Along the way he meets Eefje, the love of his (age limited) life, deals with the care home director whose authority is threatened by these insubordinate oldies and details his exploits in a diary.
This book generated a lot of discussion in terms of aging, friendship and care of the elderly. It was witty and relevant but also challenging in having us think about age related issues we’d rather not contemplate, none of us being spring chickens! The comic situations were interspersed with segments of darkness and poignancy; you could find yourself laughing and crying at the same time.
The translation by Hester Velmans was excellent.
Hendrik came across as an inspirational character. Look out for the follow up title, “As Long As There Is Life” - The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old.
Pat Treleaven