The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen
By Hendrik Groen
Translated by Hester Velmans
Read by Derek Jacobi
Unabridged
Format :
Library CD (In Stock)
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2 Formats: CD
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2 Formats: Library CD
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ISBN: 9781478918844
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ISBN: 9781478973683
| Runtime: | 11.89 Hours |
| Category: | Fiction/Literary |
| Audience: | Adult |
| Language: | English |
Summary
Summary
AudioFile Earphones Award Winner
BookPage Top Pick for July 2017
Technically speaking, Hendrik Groen is elderly. But at age 83 and one quarter, this feisty 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.
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 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.
When a sweet and sassy widow moves in next door, he is determined to savor every ounce of joy in the time he has left, with hilarious and tender consequences. The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is an inspiring, charming, and laugh-out-loud delight for readers of any age.
Editorial Reviews
Editorial Reviews
“Poignant and true-to-life, an international bestseller.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune
“The humble diary of a gentleman who is fighting depression in the twilight of his life is masterfully brought to life by Derek Jacobi’s outstanding narration. It’s a treat to listen to Jacobi’s rich voice and musical intonation…The characterizations are vivid and flawless; each of Hendrik’s friends and foes is given a unique voice that conveys individual personality while also revealing Hendrik’s attitude about the speaker. Most impressive are Jacobi’s beautifully tuned emotional beats, ranging from Hendrik’s sly humor to his layered indignation and delicate but penetrating grief. A delightful and richly rewarding listening experience. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” —AudioFile
“An incredible picture of friendship…something we could all stand to emulate, no matter where we are in our lives.” —BookPage
Amusing [and] wickedly accurate...Reading The Secret Diary, I was constantly put in mind of Ken Kesey's madhouse tale One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, another comi-tragedy concerning the tyranny of institutions of the unwanted. Enjoy Groen's light touch but do not be fooled by it....The Secret Diary is a handbook of resistance for our time. —The Express (UK)
Funny and frank - a story with a great deal of heart. —Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project
A story about how friendship, selflessness and dignity lie at the heart of the human experience. When I'm an old man, I want to be Hendrik Groen. —John Boyne, internationally bestselling author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
An incredible picture of friendship... something we could all stand to emulate, no matter where we are in our lives. —Bookpage, Top Fiction Pick for July
Interspersed with Groen's biting wit and comic take on aging and all it entails... A page-turning delight for adult readers of any age and locale. —Booklist, starred review
Poignant and true-to-life, an international bestseller. —Minneapolis Star Tribune
Engaging and hilarious, Hendrik's diary gives a dignity and respect to the elderly often overlooked in popular culture, providing readers a look into the importance of friendship and the realities of the senior care system in modern society. —Publisher's Weekly
You might say he's the Elena Ferrante of the octogenarian set - though whether or not he is actually an octogenarian (or a man) is also anyone's guess. It's an appealing novel with a lot of heart, reminding readers young and old that fun is to be found even in the routine of everyday life. And of course, the possibility that it's more memoir than fiction is delightful. —New York Post
Author
Author Bio: Hendrik Groen
Hendrik Groen started his pseudonymous diaries on the literary website of Torpedo magazine. His first diary, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old,
has been translated into over thirty languages, and On The Bright Side was a number-one bestseller in the Netherlands.
Titles by Author
Details
Details
| Available Formats : | CD, Library CD |
| Category: | Fiction/Literary |
| Runtime: | 11.89 |
| Audience: | Adult |
| Language: | English |
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