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The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen
- Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
- Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins
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Publisher's Summary
For fans of A Man Called Ove comes a funny, big-hearted tale about an old man who is young at heart.
Hendrik Groen may be old, but he is far from dead and isn't planning to be buried any time soon. Granted, his daily strolls are getting shorter because his legs are no longer willing, and he has to visit his doctor more than he'd like. Technically speaking he is...elderly. But surely there is more to life at his age than weak tea and potted geraniums?
Hendrik sets out to write an exposé: a year in the life of his care home in Amsterdam, revealing all its ups and downs - not least his new endeavor, the anarchic Old-but-Not-Dead Club. And when Eefje moves in - the woman Hendrik has always longed for - he polishes his shoes (and his teeth), grooms what's left of his hair, and attempts to make something of the life he has left, with hilarious, tender, and devastating consequences.
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen will not only delight older listeners with its wit and relevance but charm and inspire those who have years to go before their own expiry dates.
Critic Reviews
"Funny and frank - a story with a great deal of heart." (Graeme Simsion, New York Times best-selling 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 best-selling author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)
"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... A delightful and richly rewarding listening experience." (AudioFile)
What listeners say about The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- David
- 04-10-19
Audio level problems
I enjoyed the book well enough but there were serious problems with the audio levels throughout the book. Every 2-3 lines the reader sinks into a barely audible whisper, and you have to turn it up to hear it, and then the very next line is a shout that nearly blows your ears off. The entire book I had to adjust the volume up and down, up and down. Very frustrating. I’ve never had this happen with an audio book before.
141 people found this helpful
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- Gotta Tellya
- 12-31-18
Great story, uneven volume somewhat detracting.
I read a few reviews commenting that this book is not as good as A Man Called Ove. The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is nothing like the first book, so comparisons are unfair. The Ove book is related in the third person, as by an outside narrator. The Secret Diary is told in first person, in (obviously) diary form, and is equally excellent. In Ove, we watch the personal evolution of a sad old man, set in his ways and solitary by nature, into a community minded, open hearted and more open minded man—happier, with new purpose. In The Secret Diary, Hendrik is already open minded and kind. His personal progress is of a different sort but is valuable and interesting nonetheless. I liked both books very much. But with The Secret Diary’s Audible version, there is one problem. I love Derek Jacobi as an actor. His narration was one of the draws that prompted me to buy the audio version. Unfortunately, though Jacobi’s interpretation of Hendrik is perfect, charming and fun, his lack of volume control hurt my ears. Jacobi must have at times had his mouth right up against the microphone, and at other times must have leaned far away from it. Or else he was prone to let his voice drift into quiet mode and then suddenly ramp it up by a hundred decibles. I wonder if the sound engineer was paying attention during this recording. The wide variations in volume aren’t so hard to take if the story is being listened to over speakers in a room. But over earbuds (which I use while walking outdoors) the sudden surges in volume were painful. I needed to manually adjust the volume control of my earbuds far too frequently. I gave the story itself five stars, but had to cut a star off the narration and the overall rating, only because of the volume fluctuations. I still highly recommend this book, with the caveat that buyers with sensitive ears should be prepared for the sharp and sudden changes in the narrator’s volume.
121 people found this helpful
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- L. Wroten
- 04-05-19
Derek Jacobi is brilliant
This book had me laughing so hard I had to dig out my asthma inhaler. Derek Jacobi is perfect in the role of razor-tongued octogenarian Hendrick Groen, in a tale that will offer some much needed catharsis for anyone who’s either acquainted with a curmudgeonly elder....or are themselves grappling with the challenges of aging. The black humor is spot on, without a trace of cutseyness or treacley sentiment. The writer is from Holland and the story is set in a Dutch assisted living facility, but the indignities of growing old, alas, are universal.
41 people found this helpful
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- Art Guzman
- 11-25-18
Not “A Man Called Ove”
Nice book. I enjoyed listening to it as I got an insight of what many elderly go through. Sad and funny at times. A relaxing read, but did not stir me like “A Man Called Ove.”
37 people found this helpful
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- Wayne
- 09-23-19
Life and fun in a geriatric warehouse in Holland
To compare this book to A Man Called Ove is an insult to one of the best novels of the last 10 years (A Man Called Ove). Make no mistake The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is a pretty good book, but it's not even as good as The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. The humor is sometimes funny, but it more often falls flat. The last 5 hours of this book is much better than the first 7 hours.
A Man Called Ove is no longer available in audio book format at Audible. For those who have not listened to it should get the Kindle ebook version or the paperback. Or ask that Audible make it available again. It is available at Audible UK. With almost 67,000 ratings at Audible (US) the book was very popular.
