The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated The Lost Diary of M in Books
Oct 7, 2020
Go Ask Alice
7.3
Rate It
Book
Diary entries from a young teen who discovers drugs innocently through a party when she randomly has...
young adult drugs addiction
Bettie Page Vol. 1
Colton Worley and David Avallone
8.0
Rate It
Book
via Edelweiss "She's more modest than Ms. Blaise, but peels more than Ms. Emma. She out-vamps...
beforethedawn (7 KP) rated The Perks of Being a Wallflower in Books
Jul 23, 2017
It's a very sad story in a way but there are so many nice moments through out the book. I've always been a fan of the letter/ diary format in books. It holds my interest like no other. I don't know what it is about it but it's just very entertaining to me. Reminds me of Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern.
Elli H Burton (1288 KP) rated Killing Eve - Season 1 in TV
Aug 9, 2019
DEFO WATCH.
Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids
Podcast
Travel back in time to remember the good, bad, and awkward parts of growing up. Recorded live on...
March, Women, March
Book
This fascinating book uses anecdotes and accounts by both famous and hitherto lesser known...
Terrence McNally recommended Borrowed Time: An Aids Memoir in Books (curated)
Premeditated
Book
A week ago, Dinah’s cousin Claire cut her wrists. Five days ago, Dinah found Claire’s diary...
Josin L. McQuein Premeditated Revenge Suicide Sexual Assault Thriller
Hazel (1853 KP) rated The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 Years Old in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Think <i>Adrian Plass</i> but with octogenarians and this is the result. <i>The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old</i> is a years long journal beginning on 1st January 2013. Hendrik hates old people, an unfortunate predicament as he live in a home for the elderly. He set himself the task of writing a daily account about the “life of the inmates of a care home in North Amsterdam,” with the purpose of it being read after his death by readers, or “inmates” who wish to know what to expect in their old age.
Whether the contents of this diary are true or exaggerated does not matter, as what it produces is a laugh-out-loud story, a pleasure to read. From cake in the fish tank, to complaints about leaky nether regions, Hendrik provides a brutally honest account of the highs and lows of being an OAP.
<i>The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old</i> encompasses a selection of unique and presumably real characters. Readers are bound to discover someone who reminds them of an elderly relative, or even themselves! There is the diabetic, rude, gin loving Evert – Henrdik’s best friend of many years – who is never without a witty comeback for the bossy, self-important director of the home. On the other hand, levelheaded Eefje, who Hendrik is rather fond of, shows a completely different view of elderly mentality. Despite the stereotypes associated with care home patients, Hendrik and friends still have as much fun as possible; after all, they may be Old but not Dead.
Speaking of dead, Hendrik makes a number of jokes and references to euthanasia, which may seem like poor taste to some readers. However, when all the friends around you are literally living the final years of their lives, why not joke about it instead of worry? Naturally there are sad diary entries about the inevitable deaths of his contemporaries throughout the year, but Hendrik does not let it get him down for long. Hendrik and his close friends make the most of the time they have left, and if that involves speeding along the roads of Amsterdam on their souped-up mobility scooters, then that is exactly what they will do.
<i>The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old</i> is a gem of a book and comes highly recommended to readers of all ages. Hendrik ‘s effortlessly funny, sarcastic remarks stress what the average citizen is too polite to voice. Once you begin it is hard to put down. Unfortunately a year is not long enough and you will end up wanting more. Whatever the future holds for us, let’s hope we become someone like Hendrik Groen.