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melancholymegs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Death, Child death, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Grief
ispeakpurple's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Medical content, Terminal illness, Grief, and Dementia
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
blueyogi'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
3.75
Graphic: Terminal illness and Grief
Moderate: Death, Abandonment, Child death, Vomit, Medical content, and Lesbophobia
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, Grief, Terminal illness, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Dementia
Minor: Pregnancy
markedwithanm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Terminal illness, Child death, Death, and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review
- 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 β’ W O R D S
Beautiful β’ Wise β’ Tender
π 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.
π 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.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ fans of intergenerational friendships
β’ readers looking for a good cry
π F A V O U R I T E β’ 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 donβt always come in the form of words."
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Cancer, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Infidelity
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: Chronic illness, Death, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Child death
theonlybaillie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death, and Child death
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, Grief, Death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abandonment
msennflinn's review
- 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: Death, Child death, Medical content, and Grief