The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old

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Hendrik is fed up of being a civil, ingratiating, courteous, polite and helpful bloke. He tends to choose the path of least confrontation to try to please everybody. To stop himself spiralling into depression and boredom - in a place where to some residents the most exciting moment of their day is wondering what biscuits will arrive with their tea and coffee - he decides to give the world a taste of the real Hendrikus Gerardus Groen, by writing an uncensored diary into a year in the life of a group of "inmates" (as he calls his fellow residents), in a care home in north Amsterdam. His whistleblowing account shows us what life is really like for people in care homes; the rules, regulations and human interactions. His old club fell apart but every now and then there is a reunion where the former residents get to enjoy some beer and catch up. And a last link – to Publisher’s Weekly which says that Hendrik Groen is an alias. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...

Hendrik Groen Series by Hendrik Groen - Goodreads Hendrik Groen Series by Hendrik Groen - Goodreads

This seems to be basically... what it is. A diary of an old guy. Nothing happens. There is no point to it. I made myself read to see if there's some moral that is coming up, at least, but... nope. Nothing. It's just someone's boring old diary. You could publish this right now. Your cousin could. All it seems to be is a weird commentary of an entire year, like a summary of what happened on the news in snippets through the eyes of a person in an elderly home. Doesn't get any more exciting! Not that I'm being disrespectful - I've read plenty of books that are told through the POV of a person in an elderly home, and some of them have been great. But this? There's no story. No plot. No underlying point. It's not even interesting for the events - cause it's several years old now and I honestly don't remember the miscellany of the time! Attempts to make something of life in 2016 won the Audience Award for the Dutch Book. This prize was not personally collected by the author. Amongst the club's members are Evert,( Hendrik's best pal and partner in crime ), and then there is the care home's newest resident Eefje, Hendrik's dream woman ( proving that you're never too old for love!). Evert is a naughty schoolboy dressed in an aged person's body, but that doesn't stop him! Eefje on the other hand is quiet, contemplative and intelligent. Hendrik wishes he'd met her half a lifetime ago. In the latter part of the book, there are some simple yet really moving moments between Hendrik and Eefje that left me with a lump in my throat, and tears in my eyes. But when Hendrik learns of a plan to close the home down he realises life outside it could be much worse. He and the gang must stop the closure before it's too late. Or drop dead trying . . .In doing so, he developed a reputation of being an octogenarian in the mold of Elena Ferrante, even though no one still knows if he is a man, woman, or even an octogenarian. This novel's narrative in the form of daily diary entries describes life in an eldercare facility. The individual who is writing these entries and his friends live in the independent living portion of the facility, but they have the option of eating meals prepared and served in the center's dining hall. There are parts of the facility available for full nursing and memory care. I have no hesitation in recommending The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old as an uplifting, at times hilarious though heartbreaking read.

Hendrik Groen - Penguin Books UK Hendrik Groen - Penguin Books UK

What I will take away from this book is the funny and the sad. I think this is a better book for me to read at my age (a stone’s throw away from retirement age) to be reminded of what will be in store for me if I make it to 70, 80, or beyond…than if I read a scientific book chapter on “this is what happens as the body ages” and statistics on rate of falls and onset of aging-related maladies. Because it’s all in this book, and I got the sobering message, at the same time not sinking into too deep a funk—because the context of the message was presented in a book that I would say had me laughing or grinning a great deal of the time. I enjoyed the descriptions of Amsterdam, and I loved the tales of the excursions enjoyed by "The old but not dead" club. While the work has its own share of moving and sad moments but the main message it shows is that despite octogenarians having a short life expectancy, they can still enjoy and live life to the full. This book is a frank insight into the life of a grumpy old man who experiences every emotion while living out the year. The book is far better and more entertaining than the write up sounds, so I can recommend this book to anyone who fancies reading something out of the ordinary. Let me say right here and now, that if I ever end up in a care home, I pray that there is a Hendrik and an Evert to brighten up my remaining days, I just LOVE Hendrik!The result is a story we all can relate to and possibly, one day, find ourselves remanded, as one of its’ inmates (his word). Hendrik Groen doesn't like old people. Their zimmer frame shuffle, unreasonable impatience, endless complaints, their tea and biscuits, smells or creaking bodies. Although he himself is 83 years old and lives in a residential care home in the Netherlands. What a wonderful old curmudgeon. Hendrik Groen is in a nursing home - he lives in the assisted living section. He decided to keep a journal for one year. He started his journal on January 1, 2013 when he was 83 years old. Seeing the world through his eyes - and the perspective of his closest friends - The Old But Not Dead Club - was a very humorous undertaking. From his mortification of his "dribbling" and leaving yellow stains in his white underpants, to the suggestion that people go to the "shit clinic" and quit bothering him with their whining about their daily constipation or diarrhea stories while he is trying to take afternoon tea and cake. Hendrik is the Grampa that everyone wishes they had.

Hendrik Groen - Wikipedia Hendrik Groen - Wikipedia

The Old But not Dead Club then spawned a monthly cooking club, plus another two members - Ria and Antoine Travemundi. I found this book helpful, informative and reassuring. It allowed me to enter my father’s world and see it from his eyes. When I read this, I thought “that’s my dad!”...

Despite their age, the members of the club are a determined bunch as they sample themed and very fine dining establishments and arrange day trips. Their care home is also not spared as they also have some very hilarious incidents there too. Highly entertaining, utterly convincing. A delightful and touching saga of one man's way of coping with old age' Daily Express Edward Schermer who doesn't say much and is hard to understand because of his stroke, but when he does speak you know it'll be worth it. Among them are the kind hearted and thoughtful, Eefje Brand, who recently moved into a room Mrs De Gans "vacated" and to whom he strikes up a sweet, close and heart warming friendship. His cheeky and mischievous friend Evert Duiker, who lives independently around the corner in sheltered accommodation with his dog Mo who farts a lot. Whenever Everts grout plays up Walter visits and takes his dog for a walk, helps him out with things or just enjoys an afternoon chat and "a glass of something or other" - usually wine, gin, brandy or whisky. O Diário Secreto de Hendrik Groen" é um livro sobre um velho que detesta velhos, e que aos 83 anos e 1/4, optou por um bravo pontapé na velhice!