- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Short Books Ltd (5 April 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1780720408
- ISBN-13: 978-1780720401
- Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.1 x 19.8 cm
Synopsis
When Joey Rubin stumbles upon a group of elderly women swimming in a lake one freezing January morning, she thinks they must be mad. But then they dare her to come in…
Joey, an overworked New York architect, has come to the Cotswolds to oversee the restoration of Stanway House the stately home that inspired J.M. Barrie to write Peter Pan. But it hasn’t been easy. The local residents aren’t exactly welcoming, and then there s the problem of the brooding caretaker, a man who seems to take every opportunity to undermine her plans. She soon begins to feel that she can t do anything right.
Until, that is, she begins to take a daily dip with the members of the J.M. Barrie Ladies Swimming Society in their private, watery Neverland. They will teach her that it s not the house that needs restoring; it s her…
Review
Just looking at the cover of The J. M. Barrie Ladies Swimming Society makes me smile; the title and the Art Deco inspired cover entice the eye to this beautiful book. This book has been on my shelf for about a year, so when I had a short gap between books I fancied and easy, fun and happy read, and this delivered on all three counts. Joey Rubin is an architect in New York and find herself on her dream job helping to restore Stanway House in the Cotswolds. Joey has always loved Peter Pan, and Stanway House was what inspired J. M. Barrie to write this wonderful book; it was home to the Llewellyn-Davies family, whose five sons were said to have inspired Peter and the Lost Boys. Whilst there she is invited to join the J. M. Barrie Ladies Swimming Society, who meet everyday, even in winter, at a pond that is their own Neverland, a place where they can come together, leave their troubles behind and have some fun. It is through these ladies that Joey begins to reassess her life, her priorities and realise that her life may need restoring just as much as Stanway House.
The J. M. Barrie Ladies Swimming Society is a beautifully written book, full of attention to detail and wonderful characters. Joey is a career woman but so far has been passed over for promotion by the men in her firm. She has come out of a difficult relationship with a work colleague and has let the friendship with her best friend since childhood lapse to a point where they don’t really know each other anymore. It is her trip to England that begins to change all this; she reconnects with her best friend Sarah, although all does not go well, and her friendship with the ladies in the swimming club make her realise that she has let all her friendships lapse and that she needs to re prioritise her life. Of course there is a love interest, where the rivers do not run smooth. Ian is widowed and bringing up his teenage daughter Lily on his own. He hasn’t had a relationship in ten years as he feels he owes it to his wife to stay single. I loved the relationship between Joey and Sarah, both try so hard to rekindle their friendship but end up pushing each other further away. This was a very natural relationship, not made sickly sweet but instead looked at how and why people grow apart, how they view each others lives and how difficult it is to rebuild bridges.
Friendship is a central theme to this book, in its many guises. The ladies of the swimming society have been friends for over fifty years and make Joey realise that friendship isn’t just about getting on together, but about being able to disagree, argue but still respect each other and be their for each other; its not a true friendship until you argue and come out the other side. The ladies are such a mixed bag; Aggie is Lady Howard, Lilia is still grieving for her daughter after ten years and has lost her spark, Gala is a survivor of Auschwitz, yet they all come together to welcome Joey and be there for her and each other. As well as friendship love is also a strong theme, as a friend, a mother, and a lover, and how we deal with all these relationships. Joey’s relationship with Ian’s daughter is very touching. Lily has grown up without a mother so is drawn to Joey, who is successful, fashionable and can help her with make up, clothes and advice. Although Joey has no children of her own, her relationship with Lily is natural, caring and edging on maternal.
The J. M. Barrie Ladies Swimming Society will make you laugh, smile and cry, sometimes all at once. It is a delightful read, with memorable characters you will fall in love with, and an easy flowing narrative. Barbara J Zitwer writes with empathy and understanding of the difficulties in relationships as well as the happiness they can bring. This is a charming and heartwarming read that will leave you with a smile and a feeling of happiness.
Thank you for reading my review of The J. M. Barrie Ladies Swimming Society. I hope that I have inspired you to read this beautiful book, and that you will enjoy it as much as I have. Please leave comments, follow and share my reviews, I really appreciate your support.
