by Ashley Updegraff
I was about to enter the Caribou Coffee drive-through. Before I could do so, however, I had to turn off my audiobook so I could take a minute and compose myself. Why? Because I was crying—and not just delicate tears. I was alone, in my car, with tears streaming down my face. I was listening to The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, overcome by the bittersweet beauty of its final chapters. I didn’t want an unsuspecting employee to see me in such a state, so I paused the book until I had my coffee in hand and I could resume my emotional reaction in peace.
If you are looking for a fiction book to read this summer—one that wrestles with big themes while still being funny and innocent and entertaining—then Marianne Cronin’s novel is for you.
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot follows the unfolding friendship between two unlikely women, both in the hospital with terminal diseases. Lenni is 17 and trying to make sense of her diagnosis. Margot is 83, and simply biding her time. The author never details the exact illnesses Lenni and Margot face, as each character is multifaceted and cannot be defined by any particular disease. It’s a beautiful way of writing about personhood in the face of a terminal illness. It provides freedom for both characters, even as they face the confinement of life in a hospital.
After a chance encounter in a hallway, the two women formally meet in an art class one day and develop a friendship. Over time, an idea begins to emerge: since neither Lenni nor Margot are going to live to see their 100th birthday, but together their ages equal 100, they will create a piece of art to represent each one of their joint 100 years. Each piece of artwork will portray a scene from a meaningful event in the women’s lives. Happy memories, sad memories, and everything in between will be captured in oil and paint and watercolor—100 paintings for 100 years.
The project provides an opportunity for both women to reflect on their lives, share their hopes and dreams and fears, and build a friendship as tender as it is sturdy. Joined by other hospital staff—a particularly compassionate nurse and a soon-to-be-retired chaplain—Lenni and Margot create a community to surround and hold them as their illnesses progress.
This novel is funny, moving, and compelling. It forces the reader to take stock of their life—to reflect on the meaningful moments and experiences that make up their lived years. The characters—even the minor ones—are loveable and relatable. Father Arthur, the soon-to-be-retired hospital chaplain, is a particularly delightful addition to the cast. Lenni is searching for answers to make sense of her short life-span, and he refuses to give her any. He is honest about what he doesn’t know, which is a lot! He doesn’t provide her with pat answers or theological treatises. He simply makes space for her curious questions and her snarky remarks.
At its core, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot is all about the ministry of presence. In the face of death, the characters continue to show up for one another, even when they don’t know the right thing to say or do. It is a truly moving novel, one that will have you laughing and crying, thinking about your own life, and wondering about how you can practice the ministry of presence with those around you. If you are into audiobooks, the narration is spectacular—just avoid drive-throughs as you get to the end!
Bonus idea: This summer, I’m using The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot as a book study with the women of my congregation. We will gather together in August for a potluck and to discuss the book. We’ll even make our own artwork! Each woman will be invited to create a piece that represents one of their most treasured moments. We’ll hang them up in the halls of our church, as a tribute to this moving novel and the wild, beautiful gift of life God has given us.
Rev. Ashley Updegraff is an ordained pastor in the ELCA, and currently serves a congregation in the Minneapolis area. She knows that life is messy, but she also knows that God shows up in the mess. Reminding herself and others of this truth is her full-time job. She also mothers her big blended family, loves adventures with her husband, Aaron, and reads whenever she can. She writes at flailingintodancing.wordpress.com.