17 people found this helpful
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- chris
- 05-26-20
Many a truth said in jest
There are many novels out recently about old people going on quests of self discovery, and I expected this to be just one more. A book that is charming but forgettable, something you grab when it is on sale but wouldn't waste a credit on. But I was so wrong.
Hendrik writes a daily diary about life in a retirement home and his observations are laugh out loud funny. I have worked in a long term care home for the last 12 years. The way he describes the routines of the home, the idiosyncrasies of the residents living there, the patronizing benign neglect of the staff, and the daily conversations, in my experience are all accurate, though perhaps exaggerated a little for comic affect. But underlying this daily narrative are deeper issues. Henrik talks about newspaper articles about seniors and eldercare, and describes so well the attitudinal and physical barriers the elderly face. But most poignantly, he talks about how he and his small group of friends struggle to continue living their lives with dignity as their health declines.
Finally , I must acknowledge the amazing job Derek Jacoby did as the narrator. His caustic and slightly befuddled British accent was the perfect fit for this story. He was able to portray the deep emotion of the story as well as he portrayed the novel's humour.
7 people found this helpful
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- Beverly S
- 05-09-18
Oddly Uplifting
A diary written by an old man living in a nursing home hardly sounds enticing but you will miss a very good book if you follow that line of thought. It is at times so funny and yes, sometimes a little sad but delightful all the way through. Hendrik Groen is my hero.
29 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 10-24-17
narration an a+
the narration of this book realky brings it to life. i think the readable version wouldnt have been as enjoyable. excellent!
28 people found this helpful
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- Mimi Routh
- 10-22-19
Not Written By Old Person, Makes Fun of Us, Boring
Disrespectful to elderly, not funny, not interesting. Author not in touch with old people on limited income! They take expensive excursions Americans in HUD housing could never enjoy. I should know. Nor can most of us enjoy that much booze! Fooey! Get your yuks somewhere else!
5 people found this helpful
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- Geneva Boehs
- 08-18-18
One of the most poignant listens ever
As one whose own father is living out his days in a “rest home”, this book struck many chords with me. When I first started listening I wondered how a book with this story line could possible be stretched into as many hours as was listed. Was I ever in for a surprise! I found myself wishing the protagonist had not limited himself to a year’s worth of diary writing! I was drawn in, waiting for the next developments, cheering the club on. The performance was excellent, one of the best I have ever listened to. I would highly recommend this book, particularly in audio form.
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Out of Sorts
- By: Aurélie Valognes, Wendeline A. Hardenberg - translator
- Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
- Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Ferdinand Brun hasn't always been a grumpy old man. Many years ago, he was a grumpy young man. Now he'd much rather spend time with his canine companion, Daisy, than any of his nosy neighbors. But as his behavior becomes increasingly peculiar, his daughter grows concerned and begins to consider moving him into a retirement home.
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Grumpy isn't always funny
- By Jennifer on 05-05-16
By: Aurélie Valognes, and others
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So Much for That
- By: Lionel Shriver
- Narrated by: Dan John Miller
- Length: 17 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Shep Knacker has long saved for “The Afterlife”: an idyllic retreat to the Third World where his nest egg can last forever. Traffic jams on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway will be replaced with “talking, thinking, seeing, and being” — and enough sleep. When he sells his business for a cool million dollars, his dream finally seems within reach. Yet his wife Glynis has concocted endless excuses why it’s never the right time to go.
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haunting...read this summer on the beach!!
- By Linda on 07-06-10
By: Lionel Shriver
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Paradise Lodge
- By: Nina Stibbe
- Narrated by: Helen Baxendale
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
After succeeding in her quest to help her unconventional mother find a new "man at the helm", 15-year-old Lizzie Vogel simply wants to be a normal teenager. Just when it looks as if things have settled down, her mother goes and has another baby. On top of that, Lizzie's best friend has deserted her for the punk craze, which Lizzie finds too exhausting to commit to herself. But Lizzie soon gets more commitment than she bargained for when she takes a job as a junior nurse at Paradise Lodge, a ramshackle refuge for the elderly.
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In the spirit of Ove & Harold Frye
- By Annie M. on 11-09-16
By: Nina Stibbe
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Staying On
- By: Paul Scott
- Narrated by: Paul Shelley
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Tusker and Lily Smalley stayed on in India. Given the chance to return ‘home’ when Tusker, once a Colonel in the British Army, retired, they chose instead to remain in the small hill town of Pankot, with its eccentric inhabitants and archaic rituals left over from the days of the Empire. Only the tyranny of their imposing landlady threatens to upset the quiet rhythm of their days.
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A Pleasant Meander
- By Ian C Robertson on 09-22-14
By: Paul Scott
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On the Bright Side
- The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old
- By: Hendrik Groen
- Narrated by: Patrick Ryecart
- Length: 15 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
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.
