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Jan 15, 2019Megan_Library rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
What an outstanding novel! The Lido: A Novel by Libby Page is a book all about friendship and how it really has no age limits. I not only experienced tears and hysterical laughing moments apart within the same chapter, but I also had some great deja-vu memories of when I worked as a lifeguard for the City of Ottawa pools as a teenager and young adult. This is a beautiful story of friendship between an elderly woman named Rosemary and the self-conscious and anxiety ridden, 26 year old journalist named Kate. Aspiring journalist Kate, is given the task of writing an article of the potential closure of the lido and is asked to interview the oldest and most avid swimmer of the lido; 86 year old Rosemary. She has lived through wars and poverty but has always found peace and rejuvenation through her community pool lido and through her memories of her loving and late husband George. As Rosemary cherishes her memories of George and herself together at the lido, she is determined to keep these memories alive despite the Brockwell Lido going up for sale to a private company called Paradise Living. Over the course of time, Rosemary and Kate team up to try and protect the lido. Their unlikely bond blossoms into a beautiful story of friendship and determination in hopes of saving their cherished, Brixton community lido. The Lido was written with clear language which allowed the novel to flow naturally like water splashing between swimming pool lanes. The easy text will allow for the reader to be able to digest this inspiring story in one sitting or savor it over time, which is exactly what I did. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars for this uplifting story of two leading ladies and their bond over swimming and saving history.