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ccassidy98's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Dementia, and Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
maddireads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Author: Marianne Cronin
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: June 1, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Beautiful • Wise • Tender
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Life is short. No-one knows that better than seventeen year old Lenni living on the terminal ward. But as she is about to learn, it's not only what you make of life that matters, but who you share it with.
Dodging doctor's orders, she joins an art class where she bumps into fellow patient Margot, a rebel-hearted eighty three year old from the next ward. Their bond is instant as they realize that together they have lived an astonishing one hundred years.
To celebrate their shared century, they decide to paint their life stories: of growing old and staying young, of giving joy, of receiving kindness, of losing love, of finding the person who is everything.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot was one of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends for 2023, and one I was eagerly anticipating because unlikely friendships and found family are tropes I typically love. And I must say this one did not disappoint!
This novel took me on an emotional journey - equal parts life affirming and heartbreaking, I loved being along for Lenni and Margot's journey. Told in short snippets, the writing was graceful with the perfect pacing. The story is so full of life despite knowing the characters' fates from the start. Lenni is such a special character - wise beyond her years and incredibly caring. Her banter with Father Arthur was one of my favourite aspects.
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot is such a special story, an ultimate celebration of life. It drives home the notion that it's never too late to start something, no matter what that thing is and how people can surprise you. An absolute beautiful portrayal of friendship.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of intergenerational friendships
• readers looking for a good cry
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"The cruelty of strangers never usually upsets me, but the kindness of strangers is oddly devastating."
"The light they brought with them stayed long after they'd gone."
"Answers don’t always come in the form of words."
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
moniipeters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
theonlybaillie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Dementia and Abandonment
cailinfitzgerald's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Abandonment
msennflinn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I can't believe this is Marianne Cronin's debut novel. The stories of Lenni and Margot are going to be forever emblazoned in my mind - they're filled with wit, hope, love, and heartbreak. I hope you pick up this book that - in my opinion - hasn't been talked about enough. Easily sitting pretty at the top of my favorites I've read this year. I can't wait until this author pens another beautiful story.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, and Grief
buffy87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
- forced story, didn't feel organic
- bored until halfway until Margot's story started to take shape
- Lenni's story is quite underfilled
- pushing the connections between all the characters (like what was the purpose of the Temp & the man in the ER)
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
macaronsandmermaids's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
sallenreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol