When I was given the opportunity to read this sequel to The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen I hurried to read the first book before I embarked on the second. Wondering now whether the second would work as a stand-alone I am inclined to think it would but a great deal of the poignancy of Hendrik’s story would suffer. When On the Bright Side opens, one of his friends has died and one is suffering from dementia and has been moved to a different part of the home. His friendships with both continue to be very important to him and that doesn’t quite come across in the sequel. Nor do the experiences he has already shared with the other members of the Old But Not Dead club. Read the first one first is my advice.

Hendrik and his friends are still keen to have as much fun as they can manage given their advanced years and infirmity, and I found their camaraderie and exploits endearing. “Stop spending so much time studying life’s instruction manual. Just do it!! Yes, you may fall down a few times, but so long as you get up again, you’ll be ahead of where you were.” Hendrik writes with humour, insight and charm about often painful subjects - quite an achievement - and hints that his next project is to be a novel, I can’t wait for its publication.

I think I enjoyed this book more than the first, though it is considerably darker in tone - the future of the home is insecure for one thing and that uncertainty affects the residents deeply. Hendrik also writes more about political issues, internal Netherlands preoccupations (especially where care of the elderly is concerned) interspersed with tragic overseas events, the refugee crisis in particular. I’d recommend it highly, though for readers of retirement age (as I am) the situation it describes might be just a little too accurate for comfort.

I loved Hendrik Groen's first diary and felt that I got to know all the characters in the retirement home. I enjoy the writing style - it's light and witty, whilst talking about issues surrounding old age, that could be seen as depressing. However, I was a little disappointed in this book. It didn't live up to the high bar that had been set in the first book. I'd still recommend people to read it because the depiction of the strength of friendship in the face of adversity will bring a feeling of warmth into your life!

I was so excited to read this book as I loved the first one, and was looking forward to hearing what all the characters had been up to since the last book, one year ago. Whilst I didn’t fall in love with this book in the same way as I did the last one, I really enjoyed it. If you are looking for action and adventure, this isn’t for you. But if you want heartwarming stories of friendship in adversity, and in good times too, you will love this book. It makes you feel getting old may not be all that bad. 😀 Stay well, stay fit, and keep your spirits up Hendrik Groen. You have a big fan in the UK. I’d love to think you were real. 😀❤️

On the Bright Side is the sequel to The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen aged 83¼, one of my favourite books of 2016. The Secret Diary was such an unexpected delight. It's a wonderful book, full of interesting and sometimes wacky characters. On The Bright Side is another year of Hendrik's observations and thoughts and many of the wonderful characters are back plus there are a few new acquaintances too.

Who is Hendrik Groen? I know it's an alias and it's allegedly a work of fiction. Is the author really an old person living in a retirement home? I don't care. I love both books and there certainly seems to be a bit of truth to the writing. I hope the author is just like Hendrik.

On The Bright Side continues with the escapades of the 8 members of the Old but Not Dead Club. The members of this club might be getting older and in some cases frailer (Hendrik himself is now 85) but they are all still embracing life and embarking on their outings, enjoying new experiences (often involving lots of food and alcohol) and still causing mayhem in the care home. According to the club rules new members can't just ask to join, they have to be invited by the members after careful consideration – and there can't be any more than 8 members at any time. So yes, given their advancing years and health issues, there is a possibility that the club membership could change over the course of the year. Why only 8 members? That is the number that will fit comfortably with walking/mobility aids etc into the minibus.

Hendrik's diary entries are observant and humorous but also at times heartbreaking, especially when they do lose members. There is also a serious side when there are rumours that the home may be marked for demolition and that they might be forced to move. There are still plenty of laugh out loud moments but perhaps fewer than in the first book. Hendrik also reveals a bit more of himself and his life before retirement. He is just such a lovely, well rounded, character.

There is a mention towards the end that he is of a mind to write a novel, probably about two old men.. I do hope he does. I look forward to it.

Another delightful book by Hendrik Groen. Its format is a daily diary. Its location is a retirement home in Holland and we are treated to wonderful and humorous moments interspersed with perceptive and reflective anecdotes on coping with old age , Despite living with the rather grim statistic that, at the end of the year's diary, 3 of the 8 members in Hendrik's "Not yet dead club" will possibly die , the gang of 8 regularly indulge in hilarious escapades outwith the home. You'll laugh, you'll reflect and perhaps you'll even shed a tear as you turn the pages but, for certain, you'll fall just a little bit in love with Hendrik Groen.

Loved the first Hendrick book, and was really looking forward to the sequel. While I still find him a great character, it fell short of the original for me. It didn't quite have the wit and humour of the first book. It was there in flashes, but not to the same level. Still an enjoyable read though.

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-alone and covers similar ground to the first book.

I found On the Bright Side an easy book to read. There is some humour about life around the care home and I particularly liked the saga of the appearing fruit. I can imagine what havoc some fruit appearing at random would cause in my father’s care home in Cardiff.

