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seamoonstone's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a miss for me. Specifically, I missed the part where we were supposed to fall in love with the friendship between Lenni and Margot. We never see it happen. I’m left with no idea why Lenni and Margot are emotionally invested in each other. What does Lenni, a dying child, say when Margot reveals that her child died? Why can’t we delve into that at all? How does Margot respond to Lenni’s mother’s mental health problems (which are suggested and then promptly never mentioned again)? What does either woman think about anything the other has told her? We never see the sparks, the admiration, the moments of understanding between two people that was promised in a book about “an extraordinary friendship.” We do see other relationships form and dissolve, and the book is testing out some interesting ideas about the difference between “abandonment” and “letting someone go,” especially when things get tough or someone gets sick. The real joy in this book is the friendship between Lenni and Father Arthur. In this relationship, we see patience and care and forgiveness and vulnerability. For some reason, Lenni and Margot are not given that same space. Overall, I think the book is trying to show how we all have an impact on those around us, whether it be great or small, no matter how much time we have, but I wish the time we spent with our characters was more focussed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Child death
mj1996's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death
sallenreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Child death, Terminal illness, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
hannahjb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Child death, and Terminal illness
betsyhokamp's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Child death, and Terminal illness
amberlouiseking's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Child death
onion's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: War, Dementia, Toxic friendship, and Excrement
Minor: Ableism, Abandonment, and Lesbophobia
raincityreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Chronic illness, Death, Child death, Dementia, and Terminal illness
emmasbookishself's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
“Somewhere, out in the world, are the people who touched us, or loved us, or ran from us. In that way we will live on”.
What a joy it was to experience Lenni and Margot’s precious and touching friendship. The pair although separated in age by more than sixty years develop one of the purest bonds. Through stories they share the outstanding memories of their lives, as they are both living their last year.
You’ll want tissues on hand while reading this one because you’ll laugh at certain moments due to Lenni’s mannerisms, and you’ll cry due to the stories shared by Margot and you’ll cry again when you realize just how heartbreaking the loss of these characters are. One thing I know for sure is that you won’t soon forget Lenni and Margot and their special friendship.
What a joy it was to experience Lenni and Margot’s precious and touching friendship. The pair although separated in age by more than sixty years develop one of the purest bonds. Through stories they share the outstanding memories of their lives, as they are both living their last year.
You’ll want tissues on hand while reading this one because you’ll laugh at certain moments due to Lenni’s mannerisms, and you’ll cry due to the stories shared by Margot and you’ll cry again when you realize just how heartbreaking the loss of these characters are. One thing I know for sure is that you won’t soon forget Lenni and Margot and their special friendship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Child death, and Death
caitatkinson_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I’ve cried my eyes out at this book. I love Lenni, I love Margot, I love Father Arthur, I love New Nurse - I love them all. They’re characters I will truly miss. What a beautiful, wonderful story full of stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Child death