strange parade of fellow guests, some of whom seem strangely familiar. The clues are legion; a few are easy to spot (such as Long John Silver, who "peglegs in here, signs the guestbook with crossbones"), others will keep even sophisticated readers guessing until the final pages on which their identities are revealed. The lineup includes poets, characters from novels (including Melville's white whale), an actor who "had lost his range of emotions" (Peter Lorre) and more, all of whom eventually find their lost inspiration. Lewis's colorful and imaginative prose ("blues and whites quilted the sky") will keep readers' attention, despite the meandering story line and occasionally affected tone ("The patrons of The Last Resort had shown me the road to self-discovery!"). Innocenti's artwork consistently soars. His series of detailed, playful vignettes tweak perspective and brim with arch humor (as when he reveals the Little Mermaid's identity in a page divided into four moonlit quadrants), and his spreads offer the kinds of details found in the illustrations of vintage Victorian children's books. This elegantly designed volume will be most appreciated by bibliophiles and aesthetes: the artwork is spectacular. Ages 9-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. What's an artist to do when his imagination takes a holiday? Cling to memories? They're "old hat"; imagination is like "new shoes." The artist in this rather mysterious picture book for older readers takes to the road; he climbs into his car and heads off in search of his creativity, winding up at a "most remarkable seaside hotel," The Last Resort. There he encounters some very unusual but somehow familiar folk--a freckle-faced fisher boy, a pirate with a peg leg, a pipe-smoking policeman, all of whom have lost a piece of mind. Other improbable characters are at the inn, too; each one stirs the pot of simmering mystery, leaving readers wondering, What on earth is going on here? Could this be an invitation to readers to use their own imaginations? Innocenti's many hyperrealistic illustrations--small and square, narrow rectangles running along the bottom of a page, double-page spreads--are not only exquisitely rendered but also lighthearted and witty, and Lewis' text is filled with wordplay, memorable phrases, and allusions to literary characters, the identities of which he suggests in an afterword. Together artist and author provide, as the fisher boy puts it, enough "inn-spiration to keep us navigatin' till shrimp learn to juggle." For art students as well as students of creative writing. Michael Cart
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Random House UK (August 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099534339
• ISBN-13: 978-0099534334
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1.4 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parents can help kids absorb the somewhat difficult theme, August 5, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Resort (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (Hardcover)

Roberto Innocenti and J. Patrick Lewis' Last Resort tells of an artist's imagination which abruptly disappears. His quest to recover it leads him to a remote seaside hotel where he finds other seekers. The illustrations are gorgeous and parents can help kids absorb the somewhat difficult theme.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not really a kid's book, April 28, 2004

By 

Joni D. Myers "Librarian in the Midwest" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Resort (Hardcover)

While the illustrations are beautiful and the story is clever and amusing, this is not a kid's book. I have a six and an eleven year old and both found it boring and could not relate to the sly humor and the characters' veiled identities. I think most young children will not know Moby Dick or Don Quixote. The audience for the book is somewhat ambiguous and that is why I only gave it 3 stars. It is a beautiful book!

3.0 out of 5 stars Love the artist!, April 5, 2009

By 

K. T. Longava (Woodbridge, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Resort (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (Hardcover)

Roberto Innocenti is a fascinating artist. The story reminded me of a dream and it is a pleasure to share in the author's dream through Innocenti's art. However, I don't think this book would hold much interest for children.