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katebish's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pipareykir's review against another edition
emotional
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jansbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a few pages to get into the flow of this book, but when I did I enjoyed getting to know the people living in this care home in Amsterdam. Hendrik opens up the book to the good, the bad and the ugly - I laughed out loud in some parts and was saddened by others.
elusorius's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't like this one. In my opinion, it was bland, depressing and unfunny. The jokes were just not good, maybe not my sense of humor. Aside from the jokes, there's not much in this book. It's the diary of an old man, who mostly sits in his care home complaining while waiting for death. Usually, there's not much interesting going on. The book tries to combat this by talking about Dutch politics in 2013. Politics don't usually interest me and, seeing how these are extremely outdated, this was just as boring as the events in the care home. Nearing the end, I did find myself getting a bit emotionally attached to some of the characters. I think the main characters were the only decent thing about this book, even though they were barely focused on throughout the story. Shame that there were so many side characters that were talked about once and never heard from again.
If this book has your sense of humor, you might enjoy it. Personally, I don't get the hype.
If this book has your sense of humor, you might enjoy it. Personally, I don't get the hype.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Superb, made me laugh - and made me cry.
I don't think we can ever be reminded too often that we are all ageing all the time, that one day every one of us will be in a similar position to the residents of Hendrik's care home.
It is a humbling portrait, our dignified protagonist and diary writer, the 83-year-old Amsterdam native Hendrik Groen, who narrates a year in the life of his care home.
Hendrik has bladder problems, no visitors, a fondness for his new neighbour that his quiet nature keeps under wraps. Over the course of the year, his friendship with a small group of like-minded pensioners becomes a club of supportive and close-knit 'Old But Not Dead' comrades, who keep their will to live high with trips and jaunts, and support each other as the inevitable health complaints strike their members.
Hendrik and his friends are a group I warmed to immediately. They care about each other, they help each other, they raise each other's spirits.
But as well as a heart-warming story of making the most of our sunset years, Hendrik also takes us on a tour of a care home - the money-saving tactics, the rules, the food, the routines. As many of us may find ourselves somewhere like this one day, it's something we should be paying attention to now.
And besides all THIS, it's a day-to-day insight into one man's life, a man with sad memories, one who enjoys being outside in the rain, deciding whether or not to get a mobility scooter, one observing the crazy, the the eccentric, the grumpy old folks he lives amongst.
The years has highs and lows, but it never feels less than honest. Even in their eighties (or even nineties), the residents discuss current events, always how it relates to them of course, but it keeps the story feeling contemporary - these pensioners are part of today's world but also outside of it. Hendrik's world is enclosed in his flat, his care home, old age can be isolating.
It's a wonderful, wonderful book. I'm debating whether or not to buy my 85 year old widowed grandmother a copy, not sure if it will amuse and entertain her or if the sadder parts will have the opposite effect.
Either way, it's a book I'm very glad to have read, many years away from retiring myself it's a book I couldn't put down, Hendrik's life and character really hit home. I must come back to it later in life.
Definitely one that everyone should read. Very highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
I don't think we can ever be reminded too often that we are all ageing all the time, that one day every one of us will be in a similar position to the residents of Hendrik's care home.
It is a humbling portrait, our dignified protagonist and diary writer, the 83-year-old Amsterdam native Hendrik Groen, who narrates a year in the life of his care home.
Hendrik has bladder problems, no visitors, a fondness for his new neighbour that his quiet nature keeps under wraps. Over the course of the year, his friendship with a small group of like-minded pensioners becomes a club of supportive and close-knit 'Old But Not Dead' comrades, who keep their will to live high with trips and jaunts, and support each other as the inevitable health complaints strike their members.
Hendrik and his friends are a group I warmed to immediately. They care about each other, they help each other, they raise each other's spirits.
But as well as a heart-warming story of making the most of our sunset years, Hendrik also takes us on a tour of a care home - the money-saving tactics, the rules, the food, the routines. As many of us may find ourselves somewhere like this one day, it's something we should be paying attention to now.
And besides all THIS, it's a day-to-day insight into one man's life, a man with sad memories, one who enjoys being outside in the rain, deciding whether or not to get a mobility scooter, one observing the crazy, the the eccentric, the grumpy old folks he lives amongst.
The years has highs and lows, but it never feels less than honest. Even in their eighties (or even nineties), the residents discuss current events, always how it relates to them of course, but it keeps the story feeling contemporary - these pensioners are part of today's world but also outside of it. Hendrik's world is enclosed in his flat, his care home, old age can be isolating.
It's a wonderful, wonderful book. I'm debating whether or not to buy my 85 year old widowed grandmother a copy, not sure if it will amuse and entertain her or if the sadder parts will have the opposite effect.
Either way, it's a book I'm very glad to have read, many years away from retiring myself it's a book I couldn't put down, Hendrik's life and character really hit home. I must come back to it later in life.
Definitely one that everyone should read. Very highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
win's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful. I hope I have his sense of humour when I get to that age.
theaudioauditor's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cpareader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0