The Ladies midnight swimming club : Book review


Book Review
 
Title: The Ladies Midnight swimming club
Author: Faith Hogan
Genre: Literary Fiction 
 
Set in the Irish countryside, The Ladies midnight swimming club is the story of three different women who are at different stages in their lives. 
 
When Elizabeth’s husband dies leaving behind a huge debt, she turns to her friend Jo for help. Jo calls her daughter Lucy from the city to save Elizabeth from bankruptcy. Lucy is divorced with a son and is in a dilemma whether to leave her old life behind and start afresh in a small town. Circumstances bring the women closer until Jo discovers a shocking secret. In order to find solace, all the three women resort to taking midnight dips in the Irish sea. The water envelops them into a healing embrace, washing away their fears, sorrow and also helps them come up with an idea for a fund raiser.
 
The story is narrated in third person from the point of view of several characters-Elizabeth, Lucy, Jo, Lucy’s son and an author who is in search of his birth parents. The author takes us through the journey and interiority of each of the characters in depth. As we delve into the lives of these characters, we understand their different types of trauma and tragedy that struck their lives. All three women are similar but different in their own way. We learn how they are eager to start life afresh. 
 
Friendship is one of the strong themes covered in the book besides grief, forgiveness and healing. It’s interesting how the author makes water silent character and highlights its healing properties. Many swimmers can resonate with this. In her lucid style of writing, the author describes the setting of Ballycove to perfection. 
 
 The Ladies midnight swimming club is an uplifting, emotional and heartwarming story of life and embracing second chances. It makes you laugh, cry and most importantly want to take a dip in those cold icy waters to experience the magical embrace of the waves.

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