83¼ Years Old, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen

Well written, amusing, interesting, observant and very true to life. I am a resident in
a retirement village and it could have been written by a resident here, as such a lot
of the characters were similar - you just have to have a sense of humour when you
live in a place like this!!!!

Unfortunately, for me, I am older than Hendrik and a lot of this I found kind of depressing - even though humor threaded through it. It made me check the internet to see what the conditions in this type of facility actually are. I thought, initially, this was "made up" stuff. Turns out it's not both in the Netherlands and Great Britain. As far as the personality issues written about.....all too true - as I know it for a fact. One would think that age would wear away all the pettiness etc. but it doesn't. I feel as if these senior facilities are just interment camps for the pre-death time of life.

Within the last few years, there has been an uptick of quirky, elderly, sarcastic/angry protagonists. There was Ove in A Man Called Ove, who would regularly kick things while being super grumpy. There was Allan in the 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, who wasn't so grumpy, but just got tired of being in a nursing home. There was also Martha of The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules and her mighty band of pensioners who go for broke one day and go on a spree.

Into this genre, enters Hendrik Groen who is 83 years old and is one of the youngest people at his old age home. He decides to keep a diary for a year telling about life in the home. He is sarcastic, opinionated, and is approaching the diary without a filter, as he says.

There are fights in the home as to who can sit in certain benches or not. There are mysteries, such as they dying fish (they died because Hendrik threw a rock hard biscuit into the tank), and there is a new "gang" called The Old, but Not Dead Club of which Hendrik is a founding member. They stay up late and keep planning to go on an outing.

Life in the home is pretty normal with all of these things going on, until Eefje moves in. Hendrik has always had a thing for her and wishes life had been a bit different.

Throughout the book, Hendrik also deals with a memory that seems to be slipping at time, getting older so he might need a scooter, and has insights about getting older that will delight.

This book is a "safe" one. By that, I mean you know what you are going to get and it can be read by any single person in the family who can read. It is heartwarming, it is funny, and there isn't too much to set someone off. It is a completely "safe" book. It would be fun for a book club to read.

The good news, is I am not quite tired of these types of books yet. I am still enjoying the sarcastic, grumpy, yet a heart of gold elderly person books. I find them good palate cleansers after some heavier books and this one is no different. It was so fun, I started it in the afternoon and finished it right before going to bed that evening. It was a simple, fun read. This sounds like an insult, but it isn't meant to be- this is the equivalent of a Hallmark movie, but in book form. I think too many more of these types of books will start to burn out the genre, but for now, I am still loving them.

I gave this one a 3.5.

*I want to thank NetGalley for the early copy of the book. I received it in exchange for an honest review*

'For fans of A Man Called Ove...'. That first line in the publisher's description of The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old by Hendrik Groen had me eager to pick up this book. But it was the voice of Hendrik Groen that has added the book to my list of favourites of 2017.

"I hereby declare that in this diary I am going to give the world an uncensored exposé: a year in the life of the inmates of a care home in North Amsterdam."

I love epistolary novels - they're quite intimate, letting us into the private world of a character. Through Hendrik's diary entries, we experience the highs and lows of living in a senior's care facility - the conflicts, the friendships, the day to day interactions, the worries, some shenanigans, memories, regrets, hopes and more. And though it's been done before - the us vs. them of management vs. seniors will have the reader cheering for the senior's 'team'.

Hendrik is so wonderfully drawn - he has a good heart, is kind and thoughtful, has a wry sense of humour, is a keen observer and determined to not just 'exist' for however long he may have left. And from that desire, the Old But Not Dead Club is born. The other members of the club are the supporting characters we come to know the most - especially Hendrik's best friend, the irreverent Evert ("His philosophy: the only point of being alive is to kill time as pleasantly as possible. The trick is not to take anything too seriously.") and the simply lovely Eefje.

Hendrik's observations will perhaps encourage the reader to take time with and listen a little more carefully to those nearing the end of their lives. Perhaps they'll also envision what they want their own later years to look like. While this novel is a picture of aging in the Netherlands, the emotions and thoughts expressed are universal.

