Book Summary and Reviews of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

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Djcminor

An Excellent Debut Novel
When I am anticipating the reading of a new book, I keep my reading of reviews by other people to a minimum. I do need some blurb or short enticement, of course, or I would not know about the book at all. Debut author Marianne Cronin’s The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot crossed my reading radar. I was immediately intrigued by this blurb from Publishers Weekly: "Cronin’s touching debut is a joyous celebration of friendship, love, and life."

When I received a copy of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, I sat down and started reading, ignoring the other stack of books I should have been reading for a committee meeting. And I am glad I began reading immediately. Seventeen-year-old Lenni is hospitalized with a terminal illness, a term the nurses are trying to change to life-limiting.

Lenni, quite aware of her life-limiting illness, still makes the best of her situation in the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. She begins visiting Father Arthur in the hospital’s chapel. Their conversations are funny and touching. She asks him hard questions and he tries honestly to answer. Lenni needs a nurse escort in order to go to the chapel and a nurse must also return an hour later to help Lenni back to her room. This requirement sometimes causes problems when the nurses are short-staffed or extra busy with other patients.

When a temporary secretary, an art major, has an opportunity to apply for a grant so the hospital could receive art supplies and an art teacher, the temp does so with gusto. The grant is awarded. Sadly, the hospital director hires Pippa, another art teacher, rather than the temp. Still, setting up the art room for patients will lead to the friendship between Lenni and Margot, aged 83. As Lenni points out, between the two of them, Lenni and Margot, they have one hundred years.

At first, Pippa is reluctant to allow Lenni to meet at the same time with the senior patients. The classes have been divided according to age. Lenni, however, does not enjoy the art class with her peers and insists she wants to attend with the seniors so she can be with Margot. At last, Pippa relents.

During their art class, Lenni suggests that they create 100 pictures to commemorate the 100 years between them. As they draw their pictures, they tell each other the stories that make up both of their lives. As a reader, I found their sharing of life stories fascinating. They do not choose to tell the stories in chronological order. This lack of order is not confusing, however. It simply allows Lenni and Margot to relay their pasts to one another through the pictures they are drawing. Lenni finds that Margot is the far better artist, so she concentrates on writing up their stories.

Since I lost a dear, long-time friend unexpectedly recently, I might have expected to find The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot too difficult to read. After all, both Lenni and Margot, our main characters, are in the hospital. Lenni tells us she has a life-limiting illness and Margot is being treated for a heart ailment at age 83. I could expect the outcome to be one or both deaths. Because the story is about love, friendship, a bond between two unlikely people and celebrating little joys, I found it an absorbing read and one that appealed to my heart.

Marianne Cronin earned a PhD in applied linguistics from the U of Birmingham. I enjoyed discovering that she writes with her rescue cat “sleeping under her desk.” Cronin is also an improv performer in the West Midlands, England, where she lives. Learning that bit of news about Cronin makes me understand the humor that is sprinkled throughout The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot.

Margot_Polley

A gem
The combined 100 years of living by Lennie (age 17) and Margot (age 83) is something to celebrate! Have not enjoyed a read this much in ages. The timeless themes of love and friendship are fresh and heartwarming. And get this-a priest who is a positive and beloved character! You will cry but will feel so good doing it. Highly recommended for adults and mature teens alike.

techeditor

It didn't grab me
Maybe you shouldn't take my word for it; most of the members of my book club liked this book. But I prefer books that grab my attention, and THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT didn't.

I can say this for the book: it is cute. But that isn't enough to grab me.