We were delighted to welcome three new members to our merry band of readers and had an interesting discussion about the book. The story revolves around a South London Lido threatened with closure and how the local community band together to save it. The people who use the lido and the friendships they form draw you in and give you a real sense of the Blitz like spirit of the area.
Rosemary is the real heroine of the hour, her life has revolved around the lido and her poignant story is woven in as the lido’s story and fate are told and revealed. Kate, a local journalist, picks up the story of the lido and her meeting with Rosemary leads to a crusade to save the lido and, in return, is the making of Kate herself. There are also some lovely sub-plots woven into the story that enrich the sense of community, like the sit-in at the lido, the book shop couple, Kate’s relationship with her sister and even a local fox.
The way the book is divided into chapters felt disjointed to some of the group but most of us liked it and marked it 9/10.
The book has a serious undercurrent in that it drives home the importance of local council facilities, Rosemary previously worked at the library which was closed down, and is a call for us all to stand up for what matters and helps bring people together.