" Our calendars are completely blank - today, tomorrow, and the rest of the year. We have all the time in the world. We once complained about being overscheduled; now we're thrilled to pieces if there's something to jot down other than a doctor's appointment."

"Old people are forever grunting and groaning. Sometimes it's out of exertion or pain, but more often simply out of habit. I have made a small study of it."

Now, don't think this book is a 'downer' - there are lots of laugh out loud and joyful moments, alongside the realities of being eighty four years old. (And yes, you may need a tissue or two) I found The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen to be a heartstring-tugger of a read and absolutely adored it!

I've discovered that there is another 'Hendrik' diary coming out - "As Long as there is Life continues the story of protagonist Hendrik – now aged 85-years-old - and follows the adventures of The Old But Not Dead Club in the Amsterdam retirement home in which he resides. Internationally, Hendrik Groen has sold in 30 territories including in the US, and a Dutch TV series based on the books, "in the vein of 'The Office', is currently in production.

Hendrik Groen begins his secret diary with one of the best first sentences I’ve ever read: Another year, and I still don’t like old people. That sets the tone for the entire novel, as it’s called, although it feels very much like an actual diary. For just one year, Hendrik decides, he will write down his thoughts in this little book, partly because he often hasn’t the courage to speak his mind. Besides, he hates griping and complaining. Whining is about his biggest peeve.

You see, Hendrik lives in a retirement home in Amsterdam, and he’s grown weary of the conversation around the dinner table, ranging from subjects like a new rule the management has put in place to a bout of diarrhea one of the “inmates” recently had. So in the pages of his diary, he rails against the old people, the government, the system, the arbitrary restrictions, and the looming need for diapers. A touch of the rebel starts to come out in Hendrik, seemingly unbidden, and possibly strengthened by his daily writings.

Hendrik’s closest friend, Evert, encourages dissension at every opportunity, generally pushing to bend the rules even further. Given the chance, Evert might stop just short of a criminal act. Then petite Eefje moves in and the two men behave a bit like teenagers competing for the head cheerleader’s attention. There’s blushing, compliments, flowers --- all the niceties gentlemen used to employ in hopes of attracting a lady’s favor. It does not go unappreciated. But there’s much more than Eefje to consider.

In order to battle their blossoming boredom --- and in an effort to find more and more reasons to stay alive --- they form a rebels’ club, the Old But Not Dead club. Hendrik and Evert, with Eefje and their other closest buddies, draw up the club rules, define its purpose and then limit membership strictly to eight. Of course, this foments envy among the other residents, especially as they watch the fun that the Old But Not Dead club enjoys on their weekly outings. No wonder, for the outings are quite creative.

In Hendrik’s diary, he memorializes whatever strikes him as noteworthy that day. Over the course of the year, he explains his plight, captures the mood of the retirement center, the myriad personalities, the petty jealousies and the fierce alliances. He names the bullies, the residents falling into dementia, the valiant folks fighting a losing battle to stay healthy. He chronicles the power plays of the management, the sneaking around of the director, her spying on the “inmates” and her obstinate secretiveness --- unless there’s a chance of publicity, when she suddenly insists on transparency. As stated, Hendrik and his cronies despise complaining, but when they do get into it, it’s about a new round of cutbacks to senior services being considered by the Dutch government or outrage over further proposed abstemious measures and indignation at where the money is being spent. What’s the country coming to anyway?

THE SECRET DIARY OF HENDRIK GROEN is, plain and simple, a hoot. The old coot’s humor comes out on every page, as does his kind and gentle heart. Some entries are sad, some are happy, some are alarming, but all are achingly honest. Most of all, Hendrik Groen is a genuinely unique character, and a character many of us would strive to be at 83 ¼ years old. Bravo!

Reviewed by Kate Ayers

Hendrik Groen is an unabashed character. At age 83-1/4, his heart and mind are limber as they ever were, though his body doesn't always keep up, or act as he would like it to. As a recalcitrant resident of a retirement home, he has plenty of experience in battling boredom and the mundane nature of rules and autocracy in general.

