I love Hendrick. I'd love to go on adventures with Hendrick. I adore the dry, droll sense of humor and fatality he brings to his journal. Just as with the first volume, this one is just as hilarious and poignant. A great read all the way around.

The emotions in this book didn't quite catch me the way the first one did. Although I enjoy the author's writing style, there was a moment in this book where I thought... this seems a little mundane. I just love Hendrik Groen, the character, and the whole Old But Not Dead gang so that's what kept me going.

85 year old Hendrik decides it is a good year to keep up with his diary. Through it we read about him getting over the death of Eefje, slowly look into the possibility of his own euthanasia, and continue on with the antics we all enjoyed in the first book. I chuckled at his references to the "oldies" who are "inmates" of the old age home. The Old But Not Dead Club provides a lot of humor whether speed racing their motorized wheelchairs or trying new food. I'd like to think I'd be welcome as a member! As amused as I was, I did feel that somehow the story dragged on a bit too long, though I am not sure how you shorten an annual diary. I think perhaps this might be a book best read in bits and pieces, like maybe as part of a bed time ritual where you get some humor, some heart-felt emotion, and hopefully a sense of positivity and gratitude.

This was engaging and funny, also it was written in diary format, (which I happen to love). This is the story of an 85 year old man living in an assisted living facility who decides to make the most of his life and live "carpe diem" style along with some of his friends. I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to go read the first in this series.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Others may enjoy, but this just wasn't for me. There were just some parts that I found offensive. I'm disappointed, because I had high hopes for this one.

In his first attempt at journaling, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old, Hendrik Groen took readers through a year of ups and downs in a care home in Amsterdam. And after taking some time off to recover from the year’s heartbreaks, he’s back for another year of elderly shenanigans in On the Bright Side: The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old.

Review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

There is nothing like this book. From the perspective of an elderly man living in an assisted living facility. Amazing! I felt bonded to the characters and enjoyed all the shenanigans going on through our the book. It is an honest, true to live portrayal of growing older; and while it may seem a sad premise to a book, but it is not. It is brilliant and hilarious; it was a year like no other.

Amsterdam elder diarist Hendrik Groen is back! After taking a year off to recover from a dear friend’s death, he’s back at 85 to share his adventures, his wisdom, and his skills with his motorized scooter. Determined more than ever to take full advantage of the time he has left, Hendrik and his friends in the Old But Not Dead Club take to the streets to carpe the diem.

With warmth and wit, Groen again gives us a glimpse into life in an old age home, with the daily complaints about ailments, the struggles with technology, the daily bottleneck in the hallway as everyone waits for the elevator, and the meals with ill-fitting dentures and quirky digestive systems. He writes about the daily events in the home and in the world, offering a perceptive perspective on life from 85-year-old eyes.

But Hendrik is coming out of his shell. From traveling with the Old But Not Dead Club to joining in a parade in his motorized scooter, from learning percussion to making truffles, from taking over the home’s Residents Committee to sampling the cuisines of countries around the world, Groen demonstrates what it takes to stay spry and young at heart at any age. He embraces his own humanity by learning new skills, taking more risks, speaking out, and caring for friends in their times of need.

On the Bright Side is an absolute delight of a novel in every way. Things aren’t always perfect or even always happy in Hendrik’s world, but he’s honest and true and lets us all see into his mind and heart in a moving, hopeful, comforting way. I can’t say that I’m looking forward to dealing with everything that comes along with being 85, but if I find myself with just a fraction of his sense of humor, his wisdom, and his friendships, then I will consider myself very lucky indeed.

Galleys for On the Bright Side were provided by Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley, with many thanks.

This book is the diary of Hendrik Groen, member of the Old-But-Not-Dead-Club, and resident of a senior care home. Hendrik and his friends are up to their usual mischief and merrymaking, but now they are also on a mission to keep their care home from being demolished.
This book is hilarious. I could see several of my older family members saying many of the things that were said by other residents of the care home. A lot of the entries were so funny I had to go back and read them aloud to my daughter. This is a fun read and I think anyone who loves a good laugh will enjoy it

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.
The second installment of the later life of Hendrik Groen finds everyone’s favorite Dutch hairy-eared Dutch pensioner returning to his diary after taking some time off. He is now 85.
The Old But Not Dead club is still going strong, even after the closing events of the first book. In fact, a new member Leonie, fits right in. She even makes Evert blush. The residents of the home are still a bit of odd bunch. There is still also a slightly merry war between the director of the home and certain residents. There is also a performance artist who moves into the home. The home itself might be facing some type of restructuring. And like the first book, there is the potential of a death in Groen’s ad hoc family.
So, to say that there is some repetition in plot points from the first book would be a fair criticism. But it would also be fair to point out that you don’t really notice until the end of the book, and then you don’t really care.
This is partly due to the emotional connection that one feels to the characters. It is just Hendrik that one feels connected to, it’s Leonie, Ria, Antoine, Graeme, and everyone else – even those in the home who are spiteful biddies. There is an interest in the life that exists in this novel. There is also the relationship between the members of the Old but Not Dead club. It isn’t a romantic relationship (except between the married couple) but true friendship even though they all come from relatively different backgrounds. It is also hard to not swear to be like the members of the club now and in future, even if you are not anywhere near the age of being a member.
The book is also a little more nuanced in character than the first one. More is hinted at about the director, so she becomes something more than just a “no” party pooper. Hendrik himself finds a new friend that reveals new facets about his person as he shows the reader that it is possible to never stop growing as a person.
Another charming facet of the book is the reactions of Hendrick and his home mates to the various new events of 2015, when the diary is being written. There is the reaction to the new king of the Netherlands and the changes made to certain traditions. There are the residents verily reactions to the attacks in Paris, which include a redesigning of the Dutch flag. There are comments about tourists. An analysis of the Tour de France. Football talk. The comments about the various governments spying on each other is quite amusing. Hendrik’s reflections about the refugees arriving in Europe are biting.
The book works because it is so achily human. It charms readers of all ages.

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.

I did enjoy On The Bright Side. Full of humor, old folks, and laughs. Hendrik is a man that loves mischief in his nursing home. You need to read too.
Thanks very much to NetGalley for the advance read.

This was very entertaining. I haven't the previous book, but plan to circle back since this one was so good. Great characters and solid humor from a very talented writer. Very engaging and at time insightful. Highly recommended.

I really appreciate the copy for review!