I liked how things were put into perspective by how Hendrik swapped his daily entries from pressing global and international issues to the very parochial trivia that consumed the residents of his care home. The joviality of the first book was still there in places but the overall take I got from this book was of a sadness brought about by coping with declining health, death of residents and a negative outlook on old age. The optimism of the first book has gone and I felt like the residents were just hanging around waiting to die.

A lot has changed for Hendrik in those 2 years. He still tells a good tale but this is not a comfortable and cosy read. The first book was quite bright and happy but this book although realistic is a shade depressing. Hendrik is clearly not enjoying his old age as much in 2015 as he did in 2013.

I found On the Bright Side to be a GOOD read and pleased that I have read it. I liked Hendrik’s world view of things and how different generations react to everyday life. However, I did not enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did the first book. I read for pleasure and On the Bright Side gave a rather negative view of old age. It makes you think that although life expectancy is increasing, what little have we to look forward to as our health declines and we may be awaiting our death. On the Bright Side does leave some fond memories but all the sadness including the pet dog made this a GOOD yet 4 star read for me.

So glad Hendrik is still writing his diary. Another insight into the lives of the residents of a Dutch care home. The Old but not Dead club manage to have fun , support each other and liven up the rest of the inmates (sorry residents) Anarchic to the end good for them.

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old of this series I was looking really forward reading this part as well. Hendrik keeps you amazed with his humor and his views. His ‘civil disobedience’ in his retirement home and juvenile mindset is what keeps him and his friends going and surviving the daily boring routines and aches of getting old.

As a second part this one is, again, a book everyone should read. Even if it just to give you an idea of how life above 80 is like for most people. It’s funny, painful, sad but most of all: it’s what you make it.

I’ve read this book, partly, in German since that was the first version I got my hands on. Sadly the German translation did not speak to me… Rereading in English opened this book up for me and got me hooked.

I would like to thank Michael Joseph and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘On The Bright Side’ by Hendrik Groen in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Henrik Groen lives in an old age home in Northern Amsterdam and returns with his diary for 2015. He relates the happenings, good and bad, and how life has treated himself and his friends, Evert, Leonie, Antoine, Ria, Geert and Graeme in the ‘Old-But-Not-Dead’ Club.
When I started reading ‘On The Bright Side’ I was convinced I wasn’t going to enjoy it but then something happened … I started to care about Hendrik and the various characters he was telling me about and I wanted to know more about them. I enjoyed hearing what he had to say on actual events such as the Paris bombings, Syrian refugees and ISIS terror attacks, euthanasia, the fear that their home is going to close, trips arranged by the Club and last but not least, the death of his dear friend Evert. By the end of the diary I knew each character individually and felt the loss of Evert so much that I was in tears. But ‘on the bright side’, I laughed out loud as Hendrik told of the problems he encountered with his baggy swimming trunks!
This is an excellent novel, wonderfully written with sensitivity and humour. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to seeing what Hendrik Groen writes next.

This book is a delight to read , the author doesn't give us a boring repetitive account of life in a home but an account of fun , ideas, travel, food and above all fun . I hope this is not a fictional account , I'm so looking forward to zimmer frame dancing ,eating my way around the world restaurants and annoying everyone in sight . The author has a gift of making the reader feel that all is well with world and the brings us back down to earth with a sad moment . The loss of his daughter at such a young age , his wife in an institution no longer recognising him and then having to deal with one of the Old But Not Dead group being terminally ill. The inevitable death was sad, I had to brace myself for what was coming . The book ends on a positive high and yet again I hope there's more to come .


Will be reviewed on Amazon under Cruise Queen

DNF – got to March and nothing – NOTHING – had happened. The book just compiles everything that was weak about the original, with the Adrian-Mole-in-the-U3A approach writ large, every snide quip about the food or the future of the building presented with 'you had to have been there' lack of hilarity, and the poor author working his socks off to cram anything from that day's newspaper into the voice and concerns of his lead character. It's the paucity of plot that is most galling, however – apparently, it'll come to feature some people dying. Er, yeah, the average age of the characters is about 90, so how can that be narratively satisfying to anyone for a kick-off? Still, I had enjoyed the original, but this sequel was both unwelcome, underdone and unnecessary. As the series proves, life is too short to suffer this.

Book 2 in the Hendrik Groen Secret Diary series, and this octogenarian doesn't let age deter him from keeping his diary up to date - and making plans for the future, not to mention having great fun along the way.

