The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT by Marianne Cronin is the story set in a Glasgow hospital of two terminal patients - one aged 17 years and the other 83 – who become fast friends and retell the stories of their lives through pictures.  This debut novel is an interesting juxtaposition of two rather quirky characters and it's generally positive and humorous, although not especially memorable. It will make for an entertaining movie. Booklist described Cronin’s well-written novel as “A strong and intriguing read-alike for John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.” I respectfully disagree because Lenni felt very immature at times (more like an 11 year-old than a 17 year-old). Margot, while full of vigor and the more nuanced perspective that comes with age, shares tales of numerous broken relationships and rather random life choices. It is wonderful that these lonely characters have found friendship and support in each other, if only for a short time. THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT was a Library Reads selection for June.  

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

KLARA AND THE SUN by award winning author Kazuo Ishiguro (The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go) is a novel to savor. Klara is an AF, artificial friend, with a unique perspective on humans in the not too distant future. Readers first encounter Klara at her store where even The Manager appreciates that she has special empathetic and compassionate qualities. Eventually purchased by Josie and The Mother, Klara relates Josie’s bouts with sickness, her efforts to become independent, and struggles with her parents. Throughout the novel, there is a tension between hope and an overriding sense of melancholy and foreboding. Klara has keen observation skills, but is also naïve (perhaps even superstitious, if an artificial being exhibits that trait) in some of her beliefs. The contrast between sacrifice and selfishness from a computerized entity and that of human friends and family members is striking. 

Extremely well-written, KLARA AND THE SUN received starred reviews from Kirkus, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly (“dazzling genre-bending work”). Booklist recommends this title for teens, saying “Sophisticated YAs will appreciate Josie’s struggles with loneliness, independence, maturation, and eventual indifference.”  

More Recent Reviews: Wall Street Journal and New York Times.