THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT by Marianne Cronin

 

“A beautiful debut, funny, tender, and animated by a willingness to confront life’s obstacles and find a way to survive. . . . It celebrates friendship, finds meaning in difficulty and lets the reader explore dark places while always allowing for the possibility of light. Lenni and Margot are fine companions for all our springtime journeys.”—Harper’s Bazaar, UK 

A charming, fiercely alive and disarmingly funny debut novel in the vein of John Green, Rachel Joyce, and Jojo Moyes—a brave testament to the power of living each day to the fullest, a tribute to the stories that we live, and a reminder of our unlimited capacity for friendship and love.

An extraordinary friendship. A lifetime of stories. 

Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson lives on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though the teenager has been told she’s dying, she still has plenty of living to do. Joining the hospital’s arts and crafts class, she meets the magnificent Margot, an 83-year-old, purple-pajama-wearing, fruitcake-eating rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined.

As their friendship blooms, a world of stories opens for these unlikely companions who, between them, have been alive for one hundred years. Though their days are dwindling, both are determined to leave their mark on the world. With the help of Lenni’s doting palliative care nurse and Father Arthur, the hospital’s patient chaplain, Lenni and Margot devise a plan to create one hundred paintings showcasing the stories of the century they have lived—stories of love and loss, of courage and kindness, of unexpected tenderness and pure joy.

Though the end is near, life isn’t quite done with these unforgettable women just yet.

Delightfully funny and bittersweet, heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot reminds us of the preciousness of life as it considers the legacy we choose to leave, how we influence the lives of others even after we’re gone, and the wonder of a friendship that transcends time.

MY THOUGHTS: 

This is Marianne Cronin's debut novel and it's a good one. Though I was set to give it only three stars because of all the sadness and tears somehow I just couldn't. It was well written and very emotional. There were a few chuckles thrown in for good measure but overall it's very sad. I mean it will give you the big ugly snot tears. Where you can't see the words on the page. Pardon my grossness there but it's the truth. And you won't want to put this book down. You'll grab a box of two of kleenex and hang on for the ride.

Lenni is only seventeen and has a terminal illness. Do not be fooled into thinking she's going to be ok. She's not. But her story is one that will worm it's way into your heart and squeeze tightly. It will leave you breathing so hard and weeping so bad. She's such a determined young girl and a bit ornery too. But in a good way. She has so much life it is hard to believe she is dying. 

Margot is eighty three and she's also dying. Her's is a heart problem. With all she's been through I can certainly understand why too. This poor woman has seen enough death and heartache for several people. She's a very strong woman though and a true friend. She's one that you will love also. Together her and Lenni are a pair. A pair of the best of friends. They needed each other and they pair so well. They take on a mission and see it to its end. 

Father Arthur is another one that I really loved. When he meets Lenni it is a wonder he didn't hang up his robes and turn in his faith. She certainly put him to the test. Together they were great. He loved her as only a Father can. She loved him right back. She was good for him. He was good for her also but in this case it was more of the fact that she was good for him. I loved reading their parts of this story. 

The part I didn't understand and that made me maddest was Lenni's dad. How could he. How dare he. What daddy would ever think about leaving. Then there was The Temp. I liked her also. She went through a few things in this book but she ended up ok. There are a few other characters you will meet. Some you will love and some you probably won't like at all. 

This whole story takes place in a hospital. The stories inside this story are from Lenni and Margot's pasts. They are of course outside of the hospital. They each tell things that happened throughout their lives then drew or painted a picture of that time. Some of this book is truly so touching and at the same time so sad. Actually most of it is. There are great parts where you do feel the air. See the stars. Feel the love. Other parts are just tear worthy. You will feel the pain and loss.

This author really did a good job of bringing out the tears. This book is good. It's well written and has that feeling you look for in a book. The feeling that you are there. That you are a part of it. That you are involved in these two people's lives. You will feel it. I certainly did.

Thank you to #netgally, #mariannecronin, #harpercollinspublishers for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

5/5 stars and I do recommend it. Just be sure and have plenty of tissues handy.