Reviews with content warning for Terminal illness - Os Cem Anos de Lenni e Margot

Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Os Cem Anos de Lenni e Margot by Marianne Cronin

82 reviews

sandysmith's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

What a ride such an amazing book, that has you riding waves of emotion, sad yes, but it is so much more than this, funny, thought-provoking, joyful, It's a full range of emotions. Lenni is 17 and has a life limiting condition, meets 83 year old Margot in hospital. They bond over art therapy and agree to paint their lives in one hundred years of their memories. The relationships are beautifully written and created, written from two viewpoints, whilst obviously most of flash backs belong to Margot, Lenni, and her views on life grabs you. Her relationships with others are also wonderfully written, and I could help but fall in love with both Lenni and Margot but the other characters, too, especially Father Arthur, the new nurse, and the tattooed porter and a few chickens. "Do you know, she said slowly, that the stars we see closest are already dead? Well that's depressing, I took my hand from hers. No, she said gently linking her arm through mine. It's not depressing, it's beautiful. They've been gone for who knows how long, but we can still see them. They live on.they live on". There is loads to consider and reflect on. My favourite type of book is one that makes you think and this book will stay with me for some time. Its brilliant just brilliant.

Content Warnings

marigold82's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The beginning of this book is slow. I started and put this book down dozens of times. Do yourself a favor and keep reading!! It is a beautiful story.

Content Warnings

stephjoanne's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Content Warnings

tahdens's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The second half of the book was so much more engaging than the first half of the book, which just confirmed my dislike for terminal-illness tropes in books because clearly everyone know what's going to happen, and I found Lenni annoying. And Margot's chapters was definitely more interesting than Lenni's or whatever was happening in the present.

But with Margot revealing herself to be the bisexual grandma I never knew I needed, the story did pick up a bit. Although I didn't understand how Margot supposedly had all this artistic talent with actual technique to back it up when in her story it looked like she never had any artistic training, and why, as a self-actualized bisexual, she was still afraid to come out to a teenager in 2015.

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? No

4.5

Title: The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
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."

Content Warnings