In her debut novel, Marianne Cronin gives us the enthralling world of two fierce women facing the end of their lives at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Stuck in the terminal ward, 17-year-old Lenni Pettersson reads the newspaper, visits the hospital’s church and avoids the wrath of Jacky, the particularly Procrustean nurse. Upon escaping to the new arts and crafts room, Lenni meets 87-year-old Margot, a waste bin-diving, purple-donning fruitcake lover. Their unexpected friendship blossoms over paper and charcoal in art class.

The pair realizes that between the two of them, they have lived an entire century. They find comfort and joy in sharing the brilliant stories of their lives. As they stand in the face of death, they decide to leave their mark on the world with the help of the hospital staff. They resolve to capture their life through a series of 100 paintings to represent the 100 years they have lived. Thus they embark on a journey of self-reflection and art.

"THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT will burrow into your heart and then shred it to pieces."

Lenni immediately jumps off the page with her biting commentary and blunt opinions. Her internal monologue is truly unparalleled in sass and wit. Her emotional maturity, despite her physical youth, pulled at my heartstrings, and her old soul allows her to connect with many adults. I enjoyed the eclectic conversations she has with Father Arthur about windows, parties and silverfish. Their discussions concerning religion are especially fascinating, as Lenni’s recollection of the Bible is blurred by plots of children’s stories.

Margot, who is sharp as a wit and the perfect complement to Lenni, also demands a piece of the reader’s heart. She decidedly disproves the stereotype that old people are decrepit and boring, as she is full of life and mischief. With 83 years behind her, she recounts her life story, which is fraught with love, loss and learning. Readers can see how Margot’s voice and perspective develop as she grows older and experiences more of life.

I also appreciated the side stories that Cronin threads into the book. I loved how Lenni describes the other octogenarians and hazards guesses as to their previous careers and lifestyles. Other storylines, such as the one involving The Temp, were quite unexpected but added depth and complexity to the novel.

THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT will burrow into your heart and then shred it to pieces. In the face of death, Lenni and Margot find so much life, which inspires hope in even the grumpiest of Grinches. For lovers of cross-generational friendships, readers of THE BIG FINISH, or those who are determined to face death with open eyes, this book is perfect for you.