And so he decides to start a journal. A secret one, of course, so he needn't mince words.

The result is humorous at times, and nearly heartbreaking at others. I recently lost an older relative whose crisp mind, unruly outlook on life, and innate kindness drew people to her … in a way similar to what we see with the fictional Hendrik. Because of that real-life loss, I had to set this book aside for a bit, because it tugged too greatly at my emotions, which makes me think that the author has done a fine job of crafting a character with an authentic voice. However, with some distance, I found the book less emotionally hard to finish, although I do wish I could have shared it with my relative for her “take” on it.

I do recommend it, especially if you have a friend or loved one as rascally as Hendrik. However, be advised that this may be tough to read if you've recently lost an elderly person dear to you.

Wonderful book! This is the diary of an elderly Dutchman (Hendrick Groen) living in an assisted-living home in Holland. His trials of growing older, his fellow retirees and their lives (and deaths), some quite funny antics, and some sad episodes in their lives.

This diary fills a one-year span in his life. We meet his friends, Evert and Eefje. Evert is quite a boisterous character, while Eefje is the voice of reason. Hendrick is one who does not like to be out front, but tends to get things done in the background.

Hendrick is alone in his world - he had a daughter who died while young and his wife is in another facility for dementia. We read about his ailments, which the doctors treat as best they can. His friends' ailments, which are a bit more serious than Hendrick's. He talks about the politics during this time and the approach being taken towards senior citizens. The stories of many other characters, who add to the fun and adventures.

The book may sound a tad depressing; but, for the most part, it is entertaining. Lots of funny days in the pages of this diary. Imagine seniors on scooters, visiting places on day trips, mealtime- "horse meat", fish-capades, escapee from dementia unit, and more.

It is very well written, flows smoothly, and I did not want it to end after a year. It really is quite hard to describe, but well worth the read. Charming, as a description, comes to mind. Recommend it highly!

Considering that the basis of this novel is the observations of an elderly man who resides in an Amsterdam nursing home, I should be a bit guilty for chuckling through most of it. I did this so much that my husband thinks that I have 'lost the plot'.

Hilarity via truisms! In other words? A dramady.

The book, written in the form of a diary, holds acutely astute observations on what it is to be 'old'. Rendered in a direct and simple way, without artifice, the book just works.

Hendrik, at 83 years old, is one of the youngest residents of his nursing home. He definitely has all his wits about him, though he admits to a failing memory, but that could be true of a lot of us. Along with his wits, he has a sometimes scathing, always intelligent sense of humor.

"Of the five senses, my nose still works best. Which is not always a blessing in here. It smells of old people."

To make the days less monotonous, and to make something of what life they have left, Hendrik and a few of his friends set up the 'old-but-not-dead club' aka 'The Rebel Club'. Hendrik's life has been a tragic one, yet, for the most part, he approaches what life he has remaining with good humour. All the more poignant because Hendrik NEVER has any visitors. His only friends live in the nursing home with him.

"Friendship is the essential ingredient for a good life."

Hendrik's friends in the club are all folks that I would like to meet. Especially Eefje Brand, the woman he learns to love. She brings banter and true affection back into his life - at least for a short while...

Even though Hendrik's observations are of a Dutch care home, they are in many ways universal. People are people, wherever they live. Nursing home issues, whether they be as mundane as the daily monotony, as base as the financial cutbacks, or as dismal as the prevalence of depression among the elderly, all resonate with elder folk everywhere.

"The older the people are, the more scared they are. At our age, surely, there's nothing left to lose, so why not be fearless?"

Because Hendrik finds walking more and more difficult, he invests in a mobility scooter. This gives him great pleasure and a sense of freedom he had forgotten.

This is a book that resonates with me personally. I spend a good two afternoons a week visiting my stepfather who is in just such a nursing home. I must confess I wish he were a little more like Hendrik... Sadly, his wits are not always about him...

"Something exciting to look forward to is crucial to keep up one's zest for life."

