A Book Club and a place to swim

I am spending more and more time in Utah with my hubby so have decided to start branching out a bit.  I had belonged to a book club in Arizona for over 10 years but with our new schedule the club's every 2nd Tuesday wasn't working out for me. I don't have 25 years worth of friends in Provo but I discovered that there was a bonus to my new senior pass for the Provo Recreation Center.  There is a monthly book club meeting for seniors with book copies included.  Viola, instant book club people to meet and share books with.  "Yellow Star" by Jennifer Roy was the book for September.  It is a wonderful little book based on the experience of Syvia, a Jewish girl, who enters the ghetto in Lodz, Poland at the age of 4 1/2 years of age.  She remains there until 1945 and finally leaves as a 10 year old.

Jennifer Roy is her niece and she felt that her story should be told.  She does so in first person and in free verse and the reader truly feels that they are hearing the voice of Syvia now called Sylvia who lives in the United States.  It is emotionally wrenching and ultimately triumphant.  Syvia is one of a dozen children which survive the ghetto.  The forced yellow star ultimately saves her life.  That is a story one needs to read for them self.  It brought tears to my eyes.

"Yellow Star" is written for ages 10 and above and with its free verse format is a very quick read.  I would recommend this book to anyone in the age range of 10 - 100+.  We must never forget past evenets even in our current world where atrocities continue.  My new book club group had wonderful things to say about this book today.  I think I have found a new book club home.

I originally bought my annual senior pass to the new Provo Recreation Center so that I could have a place to swim laps and to walk on snowy days.  Behind those big windows on the left you will find this. . .

See that lap pool back in the corner?  That is my new water filled pool home.  It is not, however, my favorite place to swim.

My pool in Arizona is because there is not only a lap lane but butterflies, humming birds, flowers, and sometimes clouds in the sky.  I am learning to adapt.  I have changed the address for my JoAnn's and Costco coupons.