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, … 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.
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Channels Andy Rooney and occasionally pulls a Dennis The Menace stunt. I live in a retirement community and have recommended it to several others, all of whom have enjoyed it as well. A real winner for the post-Medicare group.
A witty, realistic look into the lives of the elderly in a retirement home. As an 81-year-old person, I could relate to the book. Although primarily humorous, the book also has passages that are sad as it looks at the way the characters’ lives change over the course of a year. It offers insight into the way older people think and feel as they and their friends age. It should be required reading for young people and for medical and social personnel who work with the elderly.
For someone who is a bit younger than Hendrin, I enjoyed his look at getting older! Loved his way of looking at his view of the older life too!
Easy read. The writer gets you invested in the characters. You laugh with them, you cry with them. You get emotionally involved. My husband and I enjoyed the characters.
I enjoyed the perspective of the book. It put the humanity into a little understood stage of life.
With my mother in assisted living, I could imagine Hendrik as a very touching, realistic character. I enjoyed the rollercoaster emotions.
Loved this book about elderly care homes in Amsterdam. The main character is wonderful in his Old but not Dead Club with other non conforming elderly. Even though there are predictable sad parts, he and his “gang” provide humor even in the face of the inevitable.
Cranky but endearing
I went a bit outside my box when I downloaded this book. I really enjoyed the characters and issues that involve all elderly people. The main character was a hoot. There were sad and then funny moments and I almost wished it didn’t end.
Funny book with the author telling about his life in a nursing home. It also gives you a glimpse of what the dark side is like with aging. His club that he started with his friends will make you laugh and then you will cry, because with getting older unfortunately you die.
It was well written and a good laugh on every page. It is very realistic and at times bitter sweet.
I enjoyed this wry view of life in a home for the elderly. There were some laugh out loud moments and keen observations. I had to read it over time because although it was funny, it was also sad in places. Getting old is no fun, but an intrepid spirit helps!
I enjoyed the book. Had to stop reading and giggle. Miss Hendrix and can’t wait to read the sequel
Not a page turner, but a poignant, touching story with interesting characters. A thought provoking read.
Just a daily diary of an old man in a nursing home. It was advertised as like “A man called Ove” it was not at all like that book. I found it boring, nothing exciting or interesting occurred.
I couldn’t get into this one.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Looking forward to the sequel.
I’m eighty, and I wanted to see what life in a retirement home was like. This book is witty, but realistically sad. Also shows that life is better with friends and where there’s a will to make life better, there’s a way!
One of the most delightful books I’ve read in a while. I was in Amsterdam a couple of years ago, so it was nice to have a sense of places he was talking about, but whether you been there or not , the story that unfolds through his diary is universal. What a funny, charming bunch of characters dealing with what we all deal with…aging! I laughed out loud so many times while reading that my husband is now interested in reading it!
Interesting read with poignant truths about growing old, told in a way that make you chuckle.