Enjoyable read. Goodreads:The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 Years Oldby Hendrik Groen, Hester Velmans (Goodreads Author) (Translator)4957538Preethi's reviewJul 26, 2018it was amazingbookshelves: biography-or-author-saw-it-happen, laugh-out-loud-or-chuckle-some, pleasant-surprises, mcdreamy-or-men-to-die-for, musings-thoughts-observations, has-family-or-friends-theme, awesom-oticOMG, what an adorable book, this is!Groen is my personal hero - with equal parts of curmudgeon, realist facing facts, political commander, detached attachment, friend and lover.I enjoyed reading the entries in Groen's diaries - when he grumbles about the home he lives in or when he tells himself to stop whining or when he notices the state of elders in his country, while still realizing it is one of the richest in the world, detachedly or when he complains with love about his friends or when he adventures into getting himself a ride or when he muses on how much he is loving his lady love - Groen reminded me that you are not dead until you are - so keep living and enjoying all the emotions life throws at you.I giggled and shed a tear in equal parts through this book, and now definitely have a little more awareness about old people and their troubles.I will definitely read the next in this series.

I didnt really find this to be a humorous read.......it kinda dragged for me ( )

Simultaneously sad and outrageously funny.

Hendrik Groen resides in a assisted living facitlity in Amsterdam. He clearly loathes the bureaucracy and lack of transparency of management.

His diary reflects his smarts, patience, kindness, integrity, loyalty to his friends, his sense of mischief, optimism, love, humor and humanity. And can't tolerate whining, disrespect, jealousy and violence in the facility and in the world. He accepts himself as imperfect and always learning.

Brilliant read! I highly recommend.

This novel reads like a memoir really. The entire book is in diary format as scribed by a very elderly man, Hendrik, living in a senior living facility. We learn all about Hendrik's day to day thoughts on the staff and his fellow residents. Sometimes quite witty, other times poignant, the book really transports the reader to their likely future. It's hard not to see yourself in one or two of the residents. Or to fear what they are going through. Hendrik and a small group of friends really try to band together to continue to make life worth living, and their day trips are amusing. As we begin to care for them, we realize happiness can be quite short-lived in your eighties.

All in all, it was good, but not as good as [b:Olive, Again|43984883|Olive, Again|Elizabeth Strout|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576676858l/43984883._SY75_.jpg|66502791] or [b:A Man Called Ove|18774964|A Man Called Ove|Fredrik Backman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405259930l/18774964._SY75_.jpg|21619954], books that similarly address some of the issues surrounding aging. ( )

A cute little book. Not a nailbiter, by any means, it's still worth reading. ( )