I enjoyed the descriptions of Amsterdam, and I loved the tales of the excursions enjoyed by "The old but not dead" club.

I can only hope that I can age with as much dignity and panache as Hendrik.

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1⁄4 Years Old has been translated into over twenty languages. And... good news folks! There is a sequel to Hendrik's story! "On the bright side" is now available for your reading pleasure.

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 ¼ years old is the first book by Dutch old age pensioner and care home resident, Hendrik Groen. Hendrik starts his diary on the 1st January, 2013 with the aim of “giving the world an uncensored expose: a year in the life of the inmates of a care home in North Amsterdam”.

Hendrik’s descriptions of the goings-on, the staff and residents at his care home are witty, dry, often sarcastic and usually funny. The home’s director “Mrs Stelwagen is always friendly, ready with a willing ear and an encouraging word for everyone, but concealed beneath this veneer of sympathy is an unhealthy dose of self-importance and power lust”

Hendrik’s comments on the day’s events, both in the home and in the greater world are always pithy and insightful. Deaths are big on the agenda: “The deceased are a favourite subject of discussion among the elderly. Perhaps it’s to remind themselves that they are still alive”; euthanasia, too, attracts discussion “Old people are already considered of little social value, but if years from now there are even more of us, I can predict that anyone over seventy will get a nice fat bonus for volunteering to be euthanized”.

When ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ bracelets are made available, Hendrik muses: “What if the paramedics don’t notice your ‘Do not resuscitate’ bracelet until they’ve got your ticker going again with a powerful electric shock? What then? Would they have to desuscitate you?”

Hendrik gets together with some like-minded residents to form the Old-But-Not-Dead Club, for the purpose of planning some activities to which they can truly look forward. Staff are disapproving and the director seems to be intent on finding rules and regulations to curtail their enjoyment: “Rules, supposedly, are always for our own good. But of course they’re first and foremost a means of avoiding risk and preventing lawsuits”

As Hendrik comments on politics and policies, the demise of famous people, the abdication of the Queen, the retirement of the Pope, the attitude of offspring, Tour de France, bullies, mobility scooters, budget cutbacks, Freedom of Information regulations, the war in Syria, and the debilities that age brings, he gives the reader a novel that is blackly funny, but also very moving. And makes us really think about how we treat our elderly.

Hendrik Groen is an alias: after much media speculation, in April 2016, NRC Handelsblad revealed him to be 61 year old Dutch librarian, Peter de Smet. He has written a sequel: “As Long as there is Life” which continues the story of Hendrik and his Club will be published by Michael Joseph in January 2018. Flawlessly translated from the original Dutch by Hester Velmans, this impressive debut has humour, heartache and plenty to think about.

I had high expectations for this book. I wanted to read it for a while and finally was able to. I love old people. I love stories about them, especially when they are taking place in an environment with mostly older people. I also like the writing style of a diary. So all that added up to this book being for me!

I am sorry to say that this book did not meet my hopes for it. I think a lot of that can be accounted to it being translated from Dutch. The names were difficult for me to remember, so I just sort of skipped over them. As time went on, I recognized the name and knew who that was, but for me, that lost some of the pleasure of getting to know the characters. The second thing I truly disliked was all the politics in the book. Most of the politics was of the Netherlands, so I did not understand what was being complained about. Some of the political comments were about the US and I will say about that, I don't choose to read about politics and would not have picked up the book if I would have know so much would be discussed (complained about).

What I enjoyed was the story that was truly about the elder population of the assisted living center and their lives.

I was really tried of reading the book about two thirds of the way through it. I pushed to finish it, since I like to completely read a book.

According to Hendrik Groen, "Old is in". It seems as if he is right. Many books and movies that have recently been released have older protagonists. Groen's diary is very reminiscent of A Man Called Ove but Groen is likeable from the very first page. He and a few of his fellow "inmates" have decided to start the Old-But-Not-Dead Club. Each member of the group take turns planning an outing that helps the others experience life a little more fully. The group begins to form a close friendship and stick together as their members encounter health problems and lack the comfort that they could receive from loved ones.

