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

 The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old by Graeme Simsion.

 

Paperback : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 1455542156
Publisher : Grand Central Publishing; Reprint Edition (April 3, 2018)

 

 

Amazon review:

 

Technically speaking, Hendrik Groen is....elderly. But at age 83 1/4, this feisty, indomitable curmudgeon has no plans to go out quietly. Bored of weak tea and potted geraniums, exasperated by the indignities of aging, Hendrik has decided to rebel - on his own terms. He begins writing an exposé: secretly recording the antics of day-to-day life in his retirement home, where he refuses to take himself, or his fellow "inmates," too seriously.

With an eccentric group of friends, he founds the wickedly anarchic Old-But-Not-Dead Club, and he and his best friend, Evert, gleefully stir up trouble, enraging the home's humorless director and turning themselves into unlikely heroes. And when a sweet and sassy widow moves in next door, he polishes his shoes, grooms what's left of his hair, and determines to savor every ounce of joy in the time he has left, with hilarious and tender consequences.

A bestselling phenomenon that has captured imaginations around the world, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is inspiring, charming, and laugh-out-loud funny with a deep and poignant core: a page-turning delight for readers of any age.

 

 I found a lot of this book to be  humorous but with a touch of sadness.  I think the sadness part comes because of my age.   I would, however recommend this book to those you don't suffer from depression... parts are very funny.

I wish I could write good things for this book.  It is all daily diary writings and there are no chapters in the whole book.  The idea of a diary while in a home for the aged is original.  It's also a good idea for older people to do it, or just write each day to keep your mind sharp. 

I am not a writer by a long shot.. but I did try to write a fantasy story while being a caregiver for my brother and I do still believe it  helped me not to be so depressed, to escape to a fantasy land with fantasy characters, that after a short while I could hear their voices in my head.... and I no longer felt so along.

This book brings to light what it  may be like to live in a home, and have no one but the others around you.  It makes you realize a number of things that I am sure none of us think of .