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The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen Audiobook
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Publisher Description
A #1 international bestseller in the vein of Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove: a funny and tender-hearted tale about friendship, love, and an old man who is young at heart.
Technically speaking, Hendrik Groen is....elderly. But at age 83 1/4, this feisty, indomitable curmudgeon has no plans to go out quietly. Bored of weak tea and potted geraniums, exasperated by the indignities of aging, Hendrik has decided to rebel - on his own terms. He begins writing an exposé: secretly recording the antics of day-to-day life in his retirement home, where he refuses to take himself, or his fellow "inmates," too seriously.
With an eccentric group of friends, he founds the wickedly anarchic Old-But-Not-Dead Club, and he and his best friend, Evert, gleefully stir up trouble, enraging the home's humorless director and turning themselves into unlikely heroes. And when a sweet and sassy widow moves in next door, he polishes his shoes, grooms what's left of his hair, and determines to savor every ounce of joy in the time he has left, with hilarious and tender consequences.
A bestselling phenomenon that has captured imaginations around the world, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is inspiring, charming, and laugh-out-loud funny with a deep and poignant core: a page-turning delight for readers of any age.
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“The humble diary of a gentleman who is fighting depression in the twilight of his life is masterfully brought to life by Derek Jacobi’s outstanding narration. It’s a treat to listen to Jacobi’s rich voice and musical intonation…The characterizations are vivid and flawless; each of Hendrik’s friends and foes is given a unique voice that conveys individual personality while also revealing Hendrik’s attitude about the speaker. Most impressive are Jacobi’s beautifully tuned emotional beats, ranging from Hendrik’s sly humor to his layered indignation and delicate but penetrating grief. A delightful and richly rewarding listening experience. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
Quotes
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“Poignant and true-to-life, an international bestseller.”
— Minneapolis Star Tribune -
“An incredible picture of friendship…something we could all stand to emulate, no matter where we are in our lives.”
— BookPage -
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 -
A story about how friendship, selflessness and dignity lie at the heart of the human experience. When I'm an old man, I want to be Hendrik Groen.
— John Boyne, internationally bestselling author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas -
An incredible picture of friendship... something we could all stand to emulate, no matter where we are in our lives.
— Bookpage, Top Fiction Pick for July -
Interspersed with Groen's biting wit and comic take on aging and all it entails... A page-turning delight for adult readers of any age and locale.
— Booklist, starred review -
Poignant and true-to-life, an international bestseller.
— Minneapolis Star Tribune -
Engaging and hilarious, Hendrik's diary gives a dignity and respect to the elderly often overlooked in popular culture, providing readers a look into the importance of friendship and the realities of the senior care system in modern society.
— Publisher's Weekly -
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
Awards
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BookPage Top Pick for July 2017
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AudioFile Earphones Award Winner
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About Hendrik Groen
Hendrik Groen started his pseudonymous diaries on the literary website of Torpedo magazine. His first diary, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old, has been translated into over thirty languages, and On The Bright Side was a number-one bestseller in the Netherlands.
About the Narrators
Sir Derek Jacobi has had a long and distinguished career. He has toured in Becket and Uncle Vanya, and he received a Tony Award for his performance as Benedick in the RSC’s production of Much Ado about Nothing. His work in television includes the lead roles in Cadfael and I, Claudius, and his film credits include Henry V, Gosford Park, and Hamlet. His narrations have won him eleven Audiofile Earphones Awards.
Sir Derek Jacobi has had a long and distinguished career. He has toured in Becket and Uncle Vanya, and he received a Tony Award for his performance as Benedick in the RSC’s production of Much Ado about Nothing. His work in television includes the lead roles in Cadfael and I, Claudius, and his film credits include Henry V, Gosford Park, and Hamlet. His narrations have won him eleven Audiofile Earphones Awards.