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The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old

By Hendrik Groen
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old offers a humorous and insightful glimpse into the life of an octogenarian living in a Dutch care home. As Hendrik details his daily experiences, he rebels against the mundane routine of institutional life by penning an honest and often witty diary. The narrative revolves around his interactions with fellow residents and his efforts to inject vitality into their twilight years, all while navigating the challenges of ageing with grace and humour.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fond of heartwarming tales that blend humour and poignancy, exploring the ups and downs of life in a retirement home. It's perfect for readers who appreciate stories about friendship, resilience, and the vibrant spirit of ageing with dignity and wit.

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Meet Hendrik Groen. An octogenarian in a care home who has no intention of doing what he's told. 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 heart palpitate.

An international bestselling novel- a year in the life of an elderly man writing an expose from an old-people's home in Amsterdam.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An international bestselling novel, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old captures a year in the life of an elderly man writing an exposé from an old-people's home in Amsterdam.

Hendrik Groen may be old, but he is far from dead and isn't planning to be buried any time soon. So he sets out to write an exposé—a year in the life of his care home in Amsterdam, revealing all its ups and downs—not least his new endeavour, the anarchic Old-But-Not-Dead Club.

And when Eefje moves in—the woman Hendrik has always longed for—he polishes his shoes (and his teeth), grooms what's left of his hair, and attempts to make something of the life he has left, with hilarious, tender, and devastating consequences.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old is praised for its heart, wit, and self-deprecating humour. Reviewers highlight the book's thoughtful exploration of ageing with dignity, blending light-hearted humour with reflections on friendship and the challenges of ageing. It's described as both entertaining and unapologetically sincere, likened to other comedic yet poignant narratives about resisting the constraints of institutions.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781405924009

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 July 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Contributors:

  • Translated by Hester Velmans

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 281g

Pages: 400

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Hendrik Groen Humour Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Hendrik Groen (Author) Hendrik Groen chooses to be an anonymous author to highlight social inequality. He started his diaries on the literary website of Torpedo magazine. Hester Velmans (Translator) Hester Velmans is the author of two popular children's novels and a translator specializing in modern fiction. Her translation of Renate Dorrestein's A Heart of Stone won the Vondel Prize for Translation and was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection. Her translation of Lulu Wang's The Lily Theater was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Her children's book Isabel of the Whales now has a sibling- the second in the Whales Series, Jessaloup's Song (age 10 and up).

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