This was such a sweet book and some of the parts were more funny than any of the other books I have read this year. When Mr. Groen is pulled over for driving his mobility scooter too fast, I just about spit out my tea! The author has a delightful attitude even with his sad past. Speaking of this sad past, it is not a huge part of this story. Readers of this book will experience more ups than downs, even though the story does take place in an assisted living facility for older Dutch citizens.

The characters are a breath of fresh air. I liked Hendrik but I loved Evert. Evert tells it like it is and the book is more fun for it. I really loved reading about the relationships that were built and strengthened over the duration of the book. This is a great book if you like reading about characters that are rarely written about. Anyone who enjoys stories about relationships will enjoy this book. I do wish that there had been more information on the protagonists life prior to being in the assisted living facility but I still loved this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book in order to write an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I simply loved this novel! As a senior citizen, I hesitated to read it. After the first few pages, I found myself laughing heartily at the author's account of daily life in an Amsterdam assisted living facility. It didn't take long before I realized that there was so very much more to this pathbreaking book. The 'diarist' quickly draws us into the sad, yet hopeful lives of the seven members of his Not Dead but Alive club, all fellow inmates. He draws lovely portraits of each of his club members, ranging from the laugh-out-loud to the almost weepy. No matter the ailment, be it Alzheimers, diabetes, stroke, we grow to love all of these trapped, yet positive souls. Beyond the individual stories, this novel prompted me to consider long and hard whether and when life's journey should end, either assisted or otherwise. I won't forget this wondrous story.

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 ¼ years old is the first book by Dutch old age pensioner and care home resident, Hendrik Groen. Hendrik starts his diary on the 1st January, 2013 with the aim of “giving the world an uncensored expose: a year in the life of the inmates of a care home in North Amsterdam”.

Hendrik’s descriptions of the goings-on, the staff and residents at his care home are witty, dry, often sarcastic and usually funny. The home’s director “Mrs Stelwagen is always friendly, ready with a willing ear and an encouraging word for everyone, but concealed beneath this veneer of sympathy is an unhealthy dose of self-importance and power lust”

Hendrik’s comments on the day’s events, both in the home and in the greater world are always pithy and insightful. Deaths are big on the agenda: “The deceased are a favourite subject of discussion among the elderly. Perhaps it’s to remind themselves that they are still alive”; euthanasia, too, attracts discussion “Old people are already considered of little social value, but if years from now there are even more of us, I can predict that anyone over seventy will get a nice fat bonus for volunteering to be euthanized”.

When ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ bracelets are made available, Hendrik muses: “What if the paramedics don’t notice your ‘Do not resuscitate’ bracelet until they’ve got your ticker going again with a powerful electric shock? What then? Would they have to desuscitate you?”

Hendrik gets together with some like-minded residents to form the Old-But-Not-Dead Club, for the purpose of planning some activities to which they can truly look forward. Staff are disapproving and the director seems to be intent on finding rules and regulations to curtail their enjoyment: “Rules, supposedly, are always for our own good. But of course they’re first and foremost a means of avoiding risk and preventing lawsuits”

As Hendrik comments on politics and policies, the demise of famous people, the abdication of the Queen, the retirement of the Pope, the attitude of offspring, Tour de France, bullies, mobility scooters, budget cutbacks, Freedom of Information regulations, the war in Syria, and the debilities that age brings, he gives the reader a novel that is blackly funny, but also very moving. And makes us really think about how we treat our elderly.

Hendrik Groen is an alias: after much media speculation, in April 2016, NRC Handelsblad revealed him to be 61 year old Dutch librarian, Peter de Smet. He has written a sequel: “As Long as there is Life” which continues the story of Hendrik and his Club will be published by Michael Joseph in January 2018. Flawlessly translated from the original Dutch by Hester Velmans, this impressive debut has humour, heartache and plenty to think about.

I had high expectations for this book. I wanted to read it for a while and finally was able to. I love old people. I love stories about them, especially when they are taking place in an environment with mostly older people. I also like the writing style of a diary. So all that added up to this book being for me!

