The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen [electronic resource] :

Title:

Author:

Description:

-- The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen will not only delight older readers with its wit and relevance, but will charm and inspire those who have years to go before their own expiry date.

Publisher:

Hachette Audio,

Date:

2017

Digital Format:

CLOUDLIBRARY MP3

Language:

English

Summary

A #1 international bestseller in the vein of Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove: a funny and tender-hearted tale about friendship, love, and an old man who is young at heart.

Technically speaking, Hendrik Groen is....elderly. But at age 83 1/4, this feisty, indomitable curmudgeon has no plans to go out quietly. Bored of weak tea and potted geraniums, exasperated by the indignities of aging, Hendrik has decided to rebel - on his own terms. He begins writing an exposé: secretly recording the antics of day-to-day life in his retirement home, where he refuses to take himself, or his fellow "inmates," too seriously.
With an eccentric group of friends, he founds the wickedly anarchic Old-But-Not-Dead Club, and he and his best friend, Evert, gleefully stir up trouble, enraging the home's humorless director and turning themselves into unlikely heroes. And when a sweet and sassy widow moves in next door, he polishes his shoes, grooms what's left of his hair, and determines to savor every ounce of joy in the time he has left, with hilarious and tender consequences.
A bestselling phenomenon that has captured imaginations around the world, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is inspiring, charming, and laugh-out-loud funny with a deep and poignant core: a page-turning delight for readers of any age.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Delightful and moving, Groen's novel shares a full year of the eponymous octogenarian's journal entries, detailing his day-to-day observations, humorous inner monologues, and overall zest for life within a nursing home in Amsterdam. Bored with the daily monotony of life at the center, he decides to keep a journal for a complete year to expose the frustrations, gripes, and groans of his fellow "inmates" and the realities of growing old. Between hilarious quips about life, Hendrik regales readers with the joys of the motor scooter and his decision to relent and wear adult diapers. Hendrik's good friend Evert-a crotchety old fellow who gets his kicks riling up the other residents-helps stave off the loneliness, but it's when new resident Eefje arrives that Hendrik feels a spark he hasn't experienced in a long time. Hendrik, Eefje, and Evert, along with a small group of wily seniors, decide to have a little fun while they still can by organizing the Old-But-Not-Dead Club to plan outings and excursions, including tai chi and cooking classes, and visits to the casino and museums. Engaging and hilarious, Hendrik's diary gives a dignity and respect to the elderly often overlooked in popular culture, providing readers a look into the importance of friendship and the realities of the senior care system in modern society. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* For one year, 83-year-old Hendrik Groen keeps a diary of life as an inmate in an Amsterdam nursing home with both hilarious and deeply moving results. Hendrik (an alias for a famous writer, leading to much speculation) chafes at the countless, seemingly meaningless regulations and decides to form a group with five like-minded friends: the Old but Not Dead Club. Every three weeks or so, one member plans a club outing a trip to the bird park; a night at a cooking school; a 3-D movie excursion. Along the way, Groen touches on local and worldwide politics and addresses the sorry state of senior care in his home country. One of the group faces serious diabetes complications; one the onset of dementia; and Hendrik's closest female friend, Eefje, suffers a massive stroke. Groen details how the other members pitch in to help during these hard times, movingly portraying the strong bonds they've developed over this one year. Even difficult moments are interspersed with Groen's biting wit and comic take on aging and all it entails, from memory loss to adult diapers. A best-seller in Europe, Groen's diary is a page-turning delight for adult readers of any age and locale.--Donovan, Deborah Copyright 2017 Booklist