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More insights from an elder who is bright and obse
- By Kathy on 08-07-19
By: Hendrik Groen
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Maeve's Times
- In Her Own Words
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Kate Binchy
- Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
From the royal wedding to boring airplane companions, Samuel Beckett to Margaret Thatcher, "senior moments" to life as a waitress, Maeve's Times gives us wonderful insight into a changing Ireland as it celebrates the work of one of our best-loved writers in all its diversity - revealing her characteristic directness, laugh-out-loud humor, and unswerving gaze into the true heart of a matter.
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A GLIMPSE THROUGH MAEVE'S LOOKING GLASS
- By jstrfic on 08-08-17
By: Maeve Binchy
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Out of Sorts
- By: Aurélie Valognes, Wendeline A. Hardenberg - translator
- Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
- Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ferdinand Brun hasn't always been a grumpy old man. Many years ago, he was a grumpy young man. Now he'd much rather spend time with his canine companion, Daisy, than any of his nosy neighbors. But as his behavior becomes increasingly peculiar, his daughter grows concerned and begins to consider moving him into a retirement home.
-
-
Grumpy isn't always funny
- By Jennifer on 05-05-16
By: Aurélie Valognes, and others
-
So Much for That
- By: Lionel Shriver
- Narrated by: Dan John Miller
- Length: 17 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shep Knacker has long saved for “The Afterlife”: an idyllic retreat to the Third World where his nest egg can last forever. Traffic jams on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway will be replaced with “talking, thinking, seeing, and being” — and enough sleep. When he sells his business for a cool million dollars, his dream finally seems within reach. Yet his wife Glynis has concocted endless excuses why it’s never the right time to go.
-
-
haunting...read this summer on the beach!!
- By Linda on 07-06-10
By: Lionel Shriver
-
Paradise Lodge
- By: Nina Stibbe
- Narrated by: Helen Baxendale
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After succeeding in her quest to help her unconventional mother find a new "man at the helm", 15-year-old Lizzie Vogel simply wants to be a normal teenager. Just when it looks as if things have settled down, her mother goes and has another baby. On top of that, Lizzie's best friend has deserted her for the punk craze, which Lizzie finds too exhausting to commit to herself. But Lizzie soon gets more commitment than she bargained for when she takes a job as a junior nurse at Paradise Lodge, a ramshackle refuge for the elderly.
-
-
In the spirit of Ove & Harold Frye
- By Annie M. on 11-09-16
By: Nina Stibbe
-
Staying On
- By: Paul Scott
- Narrated by: Paul Shelley
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tusker and Lily Smalley stayed on in India. Given the chance to return ‘home’ when Tusker, once a Colonel in the British Army, retired, they chose instead to remain in the small hill town of Pankot, with its eccentric inhabitants and archaic rituals left over from the days of the Empire. Only the tyranny of their imposing landlady threatens to upset the quiet rhythm of their days.
-
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A Pleasant Meander
- By Ian C Robertson on 09-22-14
By: Paul Scott
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Capital
- By: John Lanchester
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
It’s 2008, and things are falling apart: Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers are going under, and the residents of Pepys Road, London - a banker and his shopaholic wife, an old woman dying of a brain tumor and her graffiti-artist grandson, Pakistani shop owners and a shadowy refugee who works as the meter maid, the young soccer star from Senegal and his minder - are receiving anonymous postcards reading "We Want What You Have." Who is behind it? What do they want?
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Wonderful characters, great story
- By Lynda Rands on 10-16-12
By: John Lanchester
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The Lemon Table
- By: Julian Barnes
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Prunella Scales
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In a collection that is wise, funny, clever and moving, Julian Barnes has created characters whose passions and longings are made all the stronger by the knowledge that, for them, time is almost at an end.
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A Real Downer
- By Cariola on 07-03-12
By: Julian Barnes
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Dead Heat
- By: Dick Francis, Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Max Moreton is a rising culinary star and his Newmarket restaurant, The Hay Net, has brought him great acclaim and a widening circle of admirers. But when nearly all the guests who enjoyed one of his meals at a private catered affair fall victim to severe food poisoning, his kitchen is shuttered and his reputation takes a hit.
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Surprise! Dead Heat refers to the Oven!
- By L J on 01-12-18
By: Dick Francis, and others
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Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
- A Novel
- By: Kathleen Rooney
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
It's the last day of 1984, and 85-year-old Lillian Boxfish is about to take a walk. As she traverses a grittier Manhattan, a city anxious after an attack by a still-at-large subway vigilante, she encounters bartenders, bodega clerks, chauffeurs, security guards, bohemians, criminals, children, parents, and parents to be in surprising moments of generosity and grace. While she strolls Lillian recalls a long and eventful life that included a brief reign as the highest paid advertising woman in America - a career cut short by marriage, motherhood, divorce, and a breakdown.
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Amazingly well written
- By Suzanne K on 03-21-17
By: Kathleen Rooney