On the Bright Side, Hendrik Groen
On the Bright Side, Hendrik Groen
List: $31.99 | Sale: $22.40
Club: $15.99

On the Bright Side
The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old

Author: Hendrik Groen, Hester Velmans

Narrator: Patrick Ryecart

Unabridged: 15 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/19/2019

Synopsis

"THE MALE ELENA FERRANTE" -- New York Post
In the acclaimed follow-up to the #1 international bestseller The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, everyone's favorite curmudgeon is back and as funny and charming as ever with the newest adventures of the Old-But-Not-Dead Club -- for fans of Frederik Backman and Graeme Simsion.
Everyone's favorite octogenarian is back and, together with his pals in the Old-But-Not-Dead Club, he is more determined than ever to wreak havoc and turn a twinkly eye on the brighter side of life.
After a year spent mourning the death of his beloved friend Eefje, Hendrik may be older and a little more wobbly, but his youthful appetite for mischief hasn't diminished. When fears arise that the home is set for demolition, it's up to Hendrik and the Old-But-Not-Dead Club to intervene.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rebecca on January 15, 2019

On the Bright Side - The new Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 years old, is the follow up to the super funny first diary of Hendrik Groen aged 83 1/4 years old. Readers of the first book will be relieved to hear that a second book means the sweet and funny Hendrik is still around. We also get to fi......more

Goodreads review by Louise on December 28, 2017

This is the sequel to Hendrik Groen 83 and a quarter years old. Hendrik keeps a diary. He is determined to grow old with dignity and to rise up against the care homes director. He dreams of escaping the confines of his care home. Hendrik Groen is a marvellous character. He is like a naughty schoolboy......more

Goodreads review by Moonkiszt on May 03, 2019

On the Bright Side by Hendrik Groen Well, this was an unexpectedly awesome book! I got roped into it and was fully involved before I realized this was #2 in the series – the first is The Secret Diary of Hendrick Groen. I’ve been introduced through diary entries to Hendrik’s experiences throughout one......more

Goodreads review by Gary on October 15, 2017

This is the 2nd book in the Hendrik Groen series following the octogenarian as he records his escapades throughout the year. After reading and enjoying the 1st book in the series I was always going to read this one. These books are certainly different from the normal books I read and they bring on l......more

Goodreads review by Stephen on November 22, 2017

The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old is his diary for 2015 detailing his life in a care home in Amsterdam. This book follows on from The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old, which was his 2013 diary. Hendrik did NOT publish a diary for 2014. This book can be read as a stand-......more

Quotes

"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

"Humorous...A realistic and perceptive glimpse into the aging process, shaped by empathy, optimism, and vibrant wit."—Booklist

"I laughed until I cried and then laughed and cried some more."—David Suchet

"Highly entertaining...Wise and witty, his musings are thought-provoking and relevant to everyone regardless of age, and his delightful and charming personality will win over readers everywhere....ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the diary of an extraordinary man who lives an ordinary life. He makes an impact on almost everyone he meets, and seeks to understand the crazy world in which he resides. His clever commentary and madcap adventures will leave a long-term impression ... Hendrik Groen is an unforgettable and absolutely spectacular character who readers will wish they could befriend."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 16.0px Times; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Book Reporter

"Delightful...Groen strikes just the right note here with his wit and ironic observations...So warm, touching, and funny that you don't have to be a member of the Old But Not Dead Club to enjoy it."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}Library Journal

"A worthy read...Darkly funny...thought-provoking, moving and so pertinent to our times....Hendrik and some of his fellow residents form a delightfully rebellious "Old But Not Dead Club [and] the group's joie de vivre is contagious...Their friendships are likely to make you chuckle as well as move you to tears."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Winnipeg Free Press

"Thoughtful, entertaining, and wise. Long may he live."—Lisa Jewell, p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Another amusing, enjoyable, and eye-opening read...Hendrik's bluntness is just a part of his memorable voice and the book's undeniable charm....With its dry wit and its random observations, On the Bright Side is alternately quirky and profound. It's more than just an entertaining read; it's sure to give you a new love and respect for octogenarians."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}Nights and Weekends

PRAISE FOR THE SECRET DIARY OF HENDRIK GROEN:
"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

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List