For those of you not familiar with Hendrik, he's now 85 years old and lives in a care home in Amsterdam, where he's one of the founding members of the Old But Not Dead Club! They're a determined bunch, arranging day trips and sampling fine dining at various themed restaurants, amongst other things. They also cause mayhem within their care home, resulting in some hilarious moments. Hendrik and his friend Evert are akin to a pair of naughty schoolboys - the proverbial pain in the posterior of the care home manager. Evert doesn't care what others think of him, and comes out with the most outrageous ( though amusing ) comments. Hendrik on the other hand has a more gentle, caring side, and displays a charm that's something of a rarity today. He's made a pledge to be more assertive but he remains a thoughtful, giving person and he and Evert complement each other perfectly.

It's only natural that a book about octogenarians will have its share of sad and moving moments, but the main message it conveys is that however limited life expectancy is, the Old But Not Dead Club will do its utmost to enjoy it!

It's been a priviledge to share another year in Hendrik's life, and I've experienced a whole range of emotions with him, from the laugh out loud outrageous escapades, to the inevitable sad farewells along the way. Hendrik possesses a level of humility and dignity that brings a lump to my throat, and he makes the invisibility of old age a little less so. Bravo Hendrik!!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for my ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Hooray! Hendrik and the Old-But-Not-Dead Club are back. Hendrik and Evert are as fun loving and full of life as ever proving you're only as young as you feel (tired old cliche intended). Eefje is still part of his universe as are the completion of some residents stay on this earth and Hendrik's continuing fight with the home to treat people as people who just happen to be a little older. Thinking of learning Dutch as I want to join their club in a few years.
Laughter and sadness in equal measure.
Well written, thoroughly enjoyable book. Look forward to part three.

The second book is always a risk. Will I enjoy it as much as the anticipation of it, having read the first?

Well, its fair to say that Mr Groen dwlivers once again. I have no idea whether the author is an 85 year old or a younger man purporting to be of an age, but he captures the view that I, as well as mny others, I'm sure, have of the elderly. That he is Dutch, not English, is reinforced by the odd view from abroad of the English and is quite sweet.

Without spoiling the book, there are moments that make the reader cringe, when considering one's attitude and view of the elderly, others that have you laughing long and loud and then the moments that have tears of sadness streaming down the face.

Personally, I love the diary format, believe fully in the character as an observer on life and just find the book a really uplifting read.

You would have to be Mr. Pot or Mrs Slothouwer to not emphasise and support Mr Groen and the "old-but-not-dead" club.

Roll on book three.

Another great tale of the old but not dead club. Addictive and highly amusing yet tinged with sadness. Would love to hear more adventures and to find out the future of the nursing home.

I was looking forward to a follow up book by Hendrik Groen and I wasn't disappointed. This time I felt I knew Hendrik well, so it could never have the impact of his first book. Again it is a year's diary, in the life of the author.. It was a pleasure to read and would be an easy stand alone book. I couldn't help feel sadness but the book has so much humour. It is light hearted and did not make me feel depressed, if anything positive that old age is meaningful and amusing despite all the problems. Long live Hendrik, we need another now.

Once again a really moving - and laugh out loud funny - portrayal of Hendrik Groen and his friends and fellow residents. The range of characters and the vitality with which they are portrayed is just wonderful. You really do see the full range of human nature - both the good and bad. The warmth of the relationships shown is also so genuine and truly beautiful; for example: Hendrik and Evert, Evert and Leonie, Ria and Antoine. The supporting characters are also strong and very relatable to. I love the fact that whilst age is shown to be an often cruel master, it is also shown as something to rebel at and we are left with the sense that life is something to savour and treasure, much as we must savour and treasure this very lovely book!

I loved reading the first book about Hendrik Groen and his friends in the care home and was delighted that there was a second book .This book is just brilliant ,I loved the Old But Not Dead Club ,Hendrik is a lovable 86 year old with a cheeky side to him .This book made me laugh and made me cry.I loved the hilarious adventures Hendrik and his friends got to always living life to the full .

Having loved the first installment of Hendrik Groen's diaries, I was hoping for a sequel, and here it is! A second year of his wonderful world and all those who live in it. The Old But Not Dead Club is still doing all it can to keep its select members hale and hearty, with the new addition of regular outings to local restaurants to sample cuisines of the world, and longer haul excursions (even as far as over the border to Belgium) to broaden their horizons.
As with the previous tome, the challenges of old age remain - from the constant breath of the Grim Reaper on your neck, to having to accept things like adult diapers as being a normal part of life. Hendrik handles them all with his normal steady hand- as long as he's going to stick around on this mortal coil, he's going to enjoy every minute to the best of his ability.
Once again, the book is packed full of humour and extreme moments of heartbreak. For all its whimsical charm, there beats at its heart a strong social commentary on the challenges of care for the elderly, where cost cutting and consolidation is breaking up retirement communities. with human beings reduced to numbers in spreadsheets.
Set in real time, events in the real world come into play as well, from the US Elections to the rise in terrorist activities in Europe, rooting Hendrik's world firmly in reality. All in all, this is another fascinating year in the life of Hendrik. I can't wait to find out what the next one brings!