The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. One of the primary ways that Lenni and Margot bond is by painting together. Within your own life, what shared activities help you feel close to your friends and loved ones?

2. Have you ever experienced an intergenerational friendship like the one shared by the novel’s main characters? If so, what did you gain from this experience, and what do you find makes intergenerational friendships meaningful? 

3. The novel emphasizes the healing power of forgiveness through Lenni’s process of learning to forgive her mother. Do you agree that forgiveness is always the best course of action, or do you think there are exceptions? Discuss. 

4. Did the novel’s mood reflect the emotions you associate with hospitals, or were you surprised? 

5. The Sarah Williams poem “The Old Astronomer to His Pupil” appears at key moments in the novel and has deep significance to the main characters. Is there a piece of writing, either prose or poetry, that speaks deeply to you and offers you strength in times of difficulty?

6. What did you think of the way that Cronin handles Lenni’s death? Were you surprised by this event, or did you expect it? What emotions did you feel reading this portion of the novel?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the novel challenge ageist and ableist attitudes toward the elderly and those with terminal health conditions? What can Cronin’s novel teach society about how to treat these groups of people?

2. How does antigay bias affect Margot’s life, and how does the development of her relationship with Meena over the decades reflect societal shifts? What message does the author send through the women’s love story, and how does their relationship impact the novel’s overall meaning?

3. Some of Margot’s flashbacks depict pivotal historical events, including World War II. How did the novel contribute to your understanding of civilians’ experiences during these events?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The majority of the novel is composed of the stories Lenni and Margot tell one another. How does Cronin’s extensive use of flashbacks impact the novel’s structure, themes, and overall meaning?

2. Select two supporting characters who work at the hospital and explain how they develop the theme of the power of friendship. How do they grow through their connection to Lenni and/or Margot, and how do they help the protagonists in return? How do these relationships contribute to the novel’s overall tone?

3. How do Lenni and Margot’s paintings develop the theme of the importance of sharing stories? What is the thematic resonance of the other art students helping to complete the 100 paintings? What is the significance of the gallery at the end of the novel?

4. How does Cronin use stars to symbolize joy amid difficulty? Discuss this symbol’s importance to the novel’s mood, characterization, and structure.