the 100 Years of Lenni and Margot

This book by Marianne Cronin is set in a hospital in Glasgow,  where 17 year old Lenni, a patient in a terminal ward and Margot, 83 and awaiting heart surgery, form an unlikely friendship in an art class.  Their combined age is 100 and Lenni has the idea of painting  a series of 100 paintings.  In this way their life stories are told.

The group enjoyed the book.  While it should have been a sad read given the setting, the extraordinary characters of Lenni and Margot were well described and came across as uplifting, brave and endearing.

The plot was cleverly constructed and worked out.  Hospital life was well portrayed and while some events were a little contrived, this didn't spoil the overall enjoyment of the book.

The group particularly enjoyed the burgeoning relationship between Lenni and the hospital chaplain Father Arthur. Their interactions were 'laugh out loud' funny for some.

The group would  recommend the book.

Review by Dorothy Ivatt