The Lido By Libby Page

Heartwarming. Rosemary Peterson an 80+ senior, is distraught over the recent changes in the neighborhood she has lived in her entire life. The library has closed and the family grocery store is a trendy bar. And now, the outdoor lap pool "The Lido" where she has swum daily since it opened, is being threatened by a property developer to close. The Lido, is the central 'character' in the novel. It is the community that revolves around it, and provides the narrative for the story. The book interweaves the history of the characters, and the neighborhood from past to present day.

Kate Matthews, a 20 something journalist, who writes for the local newspaper, is floundering. She lacks direction, is insecure, and depressed. She is directed to write the news story about the closing of the Lido for the paper. She meets and attempts to interview Rosemary, who agrees to an interview, only if Kate swims in the Lido.

Kate's questions are naive and comical. To Rosemary, "why do you swim?" Rosemary laughs, "Asking me why I swim is like asking me why I get up in the morning. The answer is the same."

Kate and Rosemary meet on a regular basis to swim. We follow their friendship, loves, losses, and the profound affect the 'pool' has on their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a lap swimmer myself, I could relate to Kate's concerns about body image, the challenge to start exercising again...in an outdoor pool, where its cold!The feelings of inadequacy about her job, herself and the struggles of growing up and out into the world.

The story poses the apocalyptic question about change and how it insinuates its tentacles into everyone's lives, and the aftermath that ensues.

Libby Page graduated from the London College of Fashion with a B.A in fashion journalism. There is a lovely photo of the author on the back cover insert, smiling by the Lido, where she swims. In Author's note she writes, "If you have never swum in a lido, I urge you to seek one out and take the plunge. If you do, perhaps keep an eye out for Kate or Rosemary in the water with you. I may well be there too. Happy swimming!"