I am not too sure that this diary is based on someone’s real life. First, for me, it takes place far from home and in a different country. Then, it seemed to me that some of the incidents were told by an observer looking in rather than the one who’s experiencing it. Still, there are several sensitive narrations of events, people and feelings that make the story ring of truth.

Although some sense of humor is sparsely sprayed here and there, I didn’t find the story to be funny. In fact, I found it to be on the rather sad side.

The diary form of the book spreads over a year in the life of Hendrik Groen who has a negative, sarcastic view of life due to the death of his child and his wife’s mental problems that have to do with serious depression, which has her confined. Despite that, if not his words but his actions show his true caring, loving nature. This makes him a character most readers can accept and even love.

Hendrik Groen, who is 83 going on 84, lives in a home for the elderly in North Amsterdam, where the mostly eccentric residents are free to go in and out of the place on their own. Aside from the central struggle against old age and its infirmities, the lesser conflict of the story is between the administrator Mrs. Stelwagen, her unseen rules book and Hendrik and his friends, Evert, Grietje, the chefs Ria and Antonie and their Old but not Dead club. The club members go out on outings together and have a good time. In the club, there’s also the old lady Eefje, the newcomer in the group toward whom Hendrik develops an emotional attachment. Mrs. Stelwagen’s assistant Anja helps Hendrik with his rebellion against the administration by passing out to him secrets until she’s found out and made to retire.

The most positive thing about this story is Hendrik’s stoicism and refusal to give up on life and dwell in self-pity, with which his diary helps, as he claims it does. The author does well with showing the resilience of the elderly while they lose friends but show independence, dignity, and parts of their bodies and minds.

The book is easy to read and it makes a strong social commentary on the ills and the welfare of the elderly.

what an author can do with a situation even when the plot isn't that strong.

Hendrik's character.

was kept anonymous for a time; however, In April 2016, NRC Handelsblad revealed Peter de Smet, a 61-year-old librarian with no previous published written work, as the book's author. The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old was translated by Hester Velmans.

Hester Velmans is a novelist and a translator specializing in modern fiction. She is a 2014 NEA Translation Fellow.

I enjoyed reading it but it may not be for everyone, especially those who require a stronger plot with unexpected twists.

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Created Jul 09, 2019 at 1:56pm • Submit your own review...