The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old

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At the heart of the story lies a sweet and unsentimental relationship between Hendrik and Eefje, an elderly widow who takes up residence on his floor after a previous occupant has died. Originally published in Dutch in 2014, the author of this book remained a mystery until recently, leaving readers with the question of whether the diary was indeed the work of Hendrik Groen, and hence a biography rather than a novel, although the nod to Adrian Mole should have been the giveaway. Hendrik is in the unfortunate position of meeting someone truly important to him and then to only know her for eight precious months. I had the same mixed feelings about becoming attached to these elderly folks who are fading and falling apart, but their good humour and companionship won me over.

Hendrik Groen - Book Series In Order Hendrik Groen - Book Series In Order

In this anonymous Dutch novel in diary form, Hendrik Groen provides a full reckoning of how 2013 went down in his Amsterdam old folks’ care home. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for all walks of life – all ages can learn so much from the knowledge and insight he imparts.Although he's finding it increasingly hard to get get about these days, he's far from dead, and just to prove it, he and his friends set up the 'Old But Not Dead' club.

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old - Goodreads The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old - Goodreads

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. There is an incident with the Aquarium in the care home which results in dead fish and a clash with management. Still, as with the inmates of insular prisons such as Alcatraz or Robben Island, they are faced with the question of where they might go, should they ever decide to make a run for it. I received a digital copy of this novel for free - at my request - from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

Hendrik Groen’s Amsterdam-based nursing home was shut down and he was sent to the Bergen aan Zee facility. This is the 30th book, but considering Alex has survived "Kill Alex Cross" before, chances are he survives this one. De Smet responded with the words that 'he is not waiting for publicity' and 'has no sense in the fuss about fame'.

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

The inhabitants have been informed in a short letter that it is now official: the extensive renovations to this building are to begin in November. Toen Pogingen iets van het leven te maken in 2016 de Publieksprijs voor het Nederlandse Boek won, haalde De Smet de prijs dan ook niet persoonlijk op. I found this book very useful and not just in relating to elderly passengers travelling on my National Express coach. In 2016, several Dutch publications such as “The Parool” and “The Volksrant” announced that they had solved the mystery.

De Volkskrant en NRC Handelsblad onthulden in 2016 vrijwel gelijktijdig dat het ging om de toen 62-jarige Peter de Smet. In the book Hendrik and his friends take matters into their own hands and form the Not Dead Yet Club. Hendrik Groen is spending his final years in a care home in Amsterdam – he still doesn’t like the elderly; complaining, whinging lot – and he’s 83 ¼ himself. The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old), published in the UK in 2015 and in the US in 2016.