I am sorry to say that this book did not meet my hopes for it. I think a lot of that can be accounted to it being translated from Dutch. The names were difficult for me to remember, so I just sort of skipped over them. As time went on, I recognized the name and knew who that was, but for me, that lost some of the pleasure of getting to know the characters. The second thing I truly disliked was all the politics in the book. Most of the politics was of the Netherlands, so I did not understand what was being complained about. Some of the political comments were about the US and I will say about that, I don't choose to read about politics and would not have picked up the book if I would have know so much would be discussed (complained about).

What I enjoyed was the story that was truly about the elder population of the assisted living center and their lives.

I was really tried of reading the book about two thirds of the way through it. I pushed to finish it, since I like to completely read a book.

According to Hendrik Groen, "Old is in". It seems as if he is right. Many books and movies that have recently been released have older protagonists. Groen's diary is very reminiscent of A Man Called Ove but Groen is likeable from the very first page. He and a few of his fellow "inmates" have decided to start the Old-But-Not-Dead Club. Each member of the group take turns planning an outing that helps the others experience life a little more fully. The group begins to form a close friendship and stick together as their members encounter health problems and lack the comfort that they could receive from loved ones.

This was such a sweet book and some of the parts were more funny than any of the other books I have read this year. When Mr. Groen is pulled over for driving his mobility scooter too fast, I just about spit out my tea! The author has a delightful attitude even with his sad past. Speaking of this sad past, it is not a huge part of this story. Readers of this book will experience more ups than downs, even though the story does take place in an assisted living facility for older Dutch citizens.

The characters are a breath of fresh air. I liked Hendrik but I loved Evert. Evert tells it like it is and the book is more fun for it. I really loved reading about the relationships that were built and strengthened over the duration of the book. This is a great book if you like reading about characters that are rarely written about. Anyone who enjoys stories about relationships will enjoy this book. I do wish that there had been more information on the protagonists life prior to being in the assisted living facility but I still loved this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book in order to write an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I simply loved this novel! As a senior citizen, I hesitated to read it. After the first few pages, I found myself laughing heartily at the author's account of daily life in an Amsterdam assisted living facility. It didn't take long before I realized that there was so very much more to this pathbreaking book. The 'diarist' quickly draws us into the sad, yet hopeful lives of the seven members of his Not Dead but Alive club, all fellow inmates. He draws lovely portraits of each of his club members, ranging from the laugh-out-loud to the almost weepy. No matter the ailment, be it Alzheimers, diabetes, stroke, we grow to love all of these trapped, yet positive souls. Beyond the individual stories, this novel prompted me to consider long and hard whether and when life's journey should end, either assisted or otherwise. I won't forget this wondrous story.

Hendrik Groen (Henk) is an 83-year-old resident of a North Amsterdam care home for low-income seniors. This book details the year 2013 and how some of the residents -- Groen calls them inmates -- spend their time. Written in diary format with only a few days missing, Groen talks about people in the care home, its staff, and the goings-on.

Written with biting irony, it also covers issues that elderly people deal with. They tend to be outcast by society, forgotten even by their own family, and are forced to obey rules and regulations to make the job easier for the workers, rather than the residents. Residents deal with the minutiae: with no job to go to, there is a boring routine of getting up, drinking coffee or tea, snacking on butter cookies and chatting in a community room. While the residents are allowed to leave to shop in Amsterdam, most don't because of mobility issues. The average age is 89 with some residents old enough to remember World War I. Groen feels like a youngster in comparison, yet he does not hold back what the residents must cope with: the sudden demise of a fellow resident, the medical complications of the elderly such as diabetes, dementia and stroke, and worrying about further cutbacks in spending for the elderly by the Dutch government, to secret changes in house rules by the stern Mrs. Stelwagen, who seems more concerned with the home's public reputation than she is with the welfare of the residents.

