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1) an apple
2) the tagged book
Thank you for the tag @Deblovestoread
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Diaper, dribbling applesauce, dementia - it‘s all included in Hendrik‘s day in an Amsterdam old folks home! Along with mobility scooter races, wine tastings, cooking lessons, and fun excursions by the Old But Not Dead exclusive group of Hendrik & 7 close friends. It‘s an honest, delightful look at the joys & sorrows of growing old. I loved it - but maybe that‘s because I just had a high-number BD! Long live Hendrik!

I‘m struggling with how to rate this book, a (fictional) diary of a year in the life of a man in a Dutch care home. On one hand, there‘s elder visibility, a focus on the importance of friendships and maintaining interests, and a recognition of the immediacy of death. On the other, it‘s slow to the point of boring in places and there‘s some unnecessary fat shaming. I‘ll give it a low pick for bringing forward the need to understand elderly people.

Well, I managed to squeeze in a second bingo for November #bookspinbingo just under the wire! 🎉 I haven‘t decided yet how to rate the book, though, so I‘m going to noodle on it a bit more before posting my review.

I can‘t wait for December‘s number draw!

Such mixed feelings on this one.

It kind of gives you the premise of an Ove-ish story with lots of humor and warmth. The parts that are like that are delightful—I laughed out loud so many times.

But then it also had this strong thread of hopelessness that progressively got stronger as the book went on. Which might have been fine, if I wasn‘t expecting a feel-good humorous read.

I just can‘t get enough of the fish tank escapades 😂🤣😂

I LOVED this book. The way he is so honest about everything. His comments about my generation not sitting and actively listening really hit home, and between that and the obvious lessons of “slow down” from quarantine have made me rethink how I respond to life...highly highly recommend. For more of my thoughts on this incredible novel see https://heartandsoulbooks.blogspot.com/2020/05/close-your-eyes-press-play-and-ju...

Only on page 5 and I adore it already!!!

Front porch audiobooking 🥰☀️

Starting this one at work today 😷 🎧

That Saturday feel when rather than cleaning you curl up with a book and a pot of chai tea. I‘m thoroughly enjoying this book, it‘s a lovely reminder to be grateful for the life we have....especially stuck in our houses #bookworm📚 #teatime☕️ #weekends

On today's episode of how to avoid a panic attack, I'm letting my kid play video games and burying myself in a new book

This is such a sweet book. Precious, precocious, and honest. It was a feel good read.

Loved the funny bits—you know, the ones that elicit a snort! 😂

83-1/4 year old Hendrik is quite a character and his diary is very funny. I have a feeling that this book will appeal more to people over 60. Young people will just not be able to relate to the deteriorating mind and body that Hendrick lives with. Anyone over 60 is probably starting to feel some of his pain. On one hand it‘s a pretty hilarious book but, on the other hand, it‘s a little wake up call and a little disconcerting.

There was just something about this book that made me think about A Man Called Ove (one of my all time favorites) and I just HAD to read it. Hendrik does have that Ove vibe and this book made me both laugh and cry!!

4,5/5 stars.

I had very much looked forward to this book but was disappointed and didn‘t find it funny. I can see how some would but I didn‘t. I didn‘t like the diary format and, with a few exceptions, such as, “The Book Thief”, usually don‘t. The main character seemed rather flat and wasn‘t particularly likable, not unlikable, just not likable. Maybe a future attempt at the book would produce a different result but for now there is too much more to read.

I really enjoyed this book. It might be one of my favorites. I'm excited to know a sequel is coming out in January and I have already pre-ordered it.

Kitty looked super sweet, but then moved when I tried to take a picture. Every time...

1. The secret diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 years old. It was so funny.
2. Tinus or Tien
3. I dive right in. But I love a good salad.
4. Tomorrow: studying + go to a second hand store to look for clothes + adopt a houseplant. Sunday: Europe's biggest bookfestival in Deventer, the Netherlands.
5. Es ist Freitag (German), c'est vendredi (French), It is freed (Frisian), Het is vrijdag (dutch), It's friday (English). #friyayintro

@howjessreads

Just started this for book club. I‘ve been terrible and haven‘t finished the last 2 in time for the meetings, so I really want to get this done. Send me all the reader concentration vibes!

