Hendrik Groen #2
Humor
Penguin UK
11 Jan 2018
Hardcover
432
9780718186630
Dutch
£12.99
3
NetGalley
Yes
Everyone's favourite octogenarian is back and together with the Old-But-Not-Dead Club, is more determined than ever to wreak havoc. After a year mourning the death of his beloved friend Eefje, Hendrik picks up his pen once again to chronicle the goings on both inside his care home and in the increasingly confusing world outside.
He may be older and a little more wobbly but his appetite for mischief hasn't diminished. When fears arise that the home is set for demolition it's up to Hendrik and the Old-But-Not-Dead Club to intervene. Both heart-breaking and hilarious, we see Hendrik make new friends whilst losing old ones and embarking on new adventures while confronting the realities of old age. Written with his characteristic charm and candour Hendrik is determined to enjoy his autumnal years and turni a twinkly eye on the brighter side of life.
Having thoroughly enjoyed The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old of this series I was looking really forward reading this part as well. Hendrik keeps you amazed with his humor and his views. His ‘civil disobedience’ in his retirement home and juvenile mindset is what keeps him and his friends going and surviving the daily boring routines and aches of getting old.
As a second part this one is, again, a book everyone should read. Even if it just to give you an idea of how life above 80 is like for most people. It’s funny, painful, sad but most of all: it’s what you make it.
I’ve read this book, partly, in German since that was the first version I got my hands on. Sadly the German translation did not speak to me… Rereading in English opened this book up for me and got me hooked.
