The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

A Novel

By: Marianne Cronin

Narrated by: Sheila Reid, Rebecca Benson

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

“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.

©2021 Marianne Cronin (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Good story but sloshy speech for Margo was awful

The narration by Margo was difficult - it sounded like her dentures were not secure. The result was a slurring and slurpy speech that was very distracting and irritating.
The story itself was beautifully written - maybe read instead of listen to this one.

Absolutely amazing

This is one of those books you can never forget. I fell in love with the main characters and didn’t want it to end. You know how sometimes we want to just step into a book and meet the people you’re reading about? Well, this is one of those. It’s funny, it’s sad. It’s light and it’s heavy. I listened to it on audible and the narrator is amazing.
In case you couldn’t tell 😜 I highly recommend it.

A wonderful feel-good book.

The story tugged at my heartstrings. I cried in a couple places. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has love in their heart.

Fantastic!

I loved the characters. It was a beautiful story of love and friendship. Who doesn’t need that these days?!

100 Stars

At first I kept thinking I’d never finish this book. I’m glad I ignored the instinct to return it. It’s a slow listen…it was for me, anyway. I grew to admire the wit and cynicism of Lenni, the wisdom of Margo and Father Arthur, and the kindness of Pippa, the Porter and New Nurse. The narrators did a wonderful job pulling me into the story and making me look forward to whatever was coming next. A sad book with so many extremely happy moments.

Such a good story

I don’t want to spoil anything,but it’s clear from the start that the two main characters are terminal. It is funny and amusing, but you will cry. All in all, you’ll be grateful to have spent some time with Margot and Lennie.

The Best

Lenni and Margot took me through their combined 100 years with humor, thoughtfulness and love. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that has made me chuckle and moved me to tears.

Heart wrenchingly beautiful

I don't remember the last time I read a book so *thoroughly* tender and moving. A fun, gorgeous read, inspiring and a little sad. Would absolutely recommend

Compelling

I loved this book. The stories of Lenni, Margot, and all the people they encountered over their lifetimes and in the hospital are compelling. The narrator who read for Margot was especially fantastic.

Sweet story... great characters.

This story immediately consumes you. it's lovely to listen to. I couldn't stop until it was finished!