I really enjoyed this book. It has mixed reviews here, I understand why though. It was a little slow starting off but it was so easy to become invested in the characters. I felt like I knew them and grew to like them by the end of the book. The goings on in a “old folks home” in Amsterdam isn‘t comedic gold, but Groen is charmingly witty. Book 24 of 2019

I'm starting this bad boy tonight or tmrw!

I‘ve been sitting at the hospital for a few hours, waiting to pick up a friend from surgery. I wasn‘t impressed with the last memoir book I read (it was quite raunchy) and this one started slow but I‘m really enjoying it!!!

#BookHaul (Book socks and book gifts for others not pictured.) #MoreBooks #NeverEnough 📖📚

I've recently been using the Echo Dot to play my Audibles in addition to using my phone over Bluetooth while I drive... But I have a sneaking suspicion that Amazon isn't synching my times properly. 😒

Finished this one up last night... and despite the Litsy love for this one I'm only giving it a "so-so". Hendrik is a fun narrator, but amid the occasional LOL moments I found this book to be a bit boring. I didn't expect much in the way of plot... but I did expect more in the way of heart.
For those that intend to read this: perhaps consider reading it daily (as the format is dated journal entries), and live the story through a whole year.

When you and your book's main character share the same sentiments about clowns. 😂

A little over a third finished with this one... It's enjoyable but somehow very... slow? It's got it's moments but I must admit that I've considered bailing on it. It's got a lot of Litsy love - so I'm gonna stick with it for now!

I needed to share these glorious bookish gifts, courtesy of @Nerdfins !

Delicious local chocolate! Ravenclaw socks! New BOOK! And what is probably the greatest Funko ever created: from the 25th Anniversary Jurassic Park collection - I present injured Ian Malcolm 😂

After a couple hours' drive, I'm officially home for the holiday. Reading by the tree until I fall asleep.
Merry Christmas to all my friends here on Litsy, I hope your day is merry and bright. ♡

Starting something new - I need something to break up the reading of "Voices from Chernobyl" because it's making me too sad. This looks like it might be funny with a lot of heart. :)

Book: The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen
Author: Steven Erikson
Movie: Sabrina (1995)
Food: Strawberry‘s 🍓yum yum 😋
#ManicMonday #letterS @JoScho

oh how I wish I pushed that coffee to the left a little...
chocolate banana porridge + book ❤️

Funny, of course, as cantankerous old man novels tend to be, but very straightforward about the issues we all will confront as we age. I, for one, will be getting a mobility scooter.

This is going on my favorite books list loved it. I‘m wondering if there is a second book out there of his??? Really loved it great book@to@read overall 😋😍📖

Sometimes humorous, but always very human.

I am enjoying this book so much and think about the future and what it will bring. Hope we have some fun like Hendrik 🤣🤣🤣

Debating which to read next 👀😳📚📖😋

I had heard this book was great for people who loved “A Man Called Ove”. I am one of those people. However, while some obvious parallels are there, I don‘t think this was anywhere close to as good. While I did grow attached to Hendrik and his friends, they are lovely, endearing characters, there was just so much sadness. I didn‘t feel uplifted by this book (even though it tries to end on an uplifting note).. I felt discouraged.

Hendrik just dropped some truth quite appropriate for the day (if anyone is unfamiliar, this book was originally written in the Netherlands).

Read this bit and thought of this incident that happened at the nursing home that is next to my work. He tried to shoot an orderly, but missed and hit the wall, thankfully. 🤦🏻‍♀️

This book has SUCH good Litsy reviews and I really want to love it.. and seriously there are some laugh out loud funny parts so far.. but it‘s just not capturing my attention where I want to keep reading. I‘ll probably finish it because I have a few days invested but I hope it picks up a bit.

Getting some reading in while waiting to be seen by my doctor. I‘ve been dealing with migraines multiple times a week since February and I‘ve had enough. 😞

There are two elderly sweethearts in this photo. Loki would not agree that she‘s old though, just wiser and with a few more white hairs. #catsoflitsy

Today‘s work snack is brownie batter hummus with pretzel chips. I doubt they‘d serve that in Hendrik‘s retirement home. Which is sad since this is so good! It‘s like I‘m eating a chocolate covered pretzel. #food

Loki was a less-than-cooperative book model today. #catsoflitsy