The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old

Paperback Published on: 13/07/2017; Language: English, Dutch; Flemish (Original language of a translated text)
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Bookseller Reviews

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The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 831/4 Years Old
Hendrik Groen still has all his chairs at home!
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is a Dutch bestseller, written from the point of view of an elderly man living in an Amsterdam old folks home. Hendrik Gr... READ MORE
Jane E Skudder

Synopsis

Meet Hendrik Groen. An octogenarian in a care home who has no intention of doing what he's told, or dying quietly.

To that end, he creates the Old-But-Not-Dead Club and with his fellow members sets about living his final years with careless abandon.

Such anarchism infuriates the care home director but pleases Eefje, the woman who makes Hendrik's frail heart palpitate.

If it's never too late to have fun, then can it ever be too late to meet the love of your life?

'So much more than just a comedy.' - John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

'Amusing and wickedly accurate. A handbook of resistance for our time.' - Sunday Express

'Very funny.' - Jeremy Paxman, Financial Times

'Terrific. This geriatric Adrian Mole made me laugh.' - Woman and Home

'Funny and touching.' - BBC Radio 4

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
  • ISBN: 9781405924009
  • Number of pages: 400
  • Dimensions: 199 x 130 x 26 mm
  • Weight: 282g
  • Languages: English, Dutch; Flemish (Original language of a translated text)

Customer Reviews

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The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 831/4 Years Old
Marvellous!
Hendrik Groen does not have many friends but he is extremely kind to those he considers to be good company. What I liked most about this book was the plent... READ MORE
Helena
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 831/4 Years Old
A multi-faceted novel, combining humour and poignancy
There have been a number of popular fiction books with elderly protagonists of late – from The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce to A Man C... READ MORE
Joy Finlayson
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old
Hilarious!
Reading the diary of Hendrik Groen made me laugh on every page! Always up to mischief and causing trouble with his friend Evert - Hendrik reminds me a bit ... READ MORE
Rach&Marc
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 831/4 Years Old
Old age can be fun!
Wonderful! Hilarious at times, very poignant at others. Hendrik Groen is not allowing old age to stop him having fun, even as his body starts to let him ... READ MORE
SusieH
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 831/4 Years Old
Utterly amazing book about a life that is being well-lived and appreciated
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review Hendrik Groen has gone through life seldom saying what he really thi... READ MORE
Rosemary Standeven
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 831/4 Years Old
Old age can be fun!
Wonderful! Hilarious at times, very poignant at others. Hendrik Groen is not allowing old age to stop him having fun, even as his body starts to let him ... READ MORE
SusieH
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old
Easy Reading Full of Humour and Poignancy
A brilliant book that is full of personality and wit. Written in diary form, Hendrik is able to convey the escapades of himself and his 'gang’ whilst expre... READ MORE
Nicole at Haywards Heath
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old
Not really for me
Hendrik Groen is a grumpy old man living in a care home in Amsterdam. The book follows a year in his life where he is out to cause mischief and trouble for... READ MORE
MoziDogReads
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old
Golden Oldie
I loved this book. I fell for Hendrik straight away. I wish I knew someone as funny and charming as he. I loved his sense of humour and the way even an ... READ MORE
Chris Hunt
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old
Moving, thought-provoking and poignant
Hendrik Groen is embarking on his 84th year. In order to keep boredom at bay he decides to keep a diary of his days in the care home he in which he now res... READ MORE
Janet E
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old
The unfunniest book
The review quotes in the book suggest this is a funny book. It's not. I laughed only once on page 269. I did actively consider not finishing it just after ... READ MORE
John  Fairgrieve