The Secret Diary of Hendrick Groen 83 1/4 Years Old

Publisher: Penguin

Publishing Date: 2017

Format: Paperback I purchased myself

Star Rating: 3/5 I liked it, it’s OK

About Book: 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?

My Thoughts: I chose this book as it is International Joke day 1st July and I wanted to read something funny. The book was a little slow to start with. However, it is well a well written diary written through the world of Hendrick Groen, the self-proclaimed "old as dirt and twice as charming" protagonist who is 83 1/4 Years Old." This book is a delightful journey through the ups and downs of aging, packed with wit, wisdom, and just the right amount of cheekiness. Groen makes fun of himself and his neighbours in a funny and sympathetic way. It feels no different from a care home experience in the UK. My favourite character was Eefje who brought light, shade, laughter and friendship to the care  home once she moved in and I loved her. There are some very funny moments, along with poignant and sad. Hendrick does find humour in life's most mundane moments, like his battle with technology or his struggles with modern-day trends. It's refreshing to see someone embrace their age with such gusto and use it as a vehicle for laughter. I did not find the book a laugh out loud experience, but it is worth a read.