The first two months sets the stage for this book. There is Evert Duiker, Groen's independent-living diabetic and gin-swilling friend who lives nearby. There's new resident Eefje Brand who moves into a room previously occupied by another woman who recently died. Edward Schermer, Grietje de Boer, and Graeme Gorter round out the original group of six rebellious but clear-thinking seniors who form the "Old But Not Dead" club that decides to meet regularly and plan outings together just to add some spice to their lives. This of course meets with eyebrow frowns by the establishment. How dare the elderly demand to be treated as free-thinking, intelligent independent adults who crave stimuli outside the care home!

One quickly sees the development of these characters. They all deal with the fears of the elderly. Hendrik has incontinence issues. Evert has complications caused by his diabetes. Grietje has memory problems. They all share their daily fears and a strong kinship develops. They become each other's caregivers in some very touching and sensitive ways. What we learn about Groen is that his daughter drowned at four years of age and would have been 56 years old; his wife is still alive but lives two hours away in another care home. Sadness and loneliness ooze through the narrative.

This story works because the lives of these protagonists are felt globally. We all grow old, we all see our bodies age, we all face death. For some death comes with the flash of a heart attack, for others it's a slow slipping into dementia that may take years to unravel. The deaths of residents are quickly handled without fanfare or publicity. The room of the deceased is immediately cleaned out and sanitized for the next resident. There are some bittersweet passages but also some serious discussion about Death with Dignity and euthanasia, which was legalized in 2002 in the Netherlands.

This book has been a big hit and translated into 17 languages. The theme of friendship in old age is universal, but there is a Dutch voice here when Groen mentions current events: Queen Beatrix abdicates in late April, several popular Dutch celebrities die, there's repeated complaints about the cold, wet weather and Henk Krol, gay activist and parliamentary leader of the 50Plus party, is frequently mentioned.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but despite the tender manner in which serious end-of-life topics are covered, I also fear what may come my way when it's my turn to leave this Earth. This book is a reminder that our elderly deserve our attention and respect.

This appears to be an authentic diary written by the author, since his name is the same in the diary, but I presume it is not.

The title is, of course, a parody of “The secret diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4”.

It is an amusing, but also serious, account of life in a Dutch old folks' home.

The author's description of the elderly is very true to life: most of them are always complaining and describing their various ailments over the dinner table. They insist on sitting in the same chair every day and they constantly sigh and moan, as my little grand-daughter claims I do.

Hendrik has a friend called Evert who lives independently in sheltered accommodation with his old dog, Mo, whom Hendrik has to take for walks when his master is plagued by gout. Evert is provocative and full of mischief.

There is Grietje. “a real dear”, friendly and sympathetic, and Eefje, whom Hendrik has a crush on.

Evert has diabetes but doesn't follow doctor's orders and keeps drinking and smoking. His toes finally turn black and have to be amputated, and eventually his leg has to be amputated below the knee.

Greetje apparently has Alzheimer's, though I don't know if it is actually diagnosed. Hendrik and the others do their best to support her in every way.

Hendrik and friends form a club called the Old-but-not-dead club, and take turns in arranging various activities and excursions, so they get out and about and get to enjoy life more. This is a closed club. One of the rules is “No whining allowed”.

The woman in charge, Mrs. Stelwagen, does her best to make life difficult for the residents – “I simply must follow management rules”.

The diary contains quite a bit of criticism of the home. Hendrik reads an article with the heading “Stop the rot, keep moving”, about the root causes of ageing and their solution. “Use it or lose it. You have to keep both body and mind active, especially the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls functions such as planning, initiative and flexibility. Well, we may presume that the management of this place doesn't care much about the prefrontal cortex. Neither money nor trouble is spared to keep the oldies docile, passive and lethargic, camouflaged by bingo, billiards and ‘Feel Good Fitness’.”

Hendrik spends some time contemplating euthanasia, which is legal in the Netherlands. He asks his GP about it, but is told that he’ll have to think about that later.

Hendrik and Evert do quite a bit of drinking together. Hendrik purchases a smart new mobility scooter and scoots about town in it.

We hear quite a bit about current events in the Netherlands, but even though we may not know much about these, they do not detract from our enjoyment of the book.

Hendrik has an ally, Anja, who works at the home; she helps him get information which is otherwise kept from the residents.

There are plans to replace all the nurses with robots to save money. “If I’m still alive, I can picture myself removing a screw or two. Evert has vowed to mow down as many robots as he can with his wheelchair ‘by accident’.

To sum up, this is a candid, well-written account of life in a Dutch home for the elderly told with much dry humour. I highly recommend the book.

International Best Seller, “The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen”, beautifully written by 61-year-old Dutch librarian, Peter de Smet, and translated from the Dutch, by Hester Velman, is a wondrous treat!

Henrikus Gerardus Groen, 83, intends to chronicle “A year in the life of the inmates of a care home in North Amsterdam.” If he doesn’t die first. As one can imagine, insights into life in an elderly rest home “where complaining is pastime number one”, range from hysterically funny, to heartbreaking. And fair warning: it’s graphic. Henk’s year involves many denizens of the senior care facility in which he lives and they are a delight to read about. Henk pulls no punches.

The year is 2013 and in his diary entries Henk notes many news events in both the Netherlands and the world that happened during that year, concentrating on news that affects the living conditions of senior citizens. You don’t have to BE a senior to enjoy this book and be informed by it, you can hope to BE a senior citizen one day and benefit from Henk’s story.

this is a heartwarming story of a lively man trapped in the body of an ailing senior, who has lived in nursing home for the past couple of years. the book is set up like 'flowers for algernon', it is set up in diary format, and in that way tells the story in the wry perspective of the observer. here's a passage for example:

Tuesday December 10
It seems that Old Sore is already taken as a book title[...] If my diary is ever published, it can't be called Old Sore. I have come up with the following alternatives:
1. Down the Drain
2. The Living End
3. Over and Out
4. Not the Bee's Knees
5. The Last Hurrah
6. Smoke Signals in Hurricane (Sounds good but doesn't really apply here)
7. Flies on the Caviar (ditto)

THE SECRET DIARY OF HENDRIK GROEN is a charming yet poignant book. Hendrik lives in a retirement home in Amsterdam (the book has been translated into English, most of the jokes/references still stand) and he hates old people. Nevermind that he’s old, too.

What I liked the most in this book was the friendship that developed between several residents of the home. The Old But Not Dead Club, where they took turns planning outings, determined not to give up just yet. Hendrik and his friends were younger than some fifty year olds I’ve seen, with their willingness to try new things and support each other (as well as work around each other’s infirmities).

This is a very original and unusual book telling the story of senior citizens over the age of 80 who live in a senior home in Amsterdam. According to the author, initially he started writing it to expose the way old people are treated in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and by young people in general. The content of the book is an eye opener and has sad as well as heart-warming stories with quirky characters. After reading it, now I know why this book has been translated to thirty different languages and has been an international best-seller. Although it is depressing occasionally, I enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down because I could feel for the characters and what they were going through.

I loved this book! Great giveaway! If you have ever wondered what is going on in the minds of the elderly, here is your answer. This is a heart warming tale, a year in the life of Hendrick Groen and his friends. Yes the elderly are just like everyone else except older. They have friendships, relationships, arguments and many varying opinions about what is happening in today's world.
This is an easy enjoyable read. I completely enjoyed the one year with all of the characters. It is sad at times but also laugh out loud. I enjoy a book that makes me laugh and those around me wonder what could be so funny.
I would love to read another year.

I loved this book. You follow Hendrik along over the course of a year, through good days and bad, friendship and love, from one adventure to the next. He’s a sensible, delightful old fellow, with a bit of the rebel in him, who finds purpose in his golden years. Most of the action takes place in a Dutch care home, and Hendrik tells all about himself and his fellow “inmates.”
Written by a pseudo-anonymous Dutch author, who really seems to know his subject. Either the author is elderly himself or else he has a keen eye for observation because much of his comments are spot on. It’s a generally positive, touching story told with a lot of humor. I literally laughed out loud while reading